Dallas Mavericks: Ceilings and floors for the rookies

Tyrell Terry could be an offensive sparkplug for the Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks knew that drafting a small guard was always going to be a risk. The hope with those players is that their offense will outweigh their defensive liabilities. So far, that has not been the case for Mavericks rookie Tyrell Terry.

Terry had an awesome freshman campaign at Stanford and likely would have been a first-round draft pick had it not been for his small stature. Standing at just 6’1 and 160 pounds, the former Cardinal made a name for himself slithering into the paint for acrobatic finishes and bombing away from NBA range.

His touch as a deep shooter made him an especially enticing prospect in today’s pace-and-space league. It seemed like the Mavericks had a plan already in place when they traded away Seth Curry having taken Tyrell Terry earlier in the draft. His marksmanship in college made him a natural successor for Curry’s role in the offense.

Terry has yet to hit his first 3-pointer as a Dallas Maverick. Between Dallas’s depth at the guard position, the Mavs’ plans for a deep playoff run, and Terry’s unavailability for the majority of the second half of the season due to personal reasons, the rookie has only had the chance to take seven 3-point attempts so far in his career.

Before his absence, Terry did play for the Memphis Hustle in the G-League. There, he racked up over 14 points and three assists per game in 30 minutes a night. He was able to show off some of that elite range that made him a tantalizing prospect as he hit 34 percent of his triples on nearly five attempts per contest.

Terry’s got an uphill battle to earn a spot in an already niche role in the NBA, but he certainly has the requisite skillset. In college and his short spurts playing professionally, Terry has shown a tight handle, basic playmaking ability, and an extended range with the threat to hit a hot streak.

If he can become at least a competitive defender, as Seth Curry did in Dallas, he should be able to carve out a consistent role as a sparkplug off the bench. This offseason, he should join the Mavs for Summer League and training camp and start to gain footing in the NBA.

Next: Terry's ceiling and floor