Gradey Dick (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
NBA Draft rumors: Mavericks don’t want Gradey Dick
Projected lottery pick Gradey Dick worked out for the Dallas Mavericks early in the week, but according to Tim Cato of The Athletic, we shouldn’t expect anything to come of it.
The Mavs’ new front office is reportedly focused on “athleticism and physicality” more than the former regime, which was more preferential toward skilled players — sometimes at the expense of athleticism.
Dick is the No. 13 prospect on the FanSided big board. At 6-foot-8, he’s one of the best shooters in the draft. It’s not difficult to imagine a productive fit next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the offensive end, with Dick flying around screens and stretching the defense thin with his shooting gravity. He’s also a talented connective playmaker who can beat closeouts with dribble pull-ups or get some hang time for finishes around the rim.
That being said, Dick does profile as a mild athlete who lacks the physicality Dallas desperately needs on the defensive end. It wouldn’t even be fair to call Dick a poor defender — he’s very intelligent and frequently disruptive off the ball — but he’s skinny at the point of attack and prone to blow-bys in the face of quicker, twitcher guards.
The Mavs shouldn’t rule out Dick completely depending on how the board falls, but Dallas does feel like a team that should prioritize athleticism and defensive edge in the frontcourt. Dick will probably find his NBA home elsewhere.