2023 NBA Mock Draft 6.0: Mavs’ $750K fine pays off

Orlando is already very far along in their rebuild. Banchero and Wagner are banging down the door to stardom, Wendell Carter Jr. is the ideal connective-tissue big, and Markelle Fultz is starting to remind folks why he was once the No. 1 pick. The Magic play quality, competitive defense and the bones of a one-day elite offense are in place.

This draft helps get them closer to that elite offense. Gradey Dick immediately increases Orlando’s 3-point rate and vastly improves the spacing around Banchero and Fultz. He’s arguably the best shooter on the board, with picturesque mechanics and the ability to elevate into his shot at a moment’s notice, whether he’s flying off a screen J.J. Redick-style or probing his defender off the dribble.

That said, Dick is much more than a shooter. At 6-foot-8, he’s not an athletic stiff. He can get above the rim here and there, especially when given a runway in transition. He’s more than capable of punishing errant closeouts with drives down the lane. His body control in the paint is frequently impressive, although he probably needs to add more muscle for the NBA. Off the ball, Dick punishes lackadaisical defense with timely backdoor cuts and constant relocation.

Defense is probably the biggest area of concern with Dick, again because he simply lacks weight. He’s smart and competitive and should, if nothing else, provide competent team defense. Whether he can hold up on an island with top-shelf NBA athletes is the real question.