Wendell Carter Jr - The Block Panther Edition

[AKfanatic]

Man I can’t wait for the season to start. Really really hoping Carter Jr earns the starting spot from the beginning of the season.

I like that he came into summer league and immediately earned a rep as a rim protector. That rep should help him with NBA officiating during the season.

This season is going to be fun.

[Chi town]

Reading all the preseason fluff pieces has me thinking of how we were talking about Lauri last year at this time and then watching him show flashes and develop into a starter with upside.

I actually see the same exact thing happening for Carter... just with a slower start. I expect to see him split mins with Rolo for the first 20 games before he starts and gets more mins. I think he will have an impact on winning more than Lauri but will obviously put up less stats due to less mins. I see 9 and 7 until he gets more mins. Then probably 11 and 9. He is going to have an under the radar rookie season but with significant impact... kids just knows how to play. His defense will be elite.

[sco]

Reading all the preseason fluff pieces has me thinking of how we were talking about Lauri last year at this time and then watching him show flashes and develop into a starter with upside.

I actually see the same exact thing happening for Carter... just with a slower start. I expect to see him split mins with Rolo for the first 20 games before he starts and gets more mins. I think he will have an impact on winning more than Lauri but will obviously put up less stats due to less mins. I see 9 and 7 until he gets more mins. Then probably 11 and 9. He is going to have an under the radar rookie season but with significant impact... kids just knows how to play. His defense will be elite.

I want this to be true, but I've become immune to falling in love during Summer League and Pre-Season.

[Chi town]

Reading all the preseason fluff pieces has me thinking of how we were talking about Lauri last year at this time and then watching him show flashes and develop into a starter with upside.

I actually see the same exact thing happening for Carter... just with a slower start. I expect to see him split mins with Rolo for the first 20 games before he starts and gets more mins. I think he will have an impact on winning more than Lauri but will obviously put up less stats due to less mins. I see 9 and 7 until he gets more mins. Then probably 11 and 9. He is going to have an under the radar rookie season but with significant impact... kids just knows how to play. His defense will be elite.

I want this to be true, but I've become immune to falling in love during Summer League and Pre-Season.

His defense is real! PnR and at the rim. I think his shot is real too.

I expect he will outperform many's expectations.

[musiqsoulchild]

Whats our last 30 seconds lineup if we have the ball in hand?

Dunn
Holiday
Jabari
Lauri
Wendell

And every game we LOSE like that, is going to make Wendell and Lauri get mad. This is not a good thing for people in the league who discount us going forward.

The trajectory and the talent is there with this team. I cannot wait for the rubber to meet the road.

[sco]

Reading all the preseason fluff pieces has me thinking of how we were talking about Lauri last year at this time and then watching him show flashes and develop into a starter with upside.

I actually see the same exact thing happening for Carter... just with a slower start. I expect to see him split mins with Rolo for the first 20 games before he starts and gets more mins. I think he will have an impact on winning more than Lauri but will obviously put up less stats due to less mins. I see 9 and 7 until he gets more mins. Then probably 11 and 9. He is going to have an under the radar rookie season but with significant impact... kids just knows how to play. His defense will be elite.

I want this to be true, but I've become immune to falling in love during Summer League and Pre-Season.

His defense is real! PnR and at the rim. I think his shot is real too.

I expect he will outperform many's expectations.

It would be great...I've become jaded until I see it. It could go either way. Doug looked great and Derrick looked mediocre.

[Chi]

I think as excited as Bulls fans collectively are about this guy, they'll still be surprised.

I don't think hardly anyone recognizes the level of his offense...

[AKfanatic]

I think as excited as Bulls fans collectively are about this guy, they'll still be surprised.

I don't think hardly anyone recognizes the level of his offense...

Agreed.

I was a big fan of the Bulls picking Carter at their spot. The only guys I wanted over him was Doncic because I love his skills, JJJ and Bamba based purely on potential.

