The newer elephant in the room: Wendell Carter Jr

[yoyojw17]

Wendell in crucial aspects, especially in game 6 against the Cavs was able to impede Mitchell on switches and even blocked a shot.

Goga in switching situations turns into a turnstile that weakens the defensive integrity against great teams. You'll rarely ever see a game against top teams where Goga is able to stay on the court for long periods of time.

I like Wendell and he is really good at switching for a Center & he is our best post defender vs. big dudes but him and Paolo together offer no rim protection and resistance when our PoA defense is broken.

Rim protection doesn't matter in todays 5 out NBA league, where your big is consistently switched to guarding a perimeter player on the perimeter most of the time. And also 40-50 percent of possessions end with a 3 point shot which nullifies most shot blockers.

People act like it's pre-2010 where a shot blocking defensive anchor like a Ben Wallace or Dwight Howard mattered.

It's nice to have... but that big man better be also able to be offensively inclined and/or be able to have the foot speed to keep up on switches.

There is shotblocking and rim protection. Shotblockers will get that easi counting stat and flashy highlight that makes ESPN.... While rim protector in my opinion is mainly how effectively do offensive players score at the rim on you. Bamba was a shotblocker.... But never became a great rim protector as we might have hoped.

And even with his lack of shot blocking.... Wendell's defense at the rim is better than gogas .... Ever so slightly ... 50% vs 51% when I had last seen it. And that was third on the list behind JI which is like low 40% (shotblocker and great rim protector) and TDS in the mid 40%s (rim protector)

My biggest qualm with Wendell was that he didn't play as a big as much as I expected him to based on what I remember he could do in college. The season before Paolo we saw glimpses of a bigman that did it all (post, catch some lobs, offensive rebound) and was developing a three pointer. Now with Paolo.... He just hangs out at the 3 most of the time to give space. Defenses should be kept on their toes with him as I think there is much more that I think he could do on the offensive end than just shoot 3s.

Loving giving TDS his time shine and develop... But I'm down to see what a Wendell looks like at the pf position next to goga for at least a game or 2.

[p0peye]

Room? Dude, we are in an arena with all those elephants laying around inside.

[tiderulz]

I don't dislike Wendell, he's a solid player. An OK shooter and good team defender. But I don't think anyone can deny at this point that Goga is simply a better C. But it doesn't really end there. Moe is also a much better offensive player and we need that off the bench. On top of all that, JI is bigger than ever and more capable than ever to play C. So where does this leave Wendell?

I personally have the bad feeling the Magic are going to cater to feelings again and make the mistake of starting him again. What do you think?

i didnt want to re-sign him this summer. I wanted to trade him, but that ship has sailed for this year

[VFX]

Yeah unfortunately the value he had was due to being a very tradeable contract. After multiple injuries and re-signing again I’m sure where his value is currently.

[IllMagic04]

Its tough. WCjr is clearly a better player but I just don't see how you can take Goga off the floor. We went on a similar winning streak last year when WCJR got hurt. I just dont know. Goga just gives us such a boast. Mo is perfect for 2nd unit so I don't think he can hit the bench either. My guess is when WCjr is ready he will go back in as the starter. His ability to stretch the floor is too valuable. Somebody has to get moved in the off season though

[ogmagicfan]

The shortsighted takes on WCJ is the same reason why there's players in the NBA who care more about stats than winning

WCJ has fully bought into being the 4th/5th option on offense in the starting lineup and focusing more energy on defense

He played with a fractured hand all last season, and still averaged a career high from 3. He suffered at boards due to it however along with the knee injury.

Centers who can hit 3's at a respectable rate (35%+) and also guard the perimeter are very rare in the NBA

The obsession over the "rim protection/intimidator" kinda big man, when WCJ both has the size to guard the biggest & best big men in the NBA while also guarding guards on switches is extremely valuable and the reason we havent moved on from him even with the injury troubles he's had in his career.

He was killing it on the boards this season before getting hurt, and was looking even more mobile and lighter than last season.

