NBA Mock Draft 9.0: What if Blazers win the No. 1 pick; Rockets take big risk at No. 4

NBA Draft prospect Keyonte George (Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports)
NBA Draft prospect Keyonte George (Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports)
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NBA Draft
NBA Draft prospect Gradey Dick (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

8. Indiana Pacers – Gradey Dick, G, Kansas

After a respectable start to the season, the Indiana Pacers hit a roadblock and stumbled mightily during the second half of the season. Heading into the offseason, the Pacers will be looking to continue to add to this core in an attempt to make the jump to a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. With their projected top-10 pick, one prospect that could help the Pacers take another step forward is Gradey Dick.

Dick is somewhat of a polarizing prospect but I have him as one of the best guards in this year’s NBA Draft class. He is a great shooter – shooting 40-plus percent from 3-point range during his freshman season at Kansas – and has the capability to be so much more on the offensive end if he continues to develop.

Dick would give the Pacers depth on the wing and give the team options. He makes even more sense if they want to play Tyrese Haliburton at the point guard position moving forward. Does Dick have a limited ceiling? Who knows. But that may not even matter much with how talented this Pacers roster is at the moment.