Ranking the 5 best small forwards in the 2023 NBA Draft

NBA Draft #2: Gradey Dick, Kansas

Gradey Dick is a lottery-caliber prospect mainly based on one skill. But it’s the most important skill in the league and nobody in his draft class is better at it than the Kansas Jayhawks alum.

As a freshman, the former Gatorade National Player of the Year averaged 14.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Those numbers are fine on their own, but it’s the shooting that carries Dick over the line.

He’s widely considered the best shooter in the class. He hit 40.3 percent of his three-point attempts a year ago. When he went to Lawrence, he was expected to pop as a potential lottery pick due to his three-point shooting capabilities and he lived up to those expectations perfectly.

Dick is able to find his spots on the court and his size allows him to get off shots easier than some of the players smaller than his 6-foot-6 frame. His release is quick and he’s able to shoot in a wide variety of situations, from catch-and-shoot to off the dribble.

Besides his shooting prowess, Dick is also a good rebounder for his size and fights hard for loose balls. He’s not considered a good defender, but always appears to be competing on that end of the court.

He’s not much of a creator on the offensive end, either, and could end up tethered to a catch-and-shoot role. It would help to develop more playmaking skills and to bulk up to help on the defensive end.

The warts are worth it – shooters are the premium players in the NBA right now.