Wendell Carter Jr - The Block Panther Edition

[Darius Miles Davis]

Just not a pick that makes a ton of sense. The problem that you see the most with teams rebuilding is they draft guys and pigeon hole them to one spot. I don't think Carter is a bad basketball player but I think the odds he's a valuable one worthy of #7 is super rare. I'd much rather have Mikal or Knox and then when you do find the legit #1 guy, you have the makings of a team.

Lauri and Carter is really going to struggle long term. Carter isn't big enough or fast enough to be good at C. Every C in this league either is a huge body or exceptionally quick, Carter is neither. I just don't like this pick at all.

Yet Al Horford is a 4 time All Star and the anchor behind the best defense in the NBA...

I keep saying it, but Horford is a PF, and so is Carter.

You keep saying it, but at least this far, you haven’t explained it. Why is he a 4? And does it matter these days?


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[Indomitable]

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?

Portland screwed him. We were suppose to get Fizer for them and they trade us Oneal

[kingkirk]

And now I've finally caught up to the thread. So much complaining, so few alternative solutions. Typical.

[Leslie Forman]

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.

The solution is that every year you just get some cheap ass Zaza Pachulia/Joel Anthony/Luc Longley/whatever for when the need arises, and you spend your high draft picks and max slots on versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers. If you don't have any, you save those assets until you do. Just keep trying until you succeed.

Let's say Markkanen and Carter don't suck balls in three years. That means you're paying them the max after their rookie contracts, because that's just what happens in this dumb league. Then you've got a team that's putting at least half of the salary cap into them. Unless the rest of the team is completely empty except for rookie deals, that means you're probably functionally capped out then. So then what? You're really gonna go for titles with a capped out team built around two big men who aren't that good on defense?

"Small ball" isnt' just Golden State. It was Miami. It was Chicago. Hell it's Houston and Boston right now. Building what amounts to basically a worse version of New Orleans is probably not going to be the future of this league.

[kingkirk]

The solution is that every year you just get some cheap ass Zaza Pachulia/Joel Anthony/Luc Longley/whatever for when the need arises, and you spend your high draft picks and max slots on versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers. If you don't have any, you save those assets until you do. Just keep trying until you succeed.

Let's say Markkanen and Carter don't suck balls in three years. That means you're paying them the max after their rookie contracts, because that's just what happens in this dumb league. Then you've got a team that's putting at least half of the salary cap into them. Unless the rest of the team is completely empty except for rookie deals, that means you're probably functionally capped out then. So then what? You're really gonna go for titles with a capped out team built around two big men who aren't that good on defense?

"Small ball" isnt' just Golden State. It was Miami. It was Chicago. Hell it's Houston and Boston right now. Building what amounts to basically a worse version of New Orleans is probably not going to be the future of this league.

And who are these versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers that were sitting there waiting for the Bulls take them but who were eventually ignored?

To play small ball, you need the horses to do so. The fact is very few of these big men exist in the league. Call me when Chris Bosh types become the norm. As for Boston, they have Horford manning the middle, a guy WCJ is receiving most of his comparisons to.

[Dominator83]

Against who? The bad teams still playing archaic basketball?


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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.

Yea as of now, I have no complaints. I mean sure it's probably not a home run, but who at that point was? I wanted MPJ, as much as anyone, but there's clearly some serious doubts about his health Considering how far he fell. Jerry West had 2 picks and wouldn't even invest one on him. So it is what it is. There really wasn't a higher upside guy behind him

[Darius Miles Davis]

can Carter be LEGIT NBA center with his size or he is more suitable to be PF and Lauri moves to 5?
Please someone reply who watched WCJ ,not some clueless fan who cant even compare players..

Oh he's absolutely a legit Center. The only thing that would make you think twice is that he's only 6 foot 10 which is not really short at all but he has really long arms so he has good wingspan very good wingspan in fact he's like within an inch of Ayton. Probably has good standing reach also. And he has a good strong body. He can protect the rim and score in the post. He is most definitely a true Center.

Thank you. Someone finally brought up wingspan. 7’4.5” is a really big wingspan. And a 9’1” standing reach is good. 250lbs is good. I think Carter’s speed to strength ratio is quite impressive. He is a center in today’s NBA. People need to stop being fixated on 6’10” as a limiting factor.

It’s the right pick after the first six selections. It’s not the player I wanted ideally. But I really think he was the most talented guy left on the board save Porter, who we and the other teams drafting 1-13 didn’t take because of the back injury.


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[Onibuh]

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.

The solution is that every year you just get some cheap ass Zaza Pachulia/Joel Anthony/Luc Longley/whatever for when the need arises, and you spend your high draft picks and max slots on versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers. If you don't have any, you save those assets until you do. Just keep trying until you succeed.

