Thunderous Intentions
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NBA Draft prospect profile: Wendell Carter Jr. could be next Nikola Jokic

By Rylan Stiles

DURHAM, NC - DECEMBER 02: Duke's Wendall Carter, Jr. dunks the ball during the Duke Blue Devils game versus the South Dakota Coyotes on December 2, 2017 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC. Duke won the game 96-80. (Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - DECEMBER 02: Duke's Wendall Carter, Jr. dunks the ball during the Duke Blue Devils game versus the South Dakota Coyotes on December 2, 2017 at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, NC. Duke won the game 96-80. (Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WINSTON-SALEM, NC – JANUARY 23: Wake Forest’s Mitchell Wilbekin (10) and Duke’s Wendall Carter, Jr. (34). The Wake Forest University Demon Deacons hosted the Duke University Blue Devils on January 23, 2018 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC in a Division I men’s college basketball game. Duke won the game 84-70. (Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WINSTON-SALEM, NC – JANUARY 23: Wake Forest’s Mitchell Wilbekin (10) and Duke’s Wendall Carter, Jr. (34). The Wake Forest University Demon Deacons hosted the Duke University Blue Devils on January 23, 2018 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, NC in a Division I men’s college basketball game. Duke won the game 84-70. (Photo by Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Honors and Awards:

  • Second team All-ACC
  • Unanimous selection to the All-ACC Freshman team
  • Finalist for the Karl Malone Award
  • Duke’s fourth leading scorer, and second leading rebounder
  • Won a gold medal for team USA U16 team
  • Ranked as the number four player out of high school, and number one power forward

Pro Comparison:

Wendell Carter Jr. is drawing comparisons anywhere from Al Horford, to Mo Speights. The Al Horford comparison is right on the money. That is a great ceiling.

Another name that comes to mind is Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokić. Wendell Carter Jr. has an extraordinary ability to pass the ball, thanks to his amazing vision for a big man. Nikola Jokić has that same ability, averaging 6-assists-per-game from the five spot. Jokić is also a great scorer, posting 18-points-per-game last season.

Current rankings:

More from Thunderous Intentions

The Ringer: 7th.

NBA Draft Net: 7th

NBA: Number 5 ranked big man

CBS Sports: 9th

SI: 7th

BR: 7th

Basketball insider: 7th

Sporting News: 10th

USA Today: 8th

Does Wendell Carter Jr. Fit in OKC?:

The Achilles heel for the OKC Thunder in 2018 was a lack of a back up big man. Daraki Johnson simply can not play in this league. Patrick Patterson is in no way an NBA center, though he is a quality power forward. Jerami Grant is versatile, and OKC’s best option off the bench as of now at the five spot. Nick Collison, as much of a fan favorite as he was, just took up a roster spot.

Wendell Carter Jr. would be great in Oklahoma City. The Thunder desperately need spacing offensively, and he provides that while also crashing the glass. The issue is there isn’t a situation in which OKC can realistically draft Wendell Carter Jr. without giving up proven big-man Steven Adams. In that case, the Thunder would still need a backup five.

Wendell Carter Jr. or Steven Adams?

Wendell Carter Jr. is going to be a very good player in this league, and would be a cheaper option for an OKC Thunder team that is living well above their means.

Would he be worth giving up Steven Adams? Maybe, maybe not. However, the spacing, shooting, and passing ability is appealing.

Next: Michael Porter Jr.: Backing up the bravado

Ultimately, you can not trade Steven Adams. The big kiwi is the heart and soul of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and ties everything, and everyone together on and off the court.

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