Wendell Carter Jr - The Block Panther Edition

[the ultimates]

I used to criticize Krause hard for that Elton Brand trade but over the years of watching the types of teams that have been contending for titles now and in the past…

…Krause was right. Well the idea was. The execution obviously wasn't. But yeah, what are you really going to achieve when one of your max slots is going to Elton Brand?

For his first nine seasons Brand was 20 and 10 and a good defensive player. In seven seasons with the Clippers he had a PER 23.4 and TS% of .569. He was traded not because the Bulls felt they couldn't win with him or build around him its because he wanted out. He told Krause he wouldn't resign after his rookie deal expired. There was no RFA for rookies at so the Bulls if they didn't trade him they would have been left with nothing. Krause, Brand and Brand's agent at the time David Falk all confirmed it.

Yes I'm very aware that Elton Brand put up numbers.

What I'm saying is…I don't really care. Relying on Elton Brands aren't how you win titles.

So having good players or trying to build around good players isn't how you win titles? News to me.

[League Circles]

Is this supposed to be a bad thing? Do people seriously forget how good Elton Brand was?

I'm not sure when people bring up Elton and Boozer as comparisons, I'm thinking to insult, that they are comparing Wendall to two All-Stars.

Are those guys All-Stars in the current era of space and pace though? These days if a big isn't a really good defender, his scoring efficiency has to be elite to justify his spot. Elton and Boozer are dinosaurs.

Well brand was not efficient which is one of the reasons why I prefer Tyson Chandler's career but Boozer was quite efficient in his prime with Utah. And fortunately Carter was very highly efficient at Duke as a score.

[Onibuh]

WCJ knows how to Play with a "star" 4 next to him and he will be a good Player. It's the safe pick and not the sexy one. It's how you build winners. Just hope they hit their ceilings and Star FAs will see a good Young Team that will have more than enough Cap Space.
I wonder if RoLo will be a good Mentor for him.

Makes you think Pax is building this team around Lauri.

I think it's more BPA and getting better as a Team Overall.
Maybe they think about adding a star in 1-2 years. Let them grow and see how good they will and can be. A Young Team without a star making a push for the POs? they have Cap Space too? This will look like a good Destination. There will always be stars available and on the move.

[LordBaldric]

I'm not sure when people bring up Elton and Boozer as comparisons, I'm thinking to insult, that they are comparing Wendall to two All-Stars.

Are those guys All-Stars in the current era of space and pace though? These days if a big isn't a really good defender, his scoring efficiency has to be elite to justify his spot. Elton and Boozer are dinosaurs.

Well brand was not efficient which is one of the reasons why I prefer Tyson Chandler's career but Boozer was quite efficient in his prime with Utah. And fortunately Carter was very highly efficient at Duke as a score.

I just wonder what it would have taken to move up to get Bamba. I think he would be a much more effective player with this team.

[League Circles]

Are those guys All-Stars in the current era of space and pace though? These days if a big isn't a really good defender, his scoring efficiency has to be elite to justify his spot. Elton and Boozer are dinosaurs.

Well brand was not efficient which is one of the reasons why I prefer Tyson Chandler's career but Boozer was quite efficient in his prime with Utah. And fortunately Carter was very highly efficient at Duke as a score.

I just wonder what it would have taken to move up to get Bamba. I think he would be a much more effective player with this team.

It's tough to say in my opinion. I was never able to quite decide between bamba and Carter. I genuinely think Carter will be the better offensive player for his career. And just a more well-rounded player with a better motor and possibly a better leader. But those swats by Bamba......

[Dankoz]

Just wondering how GarPax isn't able to recognize our huge issue on SF spot ?

[Leslie Forman]

For his first nine seasons Brand was 20 and 10 and a good defensive player. In seven seasons with the Clippers he had a PER 23.4 and TS% of .569. He was traded not because the Bulls felt they couldn't win with him or build around him its because he wanted out. He told Krause he wouldn't resign after his rookie deal expired. There was no RFA for rookies at so the Bulls if they didn't trade him they would have been left with nothing. Krause, Brand and Brand's agent at the time David Falk all confirmed it.

Yes I'm very aware that Elton Brand put up numbers.

What I'm saying is…I don't really care. Relying on Elton Brands aren't how you win titles.

So having good players or trying to build around good players isn't how you win titles? News to me.

Yeah because that's totally what I'm saying.

If it was as easy as just having "good players" things like the 2004 Olympics would never happen.

