2023 NBA Mock Draft: Mavericks land difference-maker, Victor Wembanyama heads East

10. Dallas Mavericks draft Gradey Dick

The Mavs pick is top ten protected, so if one of the teams below them in the lottery jumps up, Dallas will convey this selection to the New York Knicks from the original Kristaps Porzingis trade in 2019. May 16 will be a massive night for the franchise as they need this selection to improve their roster this summer.

The Mavericks could trade this pick as they attempt to get significantly better in a hurry. If Dallas keeps it, they should be looking for the best player available, despite needing wing depth and a starting center. The Mavs must add size and defense this summer if they want to jump back into the playoffs in 2024, but they do not have to do it in the draft.

Gradey Dick is one of the best shooters in this class. He made 40.3 percent of his 206 3-point attempts during his lone season at Kansas. The 6’8 wing competes hard on the defensive end, and his offensive game suggests he should be more than a shooting specialist in the NBA.

Can Dick hold up on the defensive end? He plays hard, but his lack of quickness and slight frame suggests that he will struggle early on. The 19-year-old has plenty of potential, and his shooting should immediately translate to the NBA. That alone should ensure that he gets selected in the lottery.