NBA Mock Draft: 3 Consolation prize lottery prospects if Knicks miss playoffs
Knicks Lottery prospect No. 3: Gradey Dick, Kansas
We’re playing something of a stepping-stone game here with the three lottery prospects we have highlighted. Brice Sensabaugh is an elite shooter and a porous defender. Jett Howard is a great shooter and a willing, if flawed, defender. In Gradey Dick, the Knicks could get even more of a complete package with shooting as the main event.
First, the shot: Dick is shooting 45.3 percent from long-range on six attempts per game, the exact combination of efficiency and volume you want from a future gunner. His shooting stroke is “flawless” according to Kevin O’Connor at The Ringer. He already knows how to run without the ball and finds openings in the defense to catch and fire.
He brings a lot more to the table, too. He leverages his shooting gravity to cut into the paint, with the strength to finish inside with a variety of moves. He isn’t going to dust someone in the triple threat but give him any advantage of momentum and he can absolutely get up for a dunk or floater, or hit an open teammate as the defense rotates.
Dick is not a great defender, but he plays hard and has great length. He also has rebounded well despite playing alongside two other bigs, pulling in 5.3 rebounds per game and fighting for boards among bigger, heftier players.
Any of these three players would instantly give the Knicks weaponized shooting, something their rotation could absolutely use. This team hopes not to have a first-round pick this year, but if they do, these three wings are great options to boost their offense.
