All Chicago Bulls fans need to do is look at the film to know why Dalen Terry’s name came out of Adam Silver’s mouth on Thursday night.
The 19-year-old very much falls in line with the draft picks we’ve seen from this new regimen since they took over the organization in 2020. Like Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams, Terry offers excellent positional size and a level of versatility that is coveted across today’s NBA. Not to mention, his unselfish brand of basketball should immediately fit inside a Bulls offense that hopes to push the pace in transition and keep the ball moving in the halfcourt.
Terry was a quintessential part of an Arizona basketball team that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. He earned Pac-12 All-Defensive Team honors and played with a level of energy that radiated across the team. While his 8.0 points and 3.9 assists per game may not check all your boxes on the surface, he passes the eye test with flying colors.
Let’s start these bullets with a look at some of what he brings to the floor, shall we?
- First things, I think it’s safe to say he’ll hold his own on one of the NBA’s best transition teams.
- Turning defense into offense might very well become the Terry Special. He averaged just under 2.0 steals per game per 40 minutes for the Wildcast, being a perimeter anchor who finished on the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.
- Speaking of offense, he could very well be one of the smartest passers in the draft. While I think he projects to be more of a wing than a jumbo-guard at the next level, there is no question he has real secondary-playmaking potential.
- He surveys the court and threads the needle.
- He talks the talk. Known as a “glue guy” at Arizona, Terry is one of the most confident and lively characters when he’s on the floor. And, don’t make the mistake, this mentality rarely translates into poor decision-making.
- If the Bulls wanted more – as the cliche analysts say – “dawgs,” Terry fits that mold perfectly. It’s one of the reasons ESPN’s Mike Schmitz said he was one the biggest risers in the pre-draft processes:
Terry was one of the combine’s biggest winners without even playing a 5-on-5 game. Officially just testing the waters, Terry is quickly emerging as a potential top-20 pick now that teams have had the opportunity to sit down with the charismatic, high-energy 19-year-old to learn more about him. League executives we spoke with consistently raved about Terry’s interviews, citing his competitiveness, feel for the game and engaging personality.
- If you have the time (it’s Friday, work is overrated), sit back and watch 13 minutes of what Terry can do below. The versatility should stand out immediately, and I don’t think it’s hard at all to picture in the Bulls’ rotation that won them so many games during the first half of the season.
- I truly don’t think I’m being a homer by feeling excited about this pick. While his name may not have been the most familiar, he remained a prospect that many believed to go right in the Bulls’ range. Heck, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor had him ranked as the 19th best prospect, The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie had him ranked 17th, and SBNation’s Ricky O’Donnell had him 15th on his big board. Again, his stats don’t jump off the page, but Terry feels like a safe bet. And I don’t mind saying that about someone who came in the mid-first-round. Rarely, if ever, do you get a true star at this spot on the board, so take someone who you think can be a star in their role.
“Itโs hard to see how Terry is not a starter-quality player if the shot translates,” Vecenie wrote after the pick was made. “He just brings so many things NBA teams are looking for from non-star players. It might take some time with the jumper, but he is a terrific bet to be a good role player.”
- Watch Marc Eversley make the pick!
- Last night was the first time we saw Eversley really take the reigns. Not only did the GM seem to be the in charge of the draft war room, but he was the lone face to meet with the media afterward. He also dropped plenty of news in that conversation with reporters, and you can read about some of that here (Lonzo Ball update) and here (Zach LaVine update).
- In other news, the Summer League squad is filling out!
- The Blackhawks have a new coach!
- Hey, that’s a fun Cubs thing!