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2018 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Wendell Carter Jr. has a high floor, and a ton of room to argue

By Ryan Doyle

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 15: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles against TK Edogi #13 of the Iona Gaels in the first half during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at PPG Paints Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 15: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils dribbles against TK Edogi #13 of the Iona Gaels in the first half during the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at PPG Paints Arena on March 15, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
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The Bad

If Wendell Carter Jr. lands with the Orlando Magic, he will be at the five. He is only 6-foot-10 and, although he has a nice frame, the height will affect him on both ends.

On offense, he will not be playing above the rim. He will not be throwing down thunderous dunks like Aaron Gordon, or other bigs with bounce. Fans likely will not see him challenge the 7-footers.

Carter will not be a flashy player in the pick-and-roll, but he can use his intelligence to find holes in the defense. In general, Carter is not going to do anything extremely flashy. He is going to put in yeoman’s work and that is all.

Maybe at six, the Magic are looking for something a bit more. Especially considering how far in the hole the team seems to be. Carter may never be an All-Star, despite how solid he is in a lot of areas.

Defensively, he will have to be in good position to contest bigger centers. Whether it be on the perimeter or near the basket, Carter needs to use his body and positioning to alter shots.

Athleticism is also a question mark for Carter. He does not appear to be as athletic as some of his future NBA counterparts. Carter will struggle with guards like John Wall in the pick-and-roll or struggle challenging the super athletes at the rim whether they be big or small. He does not have the lateral quickness to keep up. That lack of speed will limit him.

Like most Draft prospects, Carter is prone to mistakes. He is so young and at times gets overwhelmed with pressure. Whether it is double-teams or high-pressure situations, the Orlando coaching staff will have to remind him to play within himself.

In terms of his jumper, the NBA is a different playground. Defenders are quicker and will contest his shot easier than in the NCAA. He needs to speed up his motion and possibly tweak his mechanics to adjust to NBA defenses.

But one of the biggest knocks on Carter is his ceiling. It is widely believed he will never be the number one option on a winning team.

He does not project to be a top-tier rim protector or an offensive mismatch at the 5. He looks more along the lines of a solid starter for a decade or more.

While it may not be an awful look, but his lack of elite tools are the reason he is not a lock to land with Orlando at six.