Wendell Carter Jr - The Block Panther Edition

[TheJordanRule]

The Combine had loads of players below 10 percent body fat, bruh. Guys recently drafted like MPJ, Bamba and Kevin Knox were at 6.4, 6.2 and 4.95 percent body fat, respectively. Plenty of bigs projected to go later in the draft are at around 5 percent body fat too (Bates-Diop at 5.35, Chimezie Metu at 5.05, Austin Wiley at 5.0). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a PG but he posted the craziest body fat percentage in the whole draft class (3.0 percent!!!). I'm not saying that it's likely for WCJ to slim down to around 5. I'm just saying that WCJ *could* control his destiny when it comes to speed and quickness if he puts in the work.

Correct, but especially for a big man, to hang at 7.5, much less go down in the NBA is highly unlikely. They wouldn't be able to perform and would be huge injury risks. Plus, you're talking about losing 2 percent of bodyfat, not 10. His speed, even if he tried damn near everything, is not going to increase to make him viable to cover on switches.

What bigs in the league can switch? What 5s?

I don't see think it's a big injury risk for WCJ to get down to around 240 lbs, 5.5 percent body fat. Being 10 lbs lighter even with a muscle increase would make a big at Bamba's weight more of an injury risk. At WCJ's weight, players are still going to be outweighed by the kid even if he goes through a 10 lb weight loss. And a loss of 10 lbs does make an impact in terms of quickness on a person. WCJ could switch on to 4s better at that size and body fat percentage.

[coldfish]

WCJ will be a strong contributor and will work well with Lauri. The question is, when other teams go small, can both of them stay on the floor? My initial conclusion is no, but we will see. Surely the Bulls were aware of this issue too.


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Going small is a two way street. There are two questions:
- Can WCJ and Lauri manage to not get killed by a small ball lineup
- Can they kill a small ball lineup on offense or on the glass

One of Mirotic's big problems was that small athletic players would bother him and take him out. Can Lauri shoot over a 6'6" player? Can WCJ push one around in the paint?

[logical_art]

What a failed season for the Bulls.

[Lana Del Rey]

Carter + Lauri = the new Twin Towers

6'9" is not a tower.

Fine. Twin Highrises.

[WindyCityBorn]

Carter is 6'10, 253. Wouldn't that qualify as a huge body? Unless you're referring to height, which he wouldn't be but his 9'1 standing reach and 7'5 wingspan aren't poor either.

Carter isn't big for a C, he's ok sized. He's not Embiid or Ayton or any of the legit legit 7' guys.

And those guys will be taken off the court when the other team goes small.

Embiid will be taken off the court?! I hope that's a joke. Neither will Ayton.

[League Circles]

Carter isn't big for a C, he's ok sized. He's not Embiid or Ayton or any of the legit legit 7' guys.

And those guys will be taken off the court when the other team goes small.

Embiid will be taken off the court?! I hope that's a joke. Neither will Ayton.

Yeah Joel embiid will never ever ever ever ever ever be taken off the court. Wait..........

[WindyCityBorn]

And those guys will be taken off the court when the other team goes small.

Embiid will be taken off the court?! I hope that's a joke. Neither will Ayton.

Yeah Joel embiid will never ever ever ever ever ever be taken off the court. Wait..........

He won't be taken off the court because another team dictated the match-up. He is just that damn good offensively. No small ball center is going to guard him effectively. And he is a really good defender too....

[TheStig]

I'm sorry but I can't see Lauri and Carter closing out games against small line ups. Not a bad pick but 2 7ft bigs are just not needed anymore.

[kyrv]

Yeesh. The Bulls are 12 months into their rebuild.

You should be pissed about this season.

You were very clear that the primary reason to blow it up was to tank and land that star. That was a complete failure.

Are you under the impression I’m happy we picked 7th? I’m not. But given that it happened, I like the pick.

Those bastages won the coin flip with Sacramento. That sent this franchise back decades.

All the teams picking in the top five are getting best players on title teams guys. Bummer!

[League Circles]

Embiid will be taken off the court?! I hope that's a joke. Neither will Ayton.

Yeah Joel embiid will never ever ever ever ever ever be taken off the court. Wait..........

He won't be taken off the court because another team dictated the match-up. He is just that damn good offensively. No small ball center is going to guard him effectively. And he is a really good defender too....

I know that's what you meant I didn't really mean to contradict you I just thought that the notion of Joelle embiid not being taken off the court was very humorous because he is usually off the court.

[WindyCityBorn]

Man and Dunn and LaVine really have step it up. Worst case scenario is they and Lauri improve just enough to make us mediocre and get a late lottery pick.

I don't know what the Hell to think about Carter. He could be a great player. I'm severely underwhelmed though. Not necessarily with him, but the fact that he was our best option.

[League Circles]

I'm sorry but I can't see Lauri and Carter closing out games against small line ups. Not a bad pick but 2 7ft bigs are just not needed anymore.

I will never understand why people think that small is good. It is most definitely not. Quick is good which is very often misunderstood for small being good. I think the Bulls will have adequate quickness and more than adequate size and strength in scoring and rebounding from their big men.

[kyrv]

Point being, people don't see a team capable of winning the East. Hence, depression.

Yeesh. The Bulls are 12 months into their rebuild.

You should be pissed about this season.

You were very clear that the primary reason to blow it up was to tank and land that star. That was a complete failure.

Wrong.

If it were as simple as sucking for one(1) season and landing that star, everyone would do it.

People tired of the rebuild after 12 months...wow. You're in for a rude awakening on NBA rebuilds and how they work.

[League Circles]

The honest question that people need to ask themselves in evaluating this is whether they would rather have Niko Mirotic or Wendell Carter right now. That's really what it boils down to.

[TheSuzerain]

Yeesh. The Bulls are 12 months into their rebuild.

You should be pissed about this season.

You were very clear that the primary reason to blow it up was to tank and land that star. That was a complete failure.

Wrong.

If it were as simple as sucking for one(1) season and landing that star, everyone would do it.

People tired of the rebuild after 12 months...wow. You're in for a rude awakening on NBA rebuilds and how they work.

No, don't butt in. Duck made his views very clear last offseason.

I am completely aware on how NBA rebuilds work. It's too bad management isn't.

[TheJordanRule]

I'm sorry but I can't see Lauri and Carter closing out games against small line ups. Not a bad pick but 2 7ft bigs are just not needed anymore.

I feel you. There would be issues on defense. But does their ability to stretch the floor not count? And Carter has great defensive instincts. If Carter figures out how to increase his speed, he would literally have no weaknesses.

[RedBulls23]

Read on Twitter

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YES!! Summer league champs here we come!

[khufure]

Is he ever gonna be better than Lopez?

[TheStig]

I'm sorry but I can't see Lauri and Carter closing out games against small line ups. Not a bad pick but 2 7ft bigs are just not needed anymore.

I will never understand why people think that small is good. It is most definitely not. Quick is good which is very often misunderstood for small being good. I think the Bulls will have adequate quickness and more than adequate size and strength in scoring and rebounding from their big men.

I don't think Carter and Lauri can both be quick enough. I'd rather have a big 3 like Porter that I could slide to the 4 next to Lauri.

[keobulls]

I remember watching this movie last year.... Orlando has the pick in front of us and takes the super long uber athletic guy that had a crazy ceiling, then the Bulls took the "not" athletic less exciting kid who just quietly went about his business and made the All Rookie first team. I hope the sequel ends as good as the original (I like Carter and think it will).