Goga, as much as I love him, struggles to guard the perimeter and against the best teams/Centers in the NBA. Hence why his minutes were limited against the 76ers even though Embiid was a shell of his former self. Embiid was killing him in the minutes he was matched up against him on

I get that he's the new punching bag since the door on Cole Anthony is closing, but cmon

[VFX]

Carter is the classic “magic homer” player where people make exceptions for him all the time because he’s not atrocious at his position.

Yeah, no. I’d rather have a player that works better next to Paolo that can actually stay on the court and provide what he doesn’t. Not going to read paragraphs trying to convince people that he’s better than advertised because his contract isn’t astronomical.

[SOUL]

Carter is the classic “magic homer” player where people make exceptions for him all the time because he’s not atrocious at his position.

Yeah, no. I’d rather have a player that works better next to Paolo that can actually stay on the court and provide what he doesn’t. Not going to read paragraphs trying to convince people that he’s better than advertised because his contract isn’t astronomical.

I'd say it's just push back to the sort of stuff that always happens here where a player gets piled on while being basically the same impact sort of guy as Goga, just completely different stylistically. You would think he should be cut from the team with how people talk about him (at times).

I also think Goga fits with our guys better, so there's no argument there, but people acting like we couldn't use WCJ off the bench when Moe is not being efficient or playing defense is asinine. Sure, use him as a trade chip, but people really tear him down to try to build Goga up when they're pretty similar, albeit Goga seems to fit better what we need out of the C position currently.

[JF5]

I like Wendell and he is really good at switching for a Center & he is our best post defender vs. big dudes but him and Paolo together offer no rim protection and resistance when our PoA defense is broken.

Rim protection doesn't matter in todays 5 out NBA league, where your big is consistently switched to guarding a perimeter player on the perimeter most of the time. And also 40-50 percent of possessions end with a 3 point shot which nullifies most shot blockers.

People act like it's pre-2010 where a shot blocking defensive anchor like a Ben Wallace or Dwight Howard mattered.

It's nice to have... but that big man better be also able to be offensively inclined and/or be able to have the foot speed to keep up on switches.

You'll have to provide some proof to backup this argument. Does Gobert guard every position? Porzingis? Hart or Robinson? Jarrett Allen? Turner? Sengun? A lot of the best teams play a traditional rim protecting big. If rim protection apparently doesn't matter than a whole lot of teams are doing it wrong. I don't see a whole lot of teams playing WCJ like C's, except maybe GS with Draymond and Miami with Bam. The biggest outlier is Denver with Joker, but him being the most skilled C of all time makes up for quite a bit.

WCJ is certainly unique in this way and it can be an advantage, but I don't see any statistics supporting this argument. They all say defense is better with Goga, and Magic tend to go on big winning streaks with him.

At the end of the day, JI is able to play both of these guys styles at the same time, which makes him the best choice...unfortunately he can't be trusted with huge minutes.

I've gone through this argument before. There hasn't been many Teams since 2010 (and even going back to the 90s with Jordan's Bulls) that had a great rim protector that headed a great defense. Especially in the modern NBA it's just isn't necessary at all. You just need a whole bunch of good to great man/team defenders who can just just force tough shots or be disruptive on a possession to possession basis.

Like look at the Warriors dynasty. Draymond Green is arguably the best defender/defensive anchor in the last decade but was never a shot blocker/rim protector. Same with Rodman in the 80s/90s when he was with the Pistons and Bulls when those teams won titles.

The Magic regardless are a top defensive team with either guy BECAUSE of how deep they are defensively and how 1-5 are just so ruthless on that side of the ball. There just isn't much drop off (until they play Elite teams when Goga limitations become present).

[Fortune Teller]

Players who never play aren't worth much in any sport. That's really the biggest issue with Wendell. Completely unreliable.

