Predicting the top 5 rookies heading into the 2023

Predicting the top 5 rookies heading into the 2023–24 NBA season

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Gradey Dick, Kansas Jayhawks /

5. Gradey Dick, Shooting Guard, Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors just lost one of their key go-to initiators and scorers in free agency, Fred VanFleet, who played a pivotal role in their 2019 championship run. With VanFleet gone the Raptors added Dennis Schroeder to try to make up for the void and will still have Gary Trent Jr at the starting two-guard position.

Outside of Trent, the Raptors are very light on off-guards and will need their rookie and 13th overall pick out of Kansas, Gradey Dick to play key minutes and have a role from day one of his rookie year.

Dick is a confident, flamboyant player from Kansas who at 6-foot-8 is the best shooter from the draft class this year shooting 40% from three-point range as a Jayhawk last season… Talk about a dead-eyed sniper!

He’s not overly athletic but he can throw one home if he has an open lane and has a beautiful release and follow through on his jumper. Dick will be playing important minutes for a Raptors team that looks to be heading into a new era with him and Scottie Barnes as the young foundational pieces to build around for the foreseeable future despite Pascal Siakam being there as the last true pivotal player from that Raptors title run in 2019 with Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Norman Powell, and VanFleet all gone.

Dick’s confidence and acumen as a shooter and scorer will help find him minutes in the Raptors rotation as they seem to be going through a transformation period in the franchise.