2018 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Wendell Carter Jr. has a high floor, and a ton of room to argue
By Ryan Doyle
Draft Sites Say
Jonathan Givony, ESPN
"He is a polished player with excellent hands and touch around the basket, and he has demonstrated a nice blend of passing, shot-blocking and perimeter shooting, despite being overshadowed at times by fellow Duke big man Marvin Bagley III."
Kevin O’Connor, The Ringer
"Has the soft hands to catch tough passes and the court awareness to quickly finish on dump-offs or in the pick-and-roll. Not an elite athlete, but can finish lobs when he has space. Elevates quickly on layups and putbacks. Good shooter from 3 off the catch, with smooth mechanics that should translate to the NBA line. . . . Suffered an undisclosed foot injury in January at Duke that caused him to miss practice time. Not an above-the-rim player, so his lack of elite athleticism puts a cap on his upside. Has a hitch in his jumper that makes him ineffective off the dribble."
JZ Mazlish, The Stepien
"Carter’s strong year at Duke solidified his status as one of the more well-rounded big man prospects in recent memory. He lacks prototypical size or elite athleticism but makes up for it with a heady two-way game and budding skill set. Given his strength he should be able to play the center position in the NBA, and profiles as a potentially plus two-way player in that role. Look for him to be drafted somewhere in the second half of the lottery."
Evan Tomes, NBADraft.net
"6’10 mobile big man … Very good length with a 7’3 wingspan and 9’0 standing reach … Good half court explosive ability, gets good lift when dunking and rebounding. Gets off the ground quickly. . . . While he can explode up, he’s not much of a transition finisher. Has a solid vertical but is not much of a run and jump athlete. Sometimes the last player up the court … Isn’t very quick when reacting on defense and closing out to contest shooters … Post-game while sound, is still in early stages of development"