NBA Best Bets for October 25: The Gradey Dick Experience 

I was convinced the Toronto Raptors were a winning team in disguise. They put up positive numbers last year when healthy – which was almost never. They’re deeper this year, they’ve had a full training camp together with their core players, yadda yadda.

Then they got smooshed 136-106 at home by the Cleveland Cavaliers (–6.5 away) in Wednesday’s 2024-25 season opener. Health is already an issue; RJ Barrett missed this game with a sprained AC joint, and Immanuel Quickley played just 14 minutes before taking a hard fall on his hip.

This leaves the Raptors in a bind heading into Friday’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. But as you’ve already seen, our season-opening NBA picks here at the ranch are all about Gradey Dick. He’s got a bit more girth to him this year, and it served him well against the Cavs: 16 points in 29 minutes, plus a pair of impressive blocks.

Is Joel Embiid Playing?

Okay, fine, there might be a few more people out there looking for Joel Embiid props than Gradey Dick props. But the 76ers are really pushing the envelope when it comes to Embiid’s load management. He was a surprise scratch for Wednesday’s 124-109 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks (–4 at home), and Shams Charania at ESPN says he’ll miss Friday’s game, too, as well as Sunday’s tilt with the Indiana Pacers.

Paul George (knee) also sat out Wednesday’s opener, although there’s a non-zero chance he’ll face the Raptors after putting in a limited practice Thursday. It’s enough of a question mark to keep this game circled on the NBA odds board at most online sportsbooks as we go to press, although Philly just opened as 4-point road faves at Heritage as I was writing this.

Why Dick?

Because he’s special. Dick is already one of the most charismatic players in the NBA; that charisma springs from his self-awareness, which he combines with keen proprioception to move through space like a hot knife through butter.

Is Dick the most athletic player in the league? No, and his on-ball defense suffers because of it. But Dick’s ability to see the floor and see the plays as they develop makes him a potential stud when it comes to help defense – as we saw Wednesday against Cleveland.

The Raptors will have to ride Gradey a little harder this Friday if both Barrett and Quickley are out. We’re just getting word now on Thursday’s practice for Toronto; Barrett participated, but Quickley, Kelly Olynyk (back) and Bruce Brown (knee) did not. Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder) is also about a week away from being cleared for full contact.

The Pick

Dick only shot 5-for-13 against Cleveland on Wednesday, but he was 2-for-6 from downtown, which is where Dick does his best work. It’s the reason he was expected to be Toronto’s fifth starter this year alongside the “BBQ” trio of Scottie Barnes, Barrett and Quickley, plus dependable center Jakob Poeltl. The Bucks shot 16-for-37 (43%) from behind the arc against the shorthanded Sixers, and that was without Khris Middleton in uniform; grab the +3 for Dick made threes to go with +1 blocks, and may the sphere be with you all season long.

NBA Pick:  Gradey Dick +3 Three-Point Shots (-102) (-102) at BetOnline

Gradey Dick +3 Three-Point Shots (-102)

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NBA Pick:  Gradey Dick +1 Block (+150) at BetOnline

Gradey Dick +1 Block (+150)

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*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.