2020 NBA Draft Profile: Tyrell Terry

The Trail Blazers’ 2019-20 season is firmly in the rearview mirror and the 2020 NBA Draft is less than a week away. As of now, the draft is scheduled for November 18. Unlike last year, the Blazers enter the process with two picks at their disposal. Portland currently owns the No. 16 pick in the first round and the No. 46 pick in the second round.

Today’s profile looks at Tyrell Terry, the dynamic scoring guard out of Stanford. He put together an impressive freshman season, helping Stanford record its first 20-win season since 2014-15.

Tyrell Terry

• Height: 6’2”
• Weight: 160
• Shoots: Right
• Position: G
• Age: 20
• Projected draft range: 8-30

2019-20 Statistics

• PTS: 14.6 | Per 40: 18.0
• AST: 3.2 | Per 40: 3.9
• STL: 1.4 | Per 40: 1.7
• 3PT: 2.0 | Per 40: 2.5
• FG%: 44.1
• 3P%: 40.8
• FT%: 89.1

Strengths

Terry is a dynamic perimeter scorer. He can shoot off the dribble or the pass and he can connect on both from a non-stationary launching point. He has NBA range in all cases, hinting that his outside shooting will quickly translate to the next level. Terry has good, not great, vision but he makes smart wraparound or cross-court, kick-out passes from the pick and roll. Terry’s decision making and scoring elevates when he breaks out in transition. Defensively, he has quick feet while defending guards on the perimeter, and he uses his length to contest shots effectively.

Weaknesses

While Terry succeeds on the perimeter, his size and athleticism hinder his interior scoring. He frequently gets blocked and doesn’t have the handles or burst to beat opponents in one-on-one situations.

On the other end, Terry knows when to help on a cutter or driver and takes charges, but he sometimes over-helps and isn’t a major deterrent; he doesn’t muck up passing lanes quite like a longer wing does, and he certainly doesn’t protect the rim. The former Cardinal star lacks strength as well, so he struggles to navigate screens and allows bigger opponents to drive right through him.

2019-20 Season

Terry racked up several impressive accomplishments in his lone year at Stanford. He was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, and was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention. The last Stanford freshman to do both? Brook Lopez in 2007. Terry also earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week three times during the season. He recorded the second highest scoring average for a Stanford rookie and set a school record for single-season free throw percentage.

Overall Assessment

Terry will immediately be an offensive spark plug off the bench. His ability to shoot three-pointers from NBA range is an indispensable skill for undersized guards to possess these days. He’ll need to improve his handles and burst to become more of a driving threat.

His size and athleticism restrict his defensive upside; Terry won’t be able to defend bigger guards or wings. With increased strength, he’ll be able to punch above his weight class more than he can now, though. That, mixed with his good defensive IQ and willingness to take charges, is a foundation for a passable defender.

Overall Fit

Terry isn’t strong enough defensively to pair with Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum. He can’t defend elite guards, and Portland’s coaching staff certainly isn’t going to ask Lillard or McCollum to do so. Terry’s shortcomings on that end should be familiar to the Blazers; he has deficient defensive athleticism or screen navigation technique.

Terry would fare well as a secondary ball handler next to one of Lillard or McCollum, but the team already has that role covered off the bench in Anfernee Simons. If there’s one thing the roster doesn’t need another of, it’s a score-first, undersized guard.