Is Tyrell Terry one of the few 2020 prospects with star potential?

The Nuggets currently hold the No. 22 pick in the NBA Draft and the DNVR Nuggets crew is examining who Denver could pick with that selection. Make sure to mark your calendar for Wednesday, November 18, the night of the draft and DNVR Nuggets Draft Day LIVE streaming on Periscope and YouTube.

Who is Tyrell Terry?

After Steph Curry won his first MVP award in 2015, a high school coach told me that he was concerned about how Curry’s ascension would impact basketball at the youth level. At the time, Curry was the NBA’s biggest disruptor and was rewriting the rulebook on what a good three-pointer was. This coach was worried that Curry, who was the face of the league at the time, would be the guy that his players would try to emulate. He didn’t want his 16-year-olds launching logo threes in the middle of a high school game.

When Curry won his second-straight MVP in 2016, Tyrell Terry was 16-years-old and charting his own basketball journey at DeLaSalle High School in Minnesota. It’s obvious how influential Curry’s rise was to how Terry plays the game.

Terry, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound guard out of Stanford, has a similar build to Curry and a similar propensity to fire from well beyond the three-point line. Terry has limitless range, a quick trigger, and a smooth looking jumper. Terry’s crafty in the pick-and-roll, is already an expert relocator when he gives the ball up, and projects as a good passer with a sky-high basketball IQ. This draft isn’t heavy on star-level talent, but because of how Terry should be able to bend defenses with his three-point shooting, he has a chance.

Strengths

• Elite shooter with a quick release. Can shoot off screens, pull up off the dribble, and relocate like Curry.
• Projects as a good pick-and-roll player and solid passer. Already a crafty finisher. He’s still raw, but at 19-years-old has a lot of development left to do.

Weaknesses

• Takes some wild shots where his form is compromised.
• He’ll get targeted on the defensive end due to his lack of size/strength.

NBA Comparison: Trae Young

How does Terry fit with the Nuggets?

Offense

Terry has been one of the biggest risers throughout the pre-draft process. He’s currently being mocked as a potential lottery pick and mid-first round selection. If I’m a team that’s looking for a point guard to take on a substantial offensive load and potentially structure my offense around, I’d take a hard look at Terry.

That’s obviously not the Nuggets, who have Jamal Murray under contract for the next five seasons. Denver could have a hole opening at backup point guard though. Monte Morris is currently up for an extension in an offseason where the Nuggets don’t have a ton of excess money to spend. While Denver’s also very high on PJ Dozier, he’s unproven. Still, Terry doesn’t seem like a great fit with how the Nuggets’ roster is currently constructed.

Defense

Terry has reportedly put on muscle over the last several months and increased his vertical. However, he’ll still likely be a defensive minus when he enters the league. He’ll get targeted in the pick-and-roll and bigger players could take him into the post.

If the Nuggets did grab Terry, he might be OK if he was playing next to PJ Dozier. At 6-foot-6, Dozier could take on the bigger backcourt matchup and leave the smaller guard for Terry.

I like Terry’s potential and believe that he has a chance to be an All-Star one day, which is something that can’t be said for too many players in this draft class. Denver has drafted for talent before (Michael Porter Jr., Bol Bol), but it’s tough to see the fit here. The Nuggets have bigger needs on draft night.