2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0: Victor Wembanyama makes surprise team happy
12. player. 27. . G, Kansas. New York Knicks. Gradey Dick
The Knicks finally have steady point guard production to complement the (at times unstable) frontcourt playmaking of Julius Randle and R.J. Barrett. Now, they need to surround their core with solid complementary pieces who can shoot, defend, and connect the dots for Tom Thibodeau’s offense.
Gradey Dick has been one of the biggest early-season risers on draft boards. It’s not hard to see why: at 6-foot-7, he’s a knockdown movement shooter with the athleticism to get out in the open court and play above the rim. He already looks like more than a cookie cutter 3-and-D wing, and he’s the exact kind of secondary talent the Knicks should covet.
New York’s lack of consistent two-way production from its reserves has been an Achilles heel. Dick brings energy and a measure of versatility to the defensive end, which can’t be said for every shooting specialist who enters the NBA. He can fly around screens, make timely cuts to the rim, and constantly move into open space to present the Knicks’ creators with a play-finishing outlet.
Paired with Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley long-term (assuming the Knicks don’t panic-trade Quickley), Dick would give the New York backcourt a solid foundation around Jalen Brunson. He’s not the most explosive or imminently talented player on the board, but Dick profiles as an immediate contributor and high-level role player who can elevate the Knicks’ stars with floor spacing and rock-solid execution.