I think Carter is going to surprise even the biggest of supporters on the offensive end. The kid is smart and has a really well rounded game on that side of the ball. The only things I see holding him back on that end are a lack of involvement and a lack of really aggressive streak with the ball. The skills and smarts are there, he’s going to be such a good two-way guy.

[Chi]

I think as excited as Bulls fans collectively are about this guy, they'll still be surprised.

I don't think hardly anyone recognizes the level of his offense...

Agreed.

I was a big fan of the Bulls picking Carter at their spot. The only guys I wanted over him was Doncic because I love his skills, JJJ and Bamba based purely on potential.

I think Carter is going to surprise even the biggest of supporters on the offensive end. The kid is smart and has a really well rounded game on that side of the ball. The only things I see holding him back on that end are a lack of involvement and a lack of really aggressive streak with the ball. The skills and smarts are there, he’s going to be such a good two-way guy.

I feel like he has a "solid" 12ppg / 50% type of expectation/reputation.

I think he's currently capable of 20ppg on 50+%, like an Elton Brand with some 3pt range ...
But he won't get there. Not because he can't.

But for the same reason that he didn't in college. He'll do what he thinks it takes to win, which is taking a back seat to other guys on the offensive end. Sadly I think Lauri will be passive and do the same thing.

But we'll see.

[Axolotl]

The Block Panther should start - I don't see any reason why he shouldn't. He's ready: he is skilled, a smart defender, can protect the rim, can set picks, is not afraid of anyone and can stretch the floor.

We saw how Markkanen rose to the occasion when given the opportunity, WCJ will do the same.

[bigworld2017]

The Block Panther should start - I don't see any reason why he shouldn't. He's ready: he is skilled, a smart defender, can protect the rim, can set picks, is not afraid of anyone and can stretch the floor.

We saw how Markkanen rose to the occasion when given the opportunity, WCJ will do the same.

I have to agree 100%. At the very least Wendell should be getting 60% of the minutes, about 28-30 minutes a game, especially in the 4th quarter. The kid is 19 years old. Let him have his on the job training this year. We aren't going to contend for anything this year. Get him the experience, let him have one off season to work on things including his strength, and we have our starting "5" for the next 12 years.The kid is smart, and is willing to play an all around game. He might not develop into a unicorn superstar, but he'll be a damn good player and I doubt he becomes a head case.

[The Senator]

The Block Panther should start - I don't see any reason why he shouldn't. He's ready: he is skilled, a smart defender, can protect the rim, can set picks, is not afraid of anyone and can stretch the floor.

We saw how Markkanen rose to the occasion when given the opportunity, WCJ will do the same.

I have to agree 100%. At the very least Wendell should be getting 60% of the minutes, about 28-30 minutes a game, especially in the 4th quarter. The kid is 19 years old. Let him have his on the job training this year. We aren't going to contend for anything this year. Get him the experience, let him have one off season to work on things including his strength, and we have our starting "5" for the next 12 years.The kid is smart, and is willing to play an all around game. He might not develop into a unicorn superstar, but he'll be a damn good player and I doubt he becomes a head case.

Fully agreed, I'd love to see what WCJ can end up doing this year if they give him a legit shot. From what I've seen thus far, there's no reason not to try him out in a major role.

[sco]

I think it makes complete sense to start WCJ at PF while Lauri is out, I don't mind if RoLo starts at C and keeps the gig. Reason being, I think RoLo plays well to start games and disappears after the 1st quarter; however, during that time he helps open things up for all the other guys. So a post-lauri minute split of 20 RoLo 28 WCJ, with Rolo playing the first 8 min, then 4 min each of the remaining quarters would be ideal.

[Flopper]

Hoping Lopez can be moved at the deadline. His mobility looks even worse this year and he already had significant issues with 3P contests and switching. This team won't be competitive again until Carter gets enough minutes and develops into the multi-skilled big that he projects out as.