[The following scouting report is part of a series on potential 2023 draft prospects from Sports Business Classroom alumni.]
Gradey Dick
Frame: 6’8″ 205lbs
Position: Wing
Team: Kansas
Year: Freshman
2023 Draft Age: 19
Stats via www.basketball-reference.com
Offense
Shooting is Dick’s most glaring strength, being one of the most valuable off-ball shooters in this draft class, currently shooting 42.5 percent on 134 attempts at this point in the season, according to www.barttorvik.com. At his height, he can rise over smaller wings with ease; he possesses a smooth two-motion shot, bringing the ball right above his head before shooting it. He has a high extension along with proper hand placement.
Due to limited mobility, he struggles to lose his man from off-ball actions or stagger screens. This can result in his man riding his hip and Dick not having an open look when he catches the ball. He may be limited as an off-ball scorer, but he can relocate from the wing to the corner or vice versa. However, being able to run through screens and get up a shot can be a struggle.
Dick doesn’t necessarily offer much as an on-ball shooter. He has a capable handle but doesn’t have the shiftiness or burst to get past defenders consistently. His on-ball shots typically come from pump fakes, taking a dribble to the side and then shooting. You will see Dick do this when he has hit a couple of shots and is hot. Otherwise, he is mainly a spot-up shooter.
As a mid-range scorer, Dick sometimes struggles; most of his attempts come from rip-throughs of the catch into a pullup. He lacks lift on these shots, making them easily contested by defenders. His makes typically come when they are wide open similar to his attempts from behind the arc—currently shooting 32.1 percent on 56 attempts.
Most of the athletic flaws that limit his mobility also affect his finishing. He is not an above-the-rim finisher and needs help to finish through traffic. He is a straight-line finisher that won’t improvise with a defender on him—shooting 59.4 percent on 69 attempts.
Dick is a good facilitator as an off-ball wing, making the extra pass when available, and does a good job attacking open space to free up looks for his teammates. Capable of cross-court passes and excels at hitting the big man rolling in pick and rolls. However, he should be viewed as a third-tier playmaker because he has to play off of other creators.
Defense
Dick is an off-ball defender, typically guarding the worst of the opposing team’s perimeter players. When he is switched onto a creator, he can hold his own with bigger players due to his size. He can be overpowered by forwards stronger than him and won’t offer much rim protection. He does a good job using his frame to absorb contact when offensive players bump him on drives. However, against smaller, shiftier guards, he needs to work on his lackluster lateral quickness. His susceptible to getting blown by with hesitation or a combo of crossover moves—leading to a buildup of fouls trying to get back in front of his man using his hands.
Although Dick is generally off-ball defensively, he does a fine job as a weak-side defender. He recognizes actions and does a solid job calling his teammates to switch when he can’t get through them. Dick does a good job putting himself in positions to pick off passing lanes, having a 2.8 percent steal percentage. He doesn’t necessarily garner any turnovers as a strong side defender but will stay with his man and won’t give up any open shots on kick outs.
On the glass, Dick offers some value as a defensive rebounder. He can come down with some boards in traffic with his height, especially over smaller offensive players. He has a habit of tipping the ball up in a direction away from offensive players surrounding him but in a position where he can go up and grab it. Averaging four defensive rebounds per game and has a 13.7 defensive rebounding percentage on the season.
Looking Ahead
Dick projects to be a connective piece on the offensive side of the floor at the next level. Although he is limited as an off-ball scorer, he should provide great value as a spot-up shooter from day one. His off-ball playmaking and ability to attack off the catch will allow him to play off other offensive engines.
Defensively Dick will fill the same role he currently does for Kansas as an off-ball defender. A player that can keep bigger wings in front of him while being susceptible to getting beat by shiftier guards and being an above-average help defender that can pick off pass attempts when positioned on the weak side.
At 6’7 with his offensive profile, Dick has a place in the NBA as a rotation player. His ability to play off of stars and complement their game while offering some value defensively should allow him to garner a key role right away, but his flaws on both sides of the ball hinder his upside for much more.
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