Wendell Carter Jr. Scouting Report

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Wendell Carter Jr. (Big, 19, 6'10", 251 lbs)

Statistical Profile

Strengths

Carter is the less heralded of the Duke big men in this Draft but is the more well rounded player. He has a powerful frame with almost a 7'5" wingspan and is skilled in a variety of areas. Offensively, he is coordinated with excellent footwork in the post to go along with a consistent and fluid outside jump shot. He draws fouls at a high rate and can finish through contact. He has an above average handle for a player his size, using his dribbling ability to attack closeouts and take bigger centers off the dribble. His jump shot is one of his most intriguing attributes — the motion is consistent and repeatable and his volume was admirable in an offense that had two bigs on the floor for the majority of the game. Furthermore, he was potent from 15–18 feet, helping to dispel concerns that his long-range prowess could be flukey. On 27 unguarded catch and shoot opportunities, Carter scored 1.481 points per posssession.

He is an excellent passer, both on the move and from the high post and should excel in short-roll situations in the NBA. He is a high-IQ player and projects as a plus decision maker with the ball in his hands, as well as a player who will have no trouble adapting to specific nuances of the NBA game. He is a great screener, can seal off smaller players on mismatches in the post, and can operate effectively in dribble hand-off sets. Offensively, his floor is extremely high. He may not have as much star equity as other players in the lottery, but there is near certainty that he is an NBA rotation player, and high confidence that he will be a multi-year starter, with moderate potential for stardom.

Carter is a superb rebounder, averaging 13.5 rebounds per 40 minutes while sharing a majority of his minutes with Marvin Bagley. He has good hands, excellent instincts tracking balls off the rim, and utilizes his frame to establish position on the glass.

Defensively, Carter is disciplined and displays good awareness. He is always well positioned and will be a seamless fit into defensive schemes due to his length and IQ. He is a good vertical athlete, making him an above average shot blocker and he gives excellent effort in challenging shots at the rim.

Weaknesses

Carter is not the quickest player. He can slide laterally on defense but struggles to contain north-to-south. He is a bit slow footed and deliberate in his movements which may hinder his ability to switch ball screens at the next level. Another concern defensively is his size — 6'10" in shoes. He is not the most athletic player, and this combination can be a detriment against the more physically imposing centers that he plays. While his length helps his case, he struggled against bigger agile centers like Jaren Jackson who could finish over him with relative ease. Despite this, his lack of quickness disqualifies him from playing the four, so he will have to learn to make adjustments to stick at the five spot long term.

Carter’s jumper, while shot at a high percentage, carries a slow release and is far less successful when he is forced to speed up his motion. This tendency to struggle under pressure is also evident in his ability to read and pass out of double teams. He can get rushed and lacks the size to see over the top, which makes him a liability when doubled in the post.

Athletically, Carter is not the most dynamic player. While he is a quick jumper, he’s not a great leaper, and he is not a creative or crafty finisher around the rim. While he’ll likely rely on his strength in post situations, this may cause issues against NBA length and size around the rim.

Summary

Carter is a great two-way prospect with one of the highest floors in this class. He has plus shooting, passing, rebounding and IQ and is a disciplined defender with above-average length. He fills box scores with assists, steals and blocks and projects as a big with the ability to stretch the floor on offense. He has some athletic limitations in terms of leaping ability and foot speed that may cause him to struggle against elite NBA athleticism and length, but he has a skill set that continues to grow and will be a reliable contributor for years to come. He is very physically strong with an advanced handle for his age and size, and could potentially develop to a point where he contributes like an Al Horford-type center if his shooting and defense continue their progression.