2020 NBA draft profile: Tyrell Terry is an elite shooter

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Tyrell Terry

Position: G
Height: 6-2
Weight: 160 
School: Stanford 

If you’re searching for shooting in the 2020 NBA draft, Tyrell Terry is worth a close look. The diminutive guard will need to decide whether to stay in the draft or return to Stanford after averaging 14.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists as a freshman. With the early entry withdrawal deadline indefinitely postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, he’ll have more time to gauge his stock. 

Strengths 

Terry shot 40.8 percent from three-point range and 89.1 percent from the foul line this season. He has a pure, soft shot and can comfortably pull up from well beyond NBA range.

In an interview with Bryan Kalbrosky for HoopsHype, Terry said he watches a lot of Trae Young, Stephen Curry and Mark Price and tries to emulate those players. Comparisons to those three names are flattering, but they’re not entirely absurd. His deep range and ability to shoot off the dribble are qualities that evoke Young. Terry’s sharp relocations off the ball aren’t yet in Curry’s class, but he has impressive instincts as a mover, and as a passer as well. For those unfamiliar with Price, he made four All-Star appearances as a sweet-shooting, 6-foot point guard for the Cavs in the late ‘80s and early ’90s. 

For his size, Terry is an effective finisher around the basket thanks to his excellent body control and touch. After his junior year of high school, Terry played in a Pro-Am league with older players, and he looks like someone who’s already developed tools to compete against larger guys. 

Though the academic institution one attends obviously don’t always correlate with intelligence, Terry comes across as a smart person who won’t be overwhelmed by the non-physical aspects of the NBA. 

Weaknesses 

While he averaged 1.4 steals per game, defense will likely be a concern for Terry in the NBA. He’ll be limited to defending one position because of his size, and it’s valid to be skeptical of his ability to do that well.

Terry’s ball handling is not especially tight, though he can run the pick-and-roll and is also pretty good at keeping the ball moving and being part of an offense. Still, he’s not yet worthy of a legitimate “shot creator” label, and that might not ever be a primary NBA role for him.

His small frame is an unavoidable question. Even if he gains a substantial amount of muscle over the next couple of years, he still would probably have a strength disadvantage in many matchups. 

Fit 

Terry should be intriguing to the Sixers if he remains in the draft and is available at No. 22, where the team would currently select in the first round. He should be very attractive if he’s on the board at No. 34 or No. 36.

Terry's combination of elite shooting and secondary playmaking skills would be welcome on the Sixers. The defensive worries would be less of an issue here than on many other teams, since the Sixers have the versatility to minimize Terry’s weaknesses on that end.  



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