How Gradey Dick Fits with the OKC Thunder

Next up in the Thunder Fits series, which will detail each 2023 NBA draft prospects fit with the Thunder, is Kansas hybrid Gradey Dick.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder entering the offseason, it’s officially time to time to switch gears to prospect evaluation mode.

And this year’s impending draft has plenty of players that can help bolster the OKC core.

No matter how unlikely it is Oklahoma City lands certain prospects, the Thunder Fit series will take a look at how they would fit with the current team’s configuration. And with a war chest of assets, you never know how far the front office could move up to acquire a player.

The next prospect up in the series is Kansas one-and-done Gradey Dick, who wowed with his special shooting touch and connective scoring.

Here’s how Dick could fit alongside the rest of the Thunder core:

Offense

Averaging 14.1 points while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc on 5.7 three-point attempts per game, Dick is one of the better shooting prospects we’ve seen in recent years.

He’s got a clean and projectable stroke, plenty of shot variance and the stats to back it up. Even more, at 6-foot-8, he’s got solid positional size, was a decent at-rim finisher and off-ball cutter and is sneakily athletic.

Alongside OKC’s premier playmakers in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams, Dick would likely thrive as a movement shooter and connective scoring piece. Similarly to Isaiah Joe’s breakout in the 2022-23 season, Dick would be a weapon alongside OKC’s guard trio that wouldn’t need the ball in-hands to thrive.

Unfortunately for Thunder fans hoping the team adds shooting this offseason, the front office hasn’t yet shown they value shooting this high in the draft.

Defense

Defensively, Dick is a work in progress. He’s slower-footed and, despite having some size, can struggle with on-ball defense.

He was a solid defensive playmaker, averaging 1.4 steals per game with Kansas. But for the most part, his ceiling as an NBA defender is most likely going to be a wash.

The Thunder are already working to cover Giddey defensively alongside Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, Luguentz Dort and Chet Holmgren. Adding Dick to that mix could present a tricky challenge.

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