[MasterGMer]

I don't know what to say, honestly. It is too early into the season to judge Wendell. In the games he played, he was easily our most rebounder. Does he need improvement, yup. But I just think it is a bit unfair to a player who doesn't play because of injury

[Orlando Dawg]

This offseason they might have to dump Wendell Carter for peanuts to keep Mo Wagner who is worth more.

[ogmagicfan]

WCJ hasnt had this kinda green light in over 2 years

Can WCJ get back to putting up 15+ ppg like his first 2 seasons in Orlando?

I want him to look for his shot, 15+ shot attempts

[OrlandoDream]

Those injuries have already caught up to him. I cant wait to trade him and open up roster spot for someone else. With the rise of Goga and already having JI locked in for years, we need to ship WCJr out whoever bites this offseason.

[SloNick Russia]

WCJ is just not a stats guy. Like setting screens is one of the key skills for a big now days and usually comes totally unnoticed for fans.
His frame and weight is a big advantage on gurarding massive players like Embiid of Jokic. His three point shooting is off so far this season but in theory WCJ is a stretch big very capable of making shots. Wagner is not a good center on defense, JI is often injured we still need WCJ is the rotation until we find anoher big to take his place.

[basketballRob]

It took a couple of weeks for him to get into shape last year after the injury.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[jezzerinho]

Carter is the classic “magic homer” player where people make exceptions for him all the time because he’s not atrocious at his position.

Yeah, no. I’d rather have a player that works better next to Paolo that can actually stay on the court and provide what he doesn’t. Not going to read paragraphs trying to convince people that he’s better than advertised because his contract isn’t astronomical.

I would say its the total opposite. Carter until recently has been on a great deal and we got him cheaply in the Vooch trade. So, since he arrived people (including me) have been shopping him in theoretical trades on a daily basis.

In realgm fans minds, Carter has had one foot out the door since day 1. Despite being young and good and with Orl for a few seasons now, I don't think I've read anyone on here insisting he's part of the core.

To most, he's a valuable trade chip for something different. So it a weird take that everyone is defending him irrationally on here.

If anything, they should defend him more.

[VFX]

Carter is the classic “magic homer” player where people make exceptions for him all the time because he’s not atrocious at his position.

Yeah, no. I’d rather have a player that works better next to Paolo that can actually stay on the court and provide what he doesn’t. Not going to read paragraphs trying to convince people that he’s better than advertised because his contract isn’t astronomical.

I would say its the total opposite. Carter until recently has been on a great deal and we got him cheaply in the Vooch trade. So, since he arrived people (including me) have been shopping him in theoretical trades on a daily basis.

In realgm fans minds, Carter has had one foot out the door since day 1. Despite being young and good and with Orl for a few seasons now, I don't think I've read anyone on here insisting he's part of the core.

To most, he's a valuable trade chip for something different. So it a weird take that everyone is defending him irrationally on here.

If anything, they should defend him more.

Yeah that idea has flipped though since he landed in Orlando. Probably since his second season.

He WAS a good trade chip when he was thrown into the Vuc trade. Hes no longer the high upside guy that struggled in Chicago on a great contract.

He’s now the quantifiable product on a standard deal that has proven he’s good to miss 20 games a season.

He’s thrown into trade deals now because since early last season he’s been proven as redundant between Moe and Goga.

And I didn’t say everyone. He has the same amount of defenders as did Fultz and Elf. Which is basically 5-8 people out of an entire board. Hell, there are people that will defend every player simply because they have Magic on their chest.

Carter has an appeal for a very specific team. Arguably a team with an elite defensive switchable PF that requires an offense to move their C onto the line. That isn’t in Orlando and that player isn’t Paolo. Not much else to it.

[BadMofoPimp]

Trade him for Vooch.

[Blue_and_Whte]

I’m sitting here thinking about tonight’s matchup with the Bucks, and my thought is thank GOD Goga is playing. Our offense has been struggling, and I believe Goga’s defensive impact is far greater than WCJ’s minimal offensive contribution. We win games with our defense, and Goga’s presence is more significant than WCJ’s offense.