Let's say Markkanen and Carter don't suck balls in three years. That means you're paying them the max after their rookie contracts, because that's just what happens in this dumb league. Then you've got a team that's putting at least half of the salary cap into them. Unless the rest of the team is completely empty except for rookie deals, that means you're probably functionally capped out then. So then what? You're really gonna go for titles with a capped out team built around two big men who aren't that good on defense?

"Small ball" isnt' just Golden State. It was Miami. It was Chicago. Hell it's Houston and Boston right now. Building what amounts to basically a worse version of New Orleans is probably not going to be the future of this league.

how do you stop 2 bigs that deserve the Max contract? If that happens we have the new Dirk/Porzingis with Lauri. A 7 footer that can throw and attack the basket. Add in the same with Carter. Small ball vs 2 bigs that can Play this game.

[League Circles]

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.

The solution is that every year you just get some cheap ass Zaza Pachulia/Joel Anthony/Luc Longley/whatever for when the need arises, and you spend your high draft picks and max slots on versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers. If you don't have any, you save those assets until you do. Just keep trying until you succeed.

Let's say Markkanen and Carter don't suck balls in three years. That means you're paying them the max after their rookie contracts, because that's just what happens in this dumb league. Then you've got a team that's putting at least half of the salary cap into them. Unless the rest of the team is completely empty except for rookie deals, that means you're probably functionally capped out then. So then what? You're really gonna go for titles with a capped out team built around two big men who aren't that good on defense?

"Small ball" isnt' just Golden State. It was Miami. It was Chicago. Hell it's Houston and Boston right now. Building what amounts to basically a worse version of New Orleans is probably not going to be the future of this league.

Wendell Carter is probably the most two-way player drafted in the top 10 this year.

It would be bad to only have Carter and markkanen and nothing else. That's why the real key is to sign outside free agents before those guys need contract extensions. You sign one or two or three high quality free agents not necessarily stars or Superstars but just good players and then you have Lauri and Carter and maybe one of Dunn and Lavine becomes a player or something like that or maybe one of your later pics you know turns into something of a player and next thing you know you have four to seven actual good players and you can contend. Probably won't win a championship but it's insane for any team to think that they will win a championship until it's clear that they will. That's how odds work.

[Darius Miles Davis]

Oh, and he’s easily the best shot blocker on the team now and the best one we have had in quite a while.


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[Axolotl]

The Bulls picked 7th, and about that I'm disappointed. But I am not disappointed with the player picked.

I have said for a long time that if Porter junior's back is too much of a concern, I want Carter. Looking at how far MPJ fell, it seems safe to assume all is not well.

We got no projected star. But we got a very well rounded modern C, who I believe will make a positive impact. Also, he doesn't need the ball in his hands, and I believe he'll be a good fit to this Bulls team.

He seems like a nice, smart guy too. Down to earth, yet quietly confident.

I think he'll be better than many anticipate.

I am not happy about this pick, but I'm content with it.

[League Circles]

A player the caliber of Wendell Carter in my opinion in two years would easily start and play 30 minutes a game Golden State at the center position.

[gmoney2]

In picking Bamba, Orlando just erased its biggest mistake in signing bismack biyambo to his ridiculous $17 mil per. i do take some comfort in knowing that Orl’s highest paid player is basically irrelevant now as Bamba does everything better than biyambo and like most here, I really wanted bamba to fall to us. But whatever, no sense crying over what if’s.

As I said before, I think Carter will be a journey man big that will give u nearly a double double night in and night out and do whatever it takes to win. He’s a smart, coachable, hard working kid that has the highest floor of anyone taken in the top ten. I don’t see him as an allstar but I didn’t think Jimmy Butler would be an allstar when we drafted him, so I hope I’m wrong again. If Carter focuses on his rebounding, help defense, blocking shots and hitting the mid ranger jumper and occasional 3, he will be a solid addition and a young upgrade over Lopez and Portis. He also allows the bulls flexibility to play hardball w Portis in negotiations in order on sign him to a reasonable contract extension or let him either sign with team willing to overpay or make him play out his final year with no guarantee of a long term contract. Carter’s game will complement lauris and I can see the two of them becoming tight given their respective ages, fathers both being former pro bball player who never made it in the nba and both being intelligent dudes. My hope is that Carter will take on the tough defender enforcer role similar to Charles Oakley when he played for the bulls w MJ.

Hutchison reminds me a lot of butler in regard to his steady improvement over 4 years in college. If he continues his trajectory, he could be the steal of the draft like butler was. Garpax obviously had seen something special in the kid early on and by guaranteeing taking him, had him leave the combine early and not work out for other teams, which pretty much solidified his spot on this roster. The first pick was not a home run but a solid hit past the 3rd base line that allowed the runner to easily get to second. If the 22nd pick turns out to be an RBI double, that’d be nearly as good as a home run in my book.

