Gradey Dick's Make-or-Break Move to the Clippers
The biggest Kansas alumni story of the week has nothing to do with a box score — it's a transaction that could define Gradey Dick's NBA career. The former Jayhawk guard was shipped from Toronto to Los Angeles as part of the long-delayed, league-investigation-stalled blockbuster that finally sent Kawhi Leonard back to the Raptors. Toronto surrendered Dick, Brandon Ingram, two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), an unprotected 2027 pick swap, and two second-round selections to pry Leonard out of Clipper Land.
The trade had been agreed upon back in June but sat in limbo for more than two months while the NBA investigated the Clippers for salary cap circumvention. When the league finally cleared the deal on Monday, Dick found himself with a new address and a new narrative.
The stakes couldn't be higher for the 2023 lottery pick. Now entering his fourth NBA season, Dick is running out of runway to prove he belongs. As Sports Illustrated framed it bluntly: this is his last real chance. In Toronto, he was a promising but inconsistent piece on a rebuilding team. In Los Angeles, he lands in a more fluid situation — the Clippers are retooling around the Ingram acquisition, and Dick will have genuine opportunity to carve out a role if he can translate his shooting talent into reliable production.
The 6-foot-6 wing out of Lawrence showed flashes during his tenure with the Raptors — his three-point stroke was never in question — but consistency and defensive engagement held him back from ascending to a dependable rotation spot. A change of scenery, and a new coaching staff with fresh eyes, is exactly the kind of reset a young player in his position needs. Whether he seizes it is another matter entirely.
Embiid's Supporting Cast Takes a Hit
In Philadelphia, Joel Embiid's offseason got a little more complicated. The 76ers spent the summer building what looks like a genuine contender — landing LeBron James in free agency and acquiring Jaylen Brown to form a star-studded trio — but depth concerns are already emerging before training camp opens. Backup center Adem Bona suffered a foot injury that could bleed into the preseason, leaving questions about who adequately spells Embiid in the frontcourt. For a franchise that has watched its franchise center miss significant time in recent seasons, roster depth behind Embiid isn't a footnote — it's a recurring anxiety.
Wiggins Staying Put in Miami — For Now
Andrew Wiggins re-upped with the Miami Heat earlier this offseason, committing to a team that made arguably the most aggressive roster overhaul of the summer by landing Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, and Bobby Portis. The former Kansas star figures to slot alongside that newly assembled core as the Heat position themselves as Eastern Conference contenders. That said, his name has already surfaced in trade speculation — Heavy Sports reported the Heat could explore moving Wiggins for an elite wing upgrade — so even a signed deal doesn't guarantee his role is set in stone.
Braun Navigating Nugget Uncertainty
Christian Braun enters 2026-27 in an unsettled Denver situation. The Nuggets had a turbulent offseason — losing Peyton Watson, fielding trade inquiries on multiple roster pieces including Braun, and facing questions about Nikola Jokic's long-term future. Braun was among those linked to trade rumors, per Heavy Sports, though he remains on the roster. If Denver's retooling continues, the Kansas wing could find himself at the center of more deadline-season conversations.
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