Wendell Carter Jr - The Block Panther Edition

[Habs72]

Dude is probably my 4th favorite Bull ever and he hasn't even played a preseason game yet hahaha.

Jordan
Pippen
Rodman (he's getting on my nerves lately though)
Butler
Noah
Oakley
Deng
Paxson

Block Panther way down the list right now

Only lately ? You have some looooooong fuses !

[dougthonus]

Question is different sure but quite a few thought he was a meh pick or didnt like him at all. Right after the draft a poll was made how you rate the draft and still 40% rated it C or worse. There was posters that started to like for him before the draft when they went a bit further with the knowledge of him. But still a lot who either hadnt watched him or just refused to see whats in front of them.

I said before the draft that "Dissing WCJ is deja vu from last years draft by this board" and thats exactly what it will be as people are now warming up for him and jumping in.

If you jump on the bandwagon prior to him even playing a summer league game, then I don't think you can really be called a bandwagon jumper. WCJ was probably 3rd on my board behind Ayton and JJJ. I am not a fan of Luka, Young, or Bamba, Bagley would have been about even to me.

P.S. Have you also noticed that you can alter your vote in polls afterwards .

I remember seeing the poll very quickly and the overwhelming majority still thought he was the right pick immediately. I think the consensus around him is probably higher than any Bulls pick since Derrick Rose.

[Peelboy]

It’s exciting that we drafted WCJ but we unfortunately passed on a much better player with Jordan Bell. https://www.totalprosports.com/2018/07/08/jordan-bell-has-perfect-response-when-asked-if-golden-state-ruined-nba/

What are you talking about and what does a damn Jordan Bell have to do with this particular topic??

Jordan Bell is a defensive menace and looking like he is becoming a three ball specialist. It’s exactly what the Bulls were looking for in WCJ, but Bell is high flying and athletic to boot. Honestly, I can’t wait for them to match up. WCJ is looking tremendously composed, but Jordan Bell is a champion caliber player that has some profound bloodlust for the Bulls.

Looks like in 2 SL games, Bell is 0-0 from3, not scoriNg much in general but still giving across the board contributions. Curious where you’re getting that he’s ‘becoming a three ball specialist?’

[Habs72]

It’s exciting that we drafted WCJ but we unfortunately passed on a much better player with Jordan Bell. https://www.totalprosports.com/2018/07/08/jordan-bell-has-perfect-response-when-asked-if-golden-state-ruined-nba/

What are you talking about and what does a damn Jordan Bell have to do with this particular topic??

Jordan Bell is a defensive menace and looking like he is becoming a three ball specialist. It’s exactly what the Bulls were looking for in WCJ, but Bell is high flying and athletic to boot. Honestly, I can’t wait for them to match up. WCJ is looking tremendously composed, but Jordan Bell is a champion caliber player that has some profound bloodlust for the Bulls.

We didnt pass on Jordan Bell or then you could say that 29 teams passed on Bell as we never had him drafted, GSW bought the pick and said who to draft for them, get the narrative right alrdy, its been a year since lmao. Also mind you, the pick wasnt even ours originally, it was Clevelands. Three ball SPECIALIST?? Are you serious ? You saw one vid about him hitting three and now he is becoming a specialist, oook.

[Habs72]

Question is different sure but quite a few thought he was a meh pick or didnt like him at all. Right after the draft a poll was made how you rate the draft and still 40% rated it C or worse. There was posters that started to like for him before the draft when they went a bit further with the knowledge of him. But still a lot who either hadnt watched him or just refused to see whats in front of them.

I said before the draft that "Dissing WCJ is deja vu from last years draft by this board" and thats exactly what it will be as people are now warming up for him and jumping in.

If you jump on the bandwagon prior to him even playing a summer league game, then I don't think you can really be called a bandwagon jumper. WCJ was probably 3rd on my board behind Ayton and JJJ. I am not a fan of Luka, Young, or Bamba, Bagley would have been about even to me.

P.S. Have you also noticed that you can alter your vote in polls afterwards .

I remember seeing the poll very quickly and the overwhelming majority still thought he was the right pick immediately. I think the consensus around him is probably higher than any Bulls pick since Derrick Rose.

Thats why i mentioned that 40% in a poll that you cannot alter rated our draft C or worse. But i guess many people has that Garpax added influence, no matter what they do unless is something off the charts they find a way to downplay the moves. I would agree that the consensus is moving towards it now but no way in hell it was like that before the draft !

[patryk7754]

I just wanna say The Block Panther is the greatest nickname of all time

[TheSchmaranz]

I just wanna say The Block Panther is the greatest nickname of all time

It's pretty badass for sure.

I'm still trying to get people on the trolley with calling Lauri the "Marksmanen".