[Leslie Forman]

The solution is that every year you just get some cheap ass Zaza Pachulia/Joel Anthony/Luc Longley/whatever for when the need arises, and you spend your high draft picks and max slots on versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers. If you don't have any, you save those assets until you do. Just keep trying until you succeed.

Let's say Markkanen and Carter don't suck balls in three years. That means you're paying them the max after their rookie contracts, because that's just what happens in this dumb league. Then you've got a team that's putting at least half of the salary cap into them. Unless the rest of the team is completely empty except for rookie deals, that means you're probably functionally capped out then. So then what? You're really gonna go for titles with a capped out team built around two big men who aren't that good on defense?

"Small ball" isnt' just Golden State. It was Miami. It was Chicago. Hell it's Houston and Boston right now. Building what amounts to basically a worse version of New Orleans is probably not going to be the future of this league.

And who are these versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers that were sitting there waiting for the Bulls take them but who were eventually ignored?

To play small ball, you need the horses to do so. The fact is very few of these big men exist in the league. Call me when Chris Bosh types become the norm. As for Boston, they have Horford manning the middle, a guy WCJ is receiving most of his comparisons to.

How the hell would I know, these kids haven't played a game yet. But I'd take shots. Maybe Kevin Knox is one. Maybe Zhaire Smith is one. Maybe Mikal Bridges is one. Maybe Jaren Jackson or Doncic were available to move up to (in fact it seems Jackson absolutely was).

I'd keep taking shots at those types and not stop until I had some I really believed in. Would it take some time if you don't get lucky? Sure. But MyHusbandPax have absolutely nothing but time.

And don't get me started on the Horford/Carter comparisons. That is a load of lazy horsepoop. They are nothing alike.

[Leslie Forman]

how do you stop 2 bigs that deserve the Max contract? If that happens we have the new Dirk/Porzingis with Lauri. A 7 footer that can throw and attack the basket. Add in the same with Carter. Small ball vs 2 bigs that can Play this game.

I didn't say "deserve." Any random decent guy with a pulse and two healthy ACLs at the end of their rookie deal basically gets a max in this league.

That's the point I'm trying to make here, you have to be incredibly selective with who you give your big salary slots to.

[dumbell78]

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

A+ on character.

Appreciate the sentiment but honestly Pax really overplays that hand. We've had that cast before and yeah it was fun but it leaves you short. You need to spread your wings at some point and shoot for the big fish. I'm not sure a few try hard good kids will leave us satisfied this time around.

I sure hope Lauri is a star.

[Red Larrivee]

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.

I agree. Carter fits the direction that bigs are going in. Offensively, he can shoot, post, pass, finish and offensive rebound. On defense, he's just as good. He rotates well, understands angles, shows good awareness, boxes out, defends the post and rebounds well. His pick-and-roll defense in space isn't even bad, but it definitely needs improvement. That's really the only glaring weakness you can point out from his game. And as you mentioned, there a ton of centers who are still trying to improve the same thing. There are really only 2-3 centers who can consistently guard in space and they are outliers.

I don't understand how this represents a move to go to a Twin Towers build. Chicago merely picked a center who compliments Lauri and adds value on both sides of the ball. Carter is entering the league with a lot of skill for a C who just turned 19 in April.

[E-DC]

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[E-DC]

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[VolumePoster]

The solution is that every year you just get some cheap ass Zaza Pachulia/Joel Anthony/Luc Longley/whatever for when the need arises, and you spend your high draft picks and max slots on versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers. If you don't have any, you save those assets until you do. Just keep trying until you succeed.

Let's say Markkanen and Carter don't suck balls in three years. That means you're paying them the max after their rookie contracts, because that's just what happens in this dumb league. Then you've got a team that's putting at least half of the salary cap into them. Unless the rest of the team is completely empty except for rookie deals, that means you're probably functionally capped out then. So then what? You're really gonna go for titles with a capped out team built around two big men who aren't that good on defense?

"Small ball" isnt' just Golden State. It was Miami. It was Chicago. Hell it's Houston and Boston right now. Building what amounts to basically a worse version of New Orleans is probably not going to be the future of this league.

And who are these versatile two-way players and high level on-ball scorers that were sitting there waiting for the Bulls take them but who were eventually ignored?

To play small ball, you need the horses to do so. The fact is very few of these big men exist in the league. Call me when Chris Bosh types become the norm. As for Boston, they have Horford manning the middle, a guy WCJ is receiving most of his comparisons to.

Nobody will EVER out small ball golden state. Just get the best players you can. It might be that it’s better to crush them with size on the glass and physicality.