As we draw nearer and nearer to the 2022 NBA Draft, most teams are locking in on their top prospects. As I said in my latest scouting report on MarJon Beauchamp, the Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly casted a very wide net of prospects they might be interested in at pick 14.
Players like Malaki Branham, Jalen Williams, and Ochai Agbaji will likely be coming to Cleveland at some point in the near future, as those three will definitely be in play at 14. Branham has, for what it’s worth. However, there’s another prospect out there that seems to be shooting up draft boards after the combine. That would be former Arizona wing Dalen Terry.
I have to be honest, I think the buzz could be a bit overblown, but I will say this, he definitely looks the part of an NBA player. Standing at 6’7″ and weighing in at nearly 200 pounds, Terry is an extremely athletic wing, who is actually a very good passer.
He played two seasons at Arizona, where he was a defensive stud. He has a 7-foot wingspan and the footspeed and quickness to stay in front of drivers. He has a chance to be a very special defensive player in the NBA. On the offensive end is where the questions start to get asked. Despite that, if you watch Terry’s tape, he’s another guy that plays excellent defense and loves to get out on the break.
Outside of the top-three players in this draft, Bennedict Mathurin might be my favorite prospect in the entire draft. However, he’s likely going to be gone by the 14th pick, so hopefully some of his college play rubbed off on Terry. Either way, let’s take a closer look at just how well Terry stacks up in the NBA.
Dalen Terry Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 6’7″, 195 LBS
2021-2022 Arizona Wildcats Stats: 8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 3.9 APG
3-Point/Field Goal/Free Throw: 36.4%/50.2%/73.6%
Terry is one of the younger players in the 2022 NBA Draft, being only 19 years old still. Many liken his situation to that of Josh Primo’s last year. The San Antonio Spurs shocked nearly everybody when they made him a lottery pick.
Being a young and explosive playmaker on the offensive end is how Terry is effective in the halfcourt. For a wing, he has excellent court vision, and makes passes that will really surprise you. He can also be the screener or the ball-handler in pick-and-roll situations. He needs to improve his jumper, but shooting 36% from deep last year helped his draft stock. One of the best ways Terry gets involved, is with a lot of movement without the ball. He is a great slasher on the offensive end, on-ball, though, and when he attacks the rim, it’s with authority.
On the defensive end he is a special talent. Like I mentioned, his long arms and lateral quickness help him stay in front of all ball-handlers and deflect passes. His instincts on defense are very impressive, as he averaged 1.2 steals per game this past season. Terry’s shot isn’t perfect, but the Cavs can fine-tune it, and hopefully he gets even a little bit better. Finally, he really just needs to add more to his offensive arsenal if he wants to succeed at the next level.
With a lot of the prospects like Terry in the 2022 NBA Draft, the question marks start and end on the offensive end. He needs to become a more consistent shooter, and improve his shot selection. He knows he’s not Ray Allen, but sometimes he can play a bit out of control.
As for his frame, he will need to add bulk, but once he gets into an NBA weight room that shouldn’t be too hard.
Terry and Beauchamp in the mix at #14?
In an article for Cleveland.com on Wednesday, Cavaliers beat writer Chris Fedor reported (subscription required) that both Beauchamp and Terry were in the mix with the 14th pick. Terry and Beauchamp thrive on the defensive end, and I know J.B. Bickerstaff loves to push defense, so does adding a player whose only significant strength at this time is his defense make sense?
Personally I would not. The big lineup was very successful this past year for the Cavs, when the three bigs were healthy. However, it’s up in the air if they want to continue to play like that long term, in my opinion. I would think they would rather divert back to a regular lineup eventually. So, with that being said, I just don’t see how the Cavaliers can justify taking either player at #14.
Don’t get me wrong, I like both these players a lot, and do think they would be great defensive additions to whoever selects them. Terry is incredibly athletic, but he can get lost on the court. Some possessions he will just stay in the corner for the entire shot clock. Improving his jumper would not only help his game, but it would help his teammates as well. Terry isn’t the best shooter or scorer; still, for a long wing player like he is, he is a very good playmaker, which could end up freeing up guys like Darius Garland and Lauri Markkanen.
Like I said I’m a fan of both players, because they both will almost certainly be good on the defensive end in the NBA. But, I just don’t see the Cavs going with either, considering it’s a lot of risk, for potentially a low reward that high in the draft.
With that being said, the positionless movement is all over the NBA right now, so a team might look to add him as a defensive stopper now, and help him develop his offensive game over time.
Either way, I’m just ready to see who the Cavs leave draft night with on their roster, especially at #14.