2023 Mock Draft: Cavaliers trade in, Pelicans trade up in lottery

NBA Mock Draft: Cleveland trades in at No. 10

The Dallas Mavericks aren’t looking to draft and develop another prospect; they want win-now help, and they are almost certainly going to use the No. 10 pick to acquire it. After receiving all sorts of offers, in our mock they pull the trigger on a deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers to help their defense and add a difference-maker at center in Jarrett Allen.

This trade, first pitched by Bleacher Report, accomplishes multiple things for the Cavaliers. They get a 3-and-D wing in Reggie Bullock to work into their playoff rotation (and potentially even start), they add an excellent defender and stretch-big in Maxi Kleber to increase their lineup versatility, and they get to take a top-flight prospect in this year’s Draft Lottery.

With that pick, the Cavaliers select Gradey Dick out of Kansas University. The 6’7″ wing is right there with Jordan Hawkins as the best shooter in the draft, and his combination of height and ball skills makes him the better prospect of the two. He can hit spot-up 2s, he loves the pump-dribble-shoot relocate shot, and he’s the kind of player teams will be terrified to leave open, opening up the court for his teammates.

Dick isn’t much of a playmaker, but he can put the ball on the deck to attack closeouts and either pull up in the midrange or go to the rim, where he’s a decent finisher. He plays hard and is a great addition to a locker room. He has defensive question marks, but the Cavs need shooting more than defense. He may not ever be a starter on a team starting two small guards, but he can be a bench bomber in a lot of lineups for Cleveland.