The Toronto Raptors were finally on the clock at No. 13 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, which has been full of expected names going at the top of the order and some unusual moves at the tail end of the lottery. Masai Ujiri had planned this pick for months, and he finally pulled the trigger.
With the No. 13 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Raptors selected Kansas wing Gradey Dick in a move that seems to fill one of Toronto’s biggest needs. The team needed shooting, and Dick emerged as one of the best shooters in the entire country in his lone collegiate season.
With Fred VanVleet’s future uncertain and very few of the team’s stalwarts signed beyond the end of this season, restocking the cupboards with a high-end young talent was necessary. They did that by bringing in a bench microwave who can score right away.
Amid some concerns the Raptors could look for more forward depth or positional versatility, Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster instead chose to fix a big problem from last year and give Toronto a lethal shooter that can help Darko Rajakovic’s offense take flight.
Raptors select Gradey Dick with the No. 13 pick ‼️ pic.twitter.com/N5SzTXdHCg
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 23, 2023
Toronto Raptors select Gradey Dick in 2023 NBA Draft.
Last season with the Jayhawks, Dick averaged 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game on 44% shooting and 40% from 3-point range. Dick figures to slot in as a bench player during his rookie season, doing so while giving them some much-needed energy and athleticism.
It’s fairly obvious to see why Dick was a highly regarded prospect at this stage of the draft. Not only can he stroke it from deep, but he can attack the rim with surprising ferocity and never turns his motor off on either end of the floor. That is a Raptors pick if I’ve ever heard one.
Dick is not a perfect prospect, however, as there are reasons he was available at this point in the draft. Once he gets to the NBA, he needs to work on becoming a more effective defender, all while adding weight to a thin frame.
A shooting guard? A shooting guard! Raptors don't draft for need, as Tolzman reiterated earlier this week. In this case though, it sure helps that their guy also happens to address a few key needs. Gradey Dick hit 40% of his 3PA at Kansas last season... And we know he's not shy pic.twitter.com/SjG7bWbkWe
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) June 23, 2023
The last time the Raptors had a lottery pick, they used on a future Rookie of the Year and franchise cornerstone in Scottie Barnes. Time will tell if Dick and his sparkly red suit follow the same path, but he has a strong base to work with. Rajakovic, who worked with Desmond Bane and Luke Kennard, could be the ideal coach for him.