2022 NBA Draft Profile: Dalen Terry
Arizona's Dalen Terry is on the rise. Could he be in play for the Hawks at No. 16? Let's dive in.
Welcome to The Hawks Collective newsletter! Atlanta had a disappointing yet promising season led by the continued stardom of Trae Young, Onyeka Okongwu’s development as the center of the future, and plenty more. The NBA draft takes place on June 23, so we’ll be profiling several players who the Hawks may consider selecting with its No. 16 and No. 44 picks. Today’s subject: Dalen Terry of Arizona.
Measurements
Height: 6-7
Weight: 195 lbs
Wingspan: 7-1
Draft Age: 19.9 y/o
Statistical Profile
The Basics: 27.8 minutes, 8.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.2 steals,
Efficiency: 57% on twos, 36% on threes, 74% on free throws
Advanced: 14% usage, 22% assist rate, 2.5% steal rate
Misc: 25% of possessions in transition, 2.8 ast/to
The Intrigue
Versatility: Terry is the perfect model of the modern long athletic wing, who impacts the game in every facet and doesn’t have many glaring weaknesses; very much like the Raptors’ entire roster and Herb Jones.
The intangibles: Beyond the stat sheet, Terry prides himself on his energy and “dog-like mentality”. If you haven’t heard him speak on his game, give his interview with Mike Schmitz of ESPN a watch:
Defense: Agile & active with a high motor, long seven-foot arms & great defensive anticipation lead to a lot of steals and give him an All-NBA defense ceiling.
Vision & Awareness: One of the best ast/to ratios in the draft because he doesn’t turn the ball over and makes every pass count. Excellent finding backdoor cutters and making smart decisions with the ball in his hands.
Areas of Improvement
Outside shooting: He shot alright from 3-point range at 36-percent last season but on low volume (roughly two attempts per game). His catch & shoot ability is reliable enough to not worry about long-term offensive projection but it is a clear limitation to his ceiling.
Self-creation: His inability to create looks out of isolation & off-the-bounce in half-court settings can limit his offensive role. In addition, he only took 1.4 free throws per game, adding more to his reluctance to finish through contact.
Team Fit
Should the Hawks draft him at 16? Why not?
Should the Hawks draft him at 44? He’ll be long gone, I wish.
The two biggest issues for the Hawks are secondary ball-handling and defensive identity & Terry solves both of those to a certain level. Offensively, he will play the same role in the NBA as he did in college — run the point in second units and create for the team when needed while also being a catch & shoot option. Defensively, he is a game-changer. A defensive duo of Terry and DeAndre Hunter would bring intensity, energy, and the right attitude to help raise the standards to another level. If the Hawks do feel confident about Dyson Daniels and he isn’t available at No. 16, why not Dalen Terry? If Terry is likely to slide into the late first, I wouldn’t be against a small trade back into the 20s to take him as well, but I can almost guarantee he won’t make it to No. 44. Everyone wants a Herb Jones, well here is that in the 2022 NBA Draft.