[patryk7754]

I think All things considered this is the right pick. I, like most people, originally didn't like the pick but I believe fans hype up reality into thinking that the bulls will do something exciting, whether their in the position to do so or not. I and a lot of other people wanted to trade up with the grizzlies because it seemed so easy to get the fourth. All we had to do is eat some salary. I wanted to draft Doncic but he was gone at that point anyway so we probably go with Carter anyway now we just have to pay him more plus we have Parsons.

I was also mad that we didn't take MPJ since he was there but the man almost dropped out of the lottery for a reason and that can't be overlooked. Can't be mad at a team for not drafting someone who you won't know when they will play.

[patryk7754]

I think my favorite thing about Carter is that he has true passion. I remember watching Duke in the tournament. Carter fouled out on an absolutely horrible call. He was so upset he couldn't help his team that he was brought to tears.

[dougthonus]

Thats why i mentioned that 40% in a poll that you cannot alter rated our draft C or worse.

I think those are different things though, everyone liked this pick, but when looking at the draft as a whole, they may have wanted to move up or may have hated Hutchison, or maybe wanted to buy into the 2nd round, or maybe wanted to buy a second pick with our cap room (a rumor going around that didn't happen).

I would agree that the consensus is moving towards it now but no way in hell it was like that before the draft !

Before the draft you don't know who is going to be there. You might have wanted Bamba or Luka or JJJ or whatever, but they aren't options if they aren't available. When you actually see what is there, that's when you can decide if this is the best move of the available moves, and when people saw who was on the board, they universally liked Carter.

Either way, like every player, if Carter performs people will like him. If he doesn't, then they won't. Everyone hated Lauri on draft day and weren't a whole lot more excited after summer league either. People seem pretty fond of the guy now.

[sco]

Watching the last game again, I worry a little about WCJ leaving his feet too much. Real NBA guys will get him in foul trouble quickly, but that's part of the learning process.

[dougthonus]

Jordan Bell is a defensive menace and looking like he is becoming a three ball specialist. It’s exactly what the Bulls were looking for in WCJ, but Bell is high flying and athletic to boot. Honestly, I can’t wait for them to match up. WCJ is looking tremendously composed, but Jordan Bell is a champion caliber player that has some profound bloodlust for the Bulls.

I liked Jordan Bell, and I was rooting for the Bulls to draft him, I cheered when they did, and was pissed when I found out he was traded.

That said, Jordan Bell didn't hit a single 3 last year in an NBA game. I think it's a bit silly to call him a three ball specialist when his current number of NBA 3s hit is zero after a full season.

Also, if Bell were on the Bulls, I don't know that he'd play or when he'd play.

[League Circles]

Dude is probably my 4th favorite Bull ever and he hasn't even played a preseason game yet hahaha.

How is this even possible?

It's not that scientific, more just an expression of how I feel about him, hence the "probably" and the "hahaha". I honestly talked about considering him for #1 overall in the draft for quite a while (pre lottery when it would have been relevant to us), so I'm pretty excited. He's my type of player. My first 3 real favorites are Michael, Derrick and Taj.

[Habs72]

Thats why i mentioned that 40% in a poll that you cannot alter rated our draft C or worse.

I think those are different things though, everyone liked this pick, but when looking at the draft as a whole, they may have wanted to move up or may have hated Hutchison, or maybe wanted to buy into the 2nd round, or maybe wanted to buy a second pick with our cap room (a rumor going around that didn't happen).

I would agree that the consensus is moving towards it now but no way in hell it was like that before the draft !

Before the draft you don't know who is going to be there. You might have wanted Bamba or Luka or JJJ or whatever, but they aren't options if they aren't available. When you actually see what is there, that's when you can decide if this is the best move of the available moves, and when people saw who was on the board, they universally liked Carter.

Either way, like every player, if Carter performs people will like him. If he doesn't, then they won't. Everyone hated Lauri on draft day and weren't a whole lot more excited after summer league either. People seem pretty fond of the guy now.

Maybe yea they are different things but i would say that they are still relative to the consensus towards our draftees right after the draft. Ofc everybody has their faves in the draft but why one couldnt also see that there is at least seven VERY viable players to draft and were sitting pretty in a spot #7 so we very well could get as good a player that goes as #1?

You know many were also mocking our tanking, i think we did good, we developed our core and we finished inside what you would think where the top players are available and anything can happen between them development wise.

Thats what i said, Lauri deja vu all over again.

Oh, im happy that youre happy what we got .

[Habs72]

Watching the last game again, I worry a little about WCJ leaving his feet too much. Real NBA guys will get him in foul trouble quickly, but that's part of the learning process.

They should also change the rules that clear fishing of contact fouls without real intention to shoot should be called a foul to a ball handler. Like both in soccer and in ice hockey, if you fake, youll get a penalty yourself. Its gotten ridiculous how some players are using this at their advantage.

[dougthonus]

Thats what i said, Lauri deja vu all over again.