[kingkirk]

A safe pick doesn't mean a bad pick. This team needs as many good players as it can get, particularly if Dunn and LaVine don't blossom next season.

I'm happy with WCJ. Of all the players in this draft, though his ceiling may not scream star, I have little concern or questions about him reaching his peak. That's comforting. Knowing that, or expecting that, isn't a bad thing considering where we find ourselves with Lauri.

Here's to hoping one of Dunn or LaVine breakout, but I love the potential of this 4-5 combination.

[GimmeDat]

You know the other cool thing about drafting Wendell? Our group is made up of extremely intelligent, hard-working, likeable kids.

A+ on character.

[the ultimates]

Yes I'm very aware that Elton Brand put up numbers.

What I'm saying is…I don't really care. Relying on Elton Brands aren't how you win titles.

So having good players or trying to build around good players isn't how you win titles? News to me.

Yeah because that's totally what I'm saying.

If it was as easy as just having "good players" things like the 2004 Olympics would never happen.

Yeah because having good players who never played together like the 2004 olympic team is a stellar way to build a roster now who should really be rolling their eyes again

[Dankoz]

I can't believe my eyes people are happy with this guy but Markkanen got so much **** even his potential was on whole different level.

[Southpaw]

Sucks that Bamba was picked one slot ahead of us and we didn't trade up for him, but i trust the fo on this one. WCJ seems like a solid prospect that would fit really well with Lauri.

[Leslie Forman]

So having good players or trying to build around good players isn't how you win titles? News to me.

Yeah because that's totally what I'm saying.

If it was as easy as just having "good players" things like the 2004 Olympics would never happen.

Yeah because having good players who never played together like the 2004 olympic team is a stellar way to build a roster now who should really be rolling their eyes again

I mean, if you want to try and build a contender around an Elton Brand, go ahead. Wouldn't exactly be my preferred choice.

[johnnyvann840]

The other great thing about WCJ is that he is brilliant. Turned down Harvard and all you have to do is listen to him speak and you realize we got a high IQ guy on and off the floor. That is always underrated and a very good thing.

[League Circles]

Yeah because that's totally what I'm saying.

If it was as easy as just having "good players" things like the 2004 Olympics would never happen.

Yeah because having good players who never played together like the 2004 olympic team is a stellar way to build a roster now who should really be rolling their eyes again

I mean, if you want to try and build a contender around an Elton Brand, go ahead. Wouldn't exactly be my preferred choice.

Who said anything ever about building any team around Elton brand or Carlos Boozer or Wendell Carter?

[League Circles]

The other great thing about WCJ is that he is brilliant. Turned down Harvard and all you have to do is listen to him speak and you realize we got a high IQ guy on and off the floor. That is always underrated and a very good thing.

Our first nice snippet of this was his answer to what he likes the most about Instagram.

He said uhh taking pictures and putting a caption at the bottom.

[VolumePoster]

Elton Brand 2.0?

Is this supposed to be a bad thing? Do people seriously forget how good Elton Brand was?

I'm not sure when people bring up Elton and Boozer as comparisons, I'm thinking to insult, that they are comparing Wendall to two All-Stars.

Agreed. Add solid defense to Carlos Boozer and you have a real player.

Also, I'm sure the video of Carter schooling Ayton has been posted ad nauseum, but I'll state that it wasn't the most painful thing in the world to watch.

[kingkirk]

Against who? The bad teams still playing archaic basketball?


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

I'm so confused as to why you think Carter is some plodding center who can't defend. His biggest value came from the defensive end.

The worst part of the narrative that Carter can't stay on the floor is who we're comparing him against. People are talking as if Draymond Green is now the norm, not the outlier he is. He is what he is because he's unique. The league isn't filled with many mobile centers who can stay on the floor who team's downsize. So unless every team benches their big, it's not an issue.

What modern bigs need to have, at a minimum, is a jump shot and a multi-faceted ability on offense. Carter does all of this. And yes, his defense in space is a question, but that is so for virtually every big in the league.

Basically, I see this as people complaining about a problem without offering a solution. And when they do provide a solution, that one is equally as flawed, perhaps even more so.

I don't know how I've all of a sudden become a Bulls apologist, but I'm very happy with this pick and think people are following the 'small ball' narrative a little too far.

[kingkirk]

I rather have gone with Mitchell Robinson.

The guy who went in the middle of the second round? You'd prefer him over WCJ?

[kulaz3000]

Watch on YouTube