Raptors Select Sharpshooter Gradey Dick With No. 13 Pick in NBA Draft

The Toronto Raptors have selected Kansas' Gradey Dick with the No. 13 pick in the NBA Draft

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Raptors were adamant they’d never draft for fit.

You can’t, they said, because you never know what your roster will look like in a couple of days at this time of the year, let alone weeks. In a sense, they’re right. Drafting for fit over talent is rarely a good idea. And yet, when the No. 13 pick rolled around Thursday night, Toronto filled its biggest need, selecting Kansas’ Gradey Dick, a prospect widely considered the best shooter in the class of 2023.

"I think the biggest thing that I can really provide and my biggest goal coming into this is making an instant impact early," Dick said via Zoom following the first round of the draft. "Bring that shooting ability, the thing I take pride in the most."

Toronto finished last season with the third-worst three-point percentage in the league. It made scoring in the half-court a slog. If Fred VanVleet, O.G. Anunoby, and Gary Trent Jr. weren’t healthy or shooting, the Raptors’ offense fell apart.

“We just have to add more shooting,” Raptors president Masai Ujiri admitted during his season-ending media availability. “We still believe in guards and players that are less than 6'9.”

Dick provides something different from almost everyone else on the roster. He’s a 6-foot-6 sharpshooter who nailed 40.3% of his three-pointers in his lone season with the Jayhawks while averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists. He's an offense-first prospect and the opposite of so many other of Toronto's recent draft picks that have tended to be more defined on the defensive end.

"I think we have talked about finding those big, versatile wings. Those are the hardest to find and maybe this is like a complementary thing to fit around them," said Raptors general manager Webster said.

The Raptors say they had Dick in a tier of his own, but it's hard to believe that the team's lack of shooting didn't at least factor in the decision. He clearly impressed the team late in the draft process when he came to Toronto for a workout. His rare combination of size, shooting ability, and Basketball IQ stood out, Webster said.

"He's not just a shooter. I think he knows how to play off the ball," Webster continued. "He knows how to make backdoor cuts, he can pass well, he rebounds well, so I think he's more of a well-rounded player even though he's probably going to get pegged early as just a shooter."

On the Raptors, Dick's lack of on-ball shot creation shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam can create shots for others. VanVleet can do the same if he’s back with Toronto. The Raptors just need Dick whizzing around off the ball and nailing catch-and-shoot jumpers at an above-average rate.

"He's fearless, but not to the point where he is reckless," Andy Mitts of Blue Wings Rising said of Dick’s offense. “He has absolutely no problem with stepping into a deep shot or pump-faking to then drive into the lane. He can do so many things, and do them well, especially with time to learn. And, of course, that funky shot release makes it a lot harder to guard him, which helps open things up.”

The questions about Dick come on the defensive side. His size should make him serviceable but his lack of quickness created problems for Kansas at times.

“He’s a smart positional defender," said Raptors general manager Bobby Webster. "Obviously that is kind of where his IQ comes in. He knows where he is. He will probably tell you he’s limited to some extent one-on-one with the high-level athletes, but he played in the Big 12 so he’s played against the top kids his entire high school and college career so I think he knows how to play against guys that may be bigger or faster"

Barring a significant roster shakeup this summer, Dick isn’t likely to be a starter for Toronto next season. He should, however, see significant playing time as a bench wing, playing alongside Trent and Precious Achiuwa on the second unit.

Rest of the Draft

The top of the draft went as expected with Victor Wembanyama going at No. 1 to the San Antonio Spurs. Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson went at No. 2 and 3, respectively, before the Thompson brothers, Amen and Ausar, filled out the top five.

It wasn't until the No. 7 pick that the night had its first trade. Indiana sent Bilal Coulibaly to the Washington Wizards for the No. 8 pick, Jarace Walker, and two future second-round picks, per Shams Charania.

Oklahoma City moved up to No. 10 and acquired Davis Bertans from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for No. 12, Dereck Lively, per Charania. The trade allowed Dallas to clear cap space ahead of a big offseason for the Mavericks.

The first Canadian prospect, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, went off the board at No. 24 to the Mavericks. Fellow Canadian Leonard Miller from the G League Ignite went at No. 33 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

First-Round Draft Order

1. San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama

2. Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller

3. Portland Trail Blazers: Scoot Henderson

4. Houston Rockets: Amen Thompson

5. Detroit Pistons: Ausar Thompson

6. Orlando Magic: Anthony Black

7. Washington Wizards (via Indiana): Bilal Coulibaly

8. Indiana Pacers (via Washington): Jarace Walker

9. Utah Jazz: Taylor Hendricks

10. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Dallas): Cason Wallace

11. Orlando Magic: Jett Howard

12.: Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City): Dereck Lively

13. Toronto Raptors: Gradey Dick

14. New Orleans Pelicans: Jordan Hawkins

15. Atlanta Hawks: Kobe Bufkin

16. Utah Jazz: Keyonte George

17. Los Angeles Lakers: Jalen Hood-Schifino

18. Miami Heat: Jaime Jaquez Jr.

19. Golden State Warriors: Brandin Podziemski

20. Houston Rockets: Cam Whitmore

21. Brooklyn Nets: Noah Clowney

22. Brooklyn Nets: Dariq Whitehead

23. Portland Trail Blazers: Kris Murray

24. Dallas Mavericks (via Sacramento): Olivier-Maxence Prosper

25. Detroit Pistons (via Memphis): Marcus Sasser

26. Indiana Pacers: Ben Sheppard

27. Charlotte Hornets: Nick Smith Jr.

28. Utah Jazz: Brice Sensabaugh

29. Indiana Pacers: Julian Strawther

30. Los Angeles Clippers: Kobe Brown

Further Reading

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Raptors Talk Draft Philosophy, Trade Options, & 2023 Class Strengths Ahead of NBA Draft