NBA Draft prospect Wendell Carter Jr. is another big expected to be selected within the lottery picks.
Wendell Carter Jr. offers a tantalizing skill set which beckons comparison to Nikola Jokić. Quality bigs comprise the NBA Draft lottery picks and Carter is sure to be in the mix.
The NBA Draft is quickly approaching. When it kicks off on June 21st, big-man Wendell Carter Jr. hopes to hear his name called during the first 14-picks. His name has been in the news, not only for his impressive display on the court, but also due to his Mother.
Kylia Carter put the NCAA on blast this offseason, comparing the NCAA system to slavery. This headline of course made waves. However, it has been proven players having outspoken parents won’t hurt their draft stock, if they can play.
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Look at LaVar Ball, whose son Lonzo was the second pick in the draft a year ago, and he has another son entering the 2018 draft in LiAngelo Ball.
Specifics:
- Height: 6’10
- Weight: 263
- Wingspan: 7’3
- Position: Center
- Age: 19.2
- College: Duke, Freshman
- Stat-line: 13-points per game, 9-rebounds per game, 2-assists per game, 2-blocks per game.
- Hometown: Fairburn, Georgia
Skills:
Wendell Carter Jr. is a very good athlete. He is very quick, and has an ability to stretch the floor. Stretching the floor is key in today’s NBA, and his ability as a scorer, and refined passer for a big man, makes him one of the top players in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Even while playing next to another elite big man, Marvin Bagley III, Wendell Carter Jr. was still able to muscle down rebounds at a great rate. His size on the defensive side of the ball allows him to stay on the floor, even when matched up with someone small and/or faster. His length allows him to makeup for losing a step on a guy.
Weaknesses:
Like most 19 year olds, some of the bigger moments during his freshman season at Duke got to Wendell Carter Jr. He would settle of bad shots, and play out of control at times. With maturity, and being in an NBA system, this can easily be fixed.
Another knock on Wendell Carter Jr. is his shot is clunky. He needs to work on his mechanics, which again, could be an easy fix once he begins working with NBA coaches.
At the NBA Combine:
Wendell Carter Jr. did attend the NBA Combine in Chicago. However, he did not play in the four NBA combine scrimmages, or go through drills. Wendell Carter Jr., like Collin Sexton, and other prospects just used this gathering to give the NBA their official measurements, and meet with teams.
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.
I'm hearing praise for #Duke's Wendell Carter, Jr., in wake of #NBACombine. Two NBA executives have likened him to Al Horford. He had 16 double-doubles last season, and teams value his ability to shoot it / believe he has the balance and form to become a legit pick-and-pop guy.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 21, 2018
Current rankings:
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The Ringer: 7th.
NBA Draft Net: 7th
NBA: Number 5 ranked big man
CBS Sports: 9th
SI: 7th
BR: 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.
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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.