Kansas basketball: Evaluating NBA Draft fits for Gradey Dick and Jalen Wilson

Jun 22, 2023; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Gradey Dick (Kansas) reacts after being selected thirteenth by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2023; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Gradey Dick (Kansas) reacts after being selected thirteenth by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft at Barclays Arena. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Kansas Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick (4) Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Kansas Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick (4) Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Gradey Dick — 13th overall, Toronto Raptors

Raptors sharpshooter Gary Trent Jr. recently picked up his player option, so Dick might have to come off the bench to begin his NBA career. However, that does not mean he will struggle to find playing time.

Toronto is set to have one of the most tumultuous offseasons in the NBA after hiring new head coach Darko Rajakovic. Additionally, Fred VanVleet and Jakob Poeltl are set to hit free agency, while murmurs of a Pascal Siakam trade have floated within the organization. This was the best destination for Gradey, and you can find me doubling down on that when I predicted his NBA Draft landing spot.

In 2022-23, the Raptors connected on 10.7 three-pointers per game at a 33.5 percent clip. Both of those numbers ranked 28th in the NBA among other teams. Who better to add than a 6-foot-8 wing who shot above 40 percent as a freshman in college?

Depending on how free agency plays out, Dick could be in line for a humongous role by the time the season starts. It isn’t out of the question for him to sneak into the starting lineup if Masai Ujiri conducts a major roster shake-up in the next few months.