NBA Draft: Magic Seeking 'Elite Shooter' Gradey Dick?
ORLANDO - If the Orlando Magic still hold on to the No. 11 pick in Thursday's draft and Gradey Dick is still on the board, it will be difficult for the team to pass him up.
Dick, who turns 20 in November, is projected to be a lottery pick in the NBA Draft later this week and could be an instant contributor for a number of teams in his rookie season, including the Magic.
Among Orlando's biggest needs is three-point shooting, and Dick may be the best shooter from distance in the draft.
"When thinking about all of the attributes that make an elite shooter, Dick checks all of the boxes," SI writes. "For starters, he’s got a smooth shot and quick release that results in him converting on a high percentage of his triples. Dick is also great at moving without the ball, with a great understanding of how to get himself open for a shot."
In his one year at Kansas, the 6-8 wing averaged 14.1 points per game while shooting 40.3 percent from three-point land.
Last season, Orlando shot 47 percent from the field, good for 20th in the NBA. From beyond the three-point arc, the Magic shot just 34.7 percent, which ranked them 24th in the league.
The team employs Gary Harris, whose 43.1 percent clip from distance ranked second in the league last season behind Memphis Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard. However, Harris' contract expires after the 2023-24 campaign, and it's non-guaranteed money, meaning the Magic could simply cut him before the end of the month and not have to pay a penny.
Harris will likely stay, but Dick offers a younger, more long-term solution that the Magic can count on not just in 2023-24 but beyond.
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