Raptors fill biggest need by drafting sharp-shooting Gradey Dick

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The NBA draft took a few unexpected turns and the Toronto Raptors benefitted with the most obvious answer to their biggest need available with the No. 13 pick.

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Gradey Dick, a 40% three-point shooter at Kansas last season and the consensus best shooter in the draft, was not expected to be on the board when Toronto’s selection rolled around. But he was, as were a couple of other options that few expected would be there, but the Raptors stuck with their greatest need and stuck with shooting.

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Also on the board were Villanova’s Cam Whitmore, who was appearing as early as fifth on some mock draft boards, as were Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin and Baylor guard Keyonte George, two of the most often mentioned targets of the secretive Raptors draft team.

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Dick, though, is the response to how the Raptors will improve on their 28^th overall three-point percentage as a team.

A native of Wichita, Kan., Dick stands a slender 6-foot-6 and is not yet 20 years old, but arrives with one of the most efficient shooting strokes in the college game and a basketball IQ that scouts rave about.

If there is a drawback, it is his ability to defend, though that is expected to improve as he adds some bulk to his slight frame.

Any chance of the Raptors trading up in the draft appeared to die with a report from Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, who late Thursday afternoon tweeted out that Raptors all-star forward Pascal Siakam would not be re-signing with any team that trades for him, as his preference is to remain with the Raptors.

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That’s a far cry from the past, when all-stars who came up in Toronto actually worked to get away from the organization, so as much as anyone might want to criticize Siakam for dictating terms on the organization, keep in mind that he is choosing to stay here, something few have done.

There were plenty of suggestions that Siakam could be Portland bound in exchange for that No. 3 pick that landed the Trail Blazers Scoot Henderson. Obviously, more salary would have had to come back to make the deal work, but that kind of deal appeared to address the needs of both teams with Toronto looking to free up some space and shots for Scottie Barnes and Portland seeming to be on the lookout to find a star to play alongside Damian Lillard and keep their franchise player happy.

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Instead, the Trail Blazers stood pat and brought in Henderson. The question now is whether they will hang on to Lillard or those rumours about him going to Miami gain strength.

As for the Raptors, the work is just beginning. They still have decisions to make in regards to bringing back point guard Fred VanVleet and centre Jakob Poeltl or not.

But the arrival of Dick ensures the Raptors’ offensive woes in the halfcourt and from behind the three-point line are less today than they were 24 hours earlier.

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