Entering the 2022 NBA Draft, I have to be honest, Dalen Terry was not the prospect I was pining for the Chicago Bulls to draft. No, that title goes to Tari Eason, who was selected just one pick earlier and has already shown himself to be a promising pick by the Houston Rockets.
By no means does that mean Terry was the wrong pick, however, as he’s already gone on to make a strong impression on the fanbase in a limited amount of time. He lacks the pure dynamic scoring ability to wow casual audiences, but he’s a smart player and hard worker who if given time can surely become a fan favorite.
In fact, I think a decade from now we’ll be able to look back and see how the course of Terry’s career will have outpaced even some of the prolific lottery picks in this year’s draft.
Although the 2022 NBA Draft looks like it may yield more talent than expected, here are three lottery picks Chicago Bulls Dalen Terry will be better than.
Ochai Agbaji, Dalen Terry, Chicago Bulls (Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)
3. Ochai Agbaji, Pick #14
I’d like to start things off here by making it clear that I really like Ochai Agbaji as a prospect. For what the Cleveland Cavaliers need, Agbaji should be able to step right in and contribute as a quality role player from day one.
As he showcased en route to leading Kansas to a national championship, Agbaji is not the type of player to shy away from the spotlight; he thrives in it. Agbaji was the leading scorer for that Jayhawks team in regular season play, and while the play of Remy Martin and David McCormack propelled Kansas through the tournament, Ochai was stellar in the Final Four against Villanova and the National Championship game against North Carolina.
Agbaji hit more than his fair number of clutch shots in the tournament, even posting a 42.3% mark from deep in those six games — including a 6-for-7 masterclass against Villanova. He didn’t stop there, however, as Agbaji carried that success over to Las Vegas, after being selected No. 14 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Despite his shooting splits slipping, Agbaji led Cleveland in points per game and was second in rebounds and steals per game during his four Summer League contests. But as Chicago Bulls fans should know all too well, even the greatest collegiate players can run into difficulties when moving up to the NBA (looking at you, Denzel Valentine).
Although Agbaji’s athleticism and 3-point shooting will certainly make him a quality NBA player, I fear he lacks a well-rounded skill set to produce in other areas of the game. He’ll almost certainly be pigeonholed into standing in the corner waiting for a pass instead of being the ball-dominant guard that he was in Kansas.
He does not have the playmaking ability of Terry or the defensive switchability that made Dalen such an appealing prospect for Chicago. Although Agbaji beats Terry out on most physical measurements, I think Terry’s intangibles and feel for the game give him a solid chance to end up being the better player five years from now.