Dalen Terry’s wingspan measured at just under 7-foot-1 at the draft combine.
Not bad for a 6-7 guard.
And it’s still not nearly as impressive as what his confidence measured at.
That was a key piece that impressed several teams that interviewed the Arizona product over the last month, with the Bulls making him the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of Thursday’s NBA Draft.
In landing Terry, executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas & Co not only get an athletic defender that on paper can guard one through four, but also a player that attacks the rim on the offensive end with his ability to cut and move without the basketball.
All of that will show itself in time.
What the excitable Terry cared about was showing his new team was his “grit.’’
Not only did he guarantee that front offices that passed on him will feel silly when experts break out the redrafts in 10 years, but was taking names of the 17 players selected before him.
“Yes sir, I remember everybody already,’’ Terry said. “Like, yes, trust me, I got it.’’
Good to know because the Bulls need some more edge to them.
That was one of the recurring storylines throughout the season: Too many choir boys, not enough “dawgs.’’
Terry sounded like a guy willing to change that.
“My defense, my versatility is going to come over immediately,’’ he said of his game when discussing his strengths. “My energy, my leadership, all that, my grit, all those things that just make me who I am are going to keep me in this position starting tomorrow.’’
The red flags on why he did drop down to No. 18? Look no further than his scoring the basketball, or lack thereof.
Terry was not great from three-point range – an area the Bulls really need to improve on – and seemingly very passive on the offensive end at times.
He had an explanation. Of course the talkative 19-year-old did.
“My off-the-dribble shooting,’’ Terry said, when asked about an area he needed to improve on. But he also promised it was better than people thought, and the reason he seemed passive at times was because that’s what was asked of him in the Arizona system.
Defend and pass the ball.
“I’ve been working on [my shooting], but I can only tell you so much,’’ Terry said. “You gotta see it.’’
The Bulls will once again shortly, with Terry expected in town over the weekend.
And while Terry was the pick, that didn’t mean the Bulls weren’t busy exploring the trade landscape. According to general manager Marc Eversley, the team was busy behind the scenes throughout the 24 hours leading up to the draft, exploring options to move up or down in a draft that had a very equal landscape after the top three picks.
Not the only news that Eversley dropped, however.
When asked about unrestricted free agent Zach LaVine, Eversley reiterated the same message from the end-of-the-season interviews that the organization had “every intention to bring him back.’’
When asked if that meant giving LaVine a max contract, the GM responded, “I think we’re prepared to do what it will take to bring Zach back in the fold and be a Chicago Bull.’’
As far as other news from the draft, Paolo Banchero went No. 1 to the Magic, while Oklahoma City grabbed the 7-foot unicorn that is Chet Holmgren. Jabari Smith Jr. went No. 3 to the Houston Rockets.
After the top three went off the board all bets were off, as the Thunder and Pistons each made big swings with trades, as OKC acquired Ousmane Dieng from the Knicks at No. 11, while Detroit acquired Jalen Duren from Charlotte at 13.
