The Chicago Bulls have spent the last few seasons searching for the kind of internal growth from a player that could push them from play-in hopefuls to legitimate playoff contenders. While the team has had three players finish in the top 10 of the Most Improved Player of the Year Award race over the past decade, none have actually taken home the award since Jimmy Butler’s breakout 2014-15 season in Chicago.
Most fans probably expect players like Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey, or Ayo Dosunmu to make the biggest leap next season. However, one Bulls insider has pointed to a different name as the next possible breakout story in Chicago.
That player? Dalen Terry.
Dalen Terry's offseason development and growth
According to multiple sources close to Bulls insider K.C. Johnson, Terry “has quietly had a very very strong offseason.” The former 18th overall selection out of the University of Arizona has spent the offseason working on his game—as all professional athletes do—however, insiders emphasized that he “has worked hard to improve his shot,” a skill that could make him a much more versatile scoring option for Billy Donovan’s rotation.
This is especially encouraging for the Bulls, as Terry is just a career 29.8 percent shooter from beyond the arc. His defensive intensity and consistency have long been his selling point, but if he can pair that with improved offensive firepower, he becomes a far more valuable contributor in the rotation. Johnson even went as far as suggesting, “maybe this is the year that he takes a jump,” hinting that the 23-year-old could finally emerge as a reliable presence within a thin wing position for Chicago.
While nothing is guaranteed, the reports leading up to training camp have been promising. Johnson wrapped up his point by acknowledging the nature of young player development in today’s NBA, saying, “These kids come in so young, and they all develop at different stages and ages... Dalen has been overlooked at times and inconsistent at times, but let's see what he's got. That's what training camp is for.”
Terry has long been viewed as a raw project who is yet to reach his full potential. After a strong offseason that included noticeable improvement to his offensive game, the Chicago Bulls may finally get the sudden breakout performance they've been waiting so long for, and fans should keep a close eye on the former first-rounder as the team heads into training camp.