(670 The Score) The Bulls selected Arizona guard Dalen Terry with the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the NBA Draft on Thursday evening.
The 6-foot-7 Terry, who will turn 20 in July, averaged 8.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.2 steals in 27.8 minutes for the Wildcats last season, when he also earned all-Pac 12 defensive team honors. He started all 37 games that he played in.
“My defense and my versatility is going to come over immediately,” Terry said in a Zoom call shortly after being selected. “Those are the things that I can do every day. I believe also that my energy, my leadership and all that, my grit, all those things that make me who I am are going to keep me in this position (to be successful).”
“I feel like I fit in perfectly (with the Bulls). I’m a lengthy guard, and I’m going to do anything to win.”
Terry shot 50.2% overall and 36.4% on 3-pointers last season, attempting 2.1 from long range per game. He has good athleticism and also has flashed strong playmaking and passing, according to scouting reports. He has a lanky frame, with a wingspan of 7 feet, 3/4 inches while weighing 195 pounds.
“He’s going to bring versatility on both ends of the floor," Bulls general manager Marc Eversley said. "Defensively, I think he’s going to be able to switch one through three. I think offensively, he’s going to get out and run. I think last year early on, we had a lot of success when we created turnovers defensively and got out and ran. I think he is somebody who’s going to be able to do that for us. He’s a capable 3-point shooter. I wouldn’t call him a 3-point shooter. But with his makeup … he just brings an energy and a vibe that I think he’s going to fit really well within this gym. He competes. He plays hard. He brings energy. And I think he’s going to be a great fit.”
Terry's shooting consistency needs to improve, according to talent evaluators. Terry understands that, citing his off-the-dribble shooting as the area he wants to immediately work on the most. He also knows he needs to get bigger.
“I’ve got to grow quick, I’m about to play grown men,” he said.
Terry worked out for the Bulls in May before the NBA Draft Combine.
“I really wanted to be here,” Terry said. “It’s crazy. I called my agent immediately, right after (the workout). I was like, ‘That’s where I need to be.’ It’s great that they drafted me. Man, I’m so happy.”
The Bulls didn’t hold a second-round pick entering Thursday, so Terry was the only addition they made. They were active in trade talks before staying put at No. 18, Eversley said.
"We took a lot of calls for both scenarios (trading up and down), and just nothing stood out to us," Eversley said. "And when Dalen was on the board and we saw that we were going to be able to select him, we were excited about it."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
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