I don't think so though, not that it matters much and I will bow out of the argument after this, because it is arguing irrelevancies really.

If you had this poll about Lauri, no one would have liked the pick. It would have been like 10% in favor. This isn't like that at all. People are really happy with Carter and were so immediately after the draft.

As I said, in the 13 year history of my draft party, the only guy to have a greater consensus of cheering for him was Derrick Rose.

I'm happy everyone likes Carter now. I hope we also all like Carter just as much next summer.

[waffle]

I predicted they would pick him and I was comfy with it. Still comfy with it. Am a comfy guy

I was leery about the Lauri pick? But I had seen him play some in college and could see the obvious upside. But for WHO WAS AVAILABLE at that pick I thought it was a great pick.

[TheJordanRule]

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1714083

Yea, our fan base surely liked him as a draft pick choice before the draft ...same effect like with Lauri, everyone is jumping the bandwagon afterwards. Didnt need to be a too much of a fortuneteller if one had any clue what he is like. But ofc this forum just reproofed itself with "scouting" knowledge .

The question of, "Who would you pick?" is significantly different than the question of "Did the Bulls make the right pick?" You might have your own wishes and ways to construct differently than the Bulls did, but also agree after evaluating the draft and who was actually available at #7, that the Bulls made the right pick. But you're kidding, right? This poll has been up ever since WCJ was drafted. Long before SL. I've disagreed with people who represent the vocal minority opinion in different threads, people who think WCJ is a bad choice for our franchise, but that is the minority opinion. And for all we know, the minority opinion might still be right. This is summer league. Tony Snell and Doug McDermott owned summer league. Rose and Lauri struggled through it. My opinion that WCJ is gonna be good is based on his play in college and his results in the Draft Combine. I assume that most of the posters here who support WCJ are basing the majority of their pro-WCJ opinions on those two things as well.

Question is different sure but quite a few thought he was a meh pick or didnt like him at all. Right after the draft a poll was made how you rate the draft and still 40% rated it C or worse. There was posters that started to like for him before the draft when they went a bit further with the knowledge of him. But still a lot who either hadnt watched him or just refused to see whats in front of them.

That poll was created right after Draft Night, at a time when emotions run high with disappointment because the draft pick fans wanted the most usually wasn’t available or selected. To have 60 percent approval during the time when crazy emotions are at their peak is impressive. And, as Doug has discussed, draft grades are often more about the team’s draft strategy than about the draft selection.

I said before the draft that "Dissing WCJ is deja vu from last years draft by this board" and thats exactly what it will be as people are now warming up for him and jumping in.

I feel you. If WCJ proves that he is an excellent draft pick, which I agree with you that he is, this would be the second time in a row that that the FO stole a Top 3 talent while drafting considerably lower.

I dont give a rats ass about the Summer League games as they only gives you glimpses about the players cause there is this everyone for himself mentality in them so WCJ wont be able to flourish there like he could(ie guard play) and in defense its a freaking mess when others cant guard a pylon besides Hutch.

Im certain that he will be a great player in the league, his physics will get better and one thing that wont go away is his IQ. Less intelligent players will always be hindered with the lack of IQ as there is only certain amount of knowledge they can absorb(and vice versa for intelligent ones). They will probably be able to process it in theory but in quick game situations they cant make it work cause they are unable to read situations fast enough. Its just a fact of like and fact is that WCJ has all the tools to be a VERY successful player.

Well said! On the same page with you 100 percent. His floor is a bumslayer, which is crazy for a 19 year. And the ceiling of “Rich Man’s Horford” is insane as well.

P.S. Have you also noticed that you can alter your vote in polls afterwards .

P.P.S. By no way my answer to your post was meant that you didnt like him, poll loose a bit of their meaning when you can change it number of times.

I didn’t notice that you can alter your vote after the fact. That’s creepy. But the board is high on this kid. When the poll started, I remember it initially being at 79 percent and steadily, slowly climbing up from that number.

[TheJordanRule]

I knew Carter was going to be a high impact player. But I'll be honest - I thought he'd be a little bit on the boring side, watch-ability wise. Some of the blocks he's made so far have been damn exciting. He's showing some pop athletically.

Toning out his body certainly looks like it has helped him.

Now he just needs to continue working on his footwork, and he should continue to improve.

What toning? Where is this narrative coming from, give a link where is said that he has lost weight as i havent seen anywhere said so except in this board by some.

He looks exactly like he did in college.

[R3AL1TY]

Block Panther!...nice nickname...I'm loving WCJ's rim protection showcase so far. I wasn't expecting him to look that impressive on defense yet. It looks like the Bulls may finally get an elite rim protector in this kid. The guy plays pretty maturely for his age like he was born to be a big. The only knock I can say about him so far is to set better screens. Hopefully, the guards can look for him more in the remaining SL games.