Wendell Carter Jr - The Block Panther Edition

[Evil_Headband]

How can anyone say that don't start Carter and let him earn or slowly get into the things etc???

If we didn't do that with Lauri then why are we going to do that with WCJ? WCJ is not going to be a focal point of our offense, is not a primary ball handler, not our 1st, 2nd or even a 3rd option. He is also not felicio (who would need to "EARN" the minutes at starting spot).

Let WCJ play, let him play screen and roll/pop with our backcourt, let him build chemistry with Dunn/Lauri and other starters. There won't be too much on his shoulders to start the season anyway.

If anything, I think he will benefit greatly playing next to better players and he can also make life easier for other starters as well with his defense and shot blocking.

It’s a long season unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. We’ve seen rookies hit the wall many times. I don’t think it will do harm to ease him into his career.

[Jcool0]

How can anyone say that don't start Carter and let him earn or slowly get into the things etc???

If we didn't do that with Lauri then why are we going to do that with WCJ? WCJ is not going to be a focal point of our offense, is not a primary ball handler, not our 1st, 2nd or even a 3rd option. He is also not felicio (who would need to "EARN" the minutes at starting spot).

Let WCJ play, let him play screen and roll/pop with our backcourt, let him build chemistry with Dunn/Lauri and other starters. There won't be too much on his shoulders to start the season anyway.

If anything, I think he will benefit greatly playing next to better players and he can also make life easier for other starters as well with his defense and shot blocking.

It’s a long season unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. We’ve seen rookies hit the wall many times. I don’t think it will do harm to ease him into his career.

And we have seen just the opposite happen. SO no reason to have to come off the bench.

[Stratmaster]

How can anyone say that don't start Carter and let him earn or slowly get into the things etc???

If we didn't do that with Lauri then why are we going to do that with WCJ? WCJ is not going to be a focal point of our offense, is not a primary ball handler, not our 1st, 2nd or even a 3rd option. He is also not felicio (who would need to "EARN" the minutes at starting spot).

Let WCJ play, let him play screen and roll/pop with our backcourt, let him build chemistry with Dunn/Lauri and other starters. There won't be too much on his shoulders to start the season anyway.

If anything, I think he will benefit greatly playing next to better players and he can also make life easier for other starters as well with his defense and shot blocking.

Lauri started because Niko got his face broken. I believe Lauri would have been better off coming off the bench at the beginning of the season. The spotlight did get to him after his early success. Just my opinion of course. No way to prove it one way or another at this point.

[Stratmaster]

How can anyone say that don't start Carter and let him earn or slowly get into the things etc???

If we didn't do that with Lauri then why are we going to do that with WCJ? WCJ is not going to be a focal point of our offense, is not a primary ball handler, not our 1st, 2nd or even a 3rd option. He is also not felicio (who would need to "EARN" the minutes at starting spot).

Let WCJ play, let him play screen and roll/pop with our backcourt, let him build chemistry with Dunn/Lauri and other starters. There won't be too much on his shoulders to start the season anyway.

If anything, I think he will benefit greatly playing next to better players and he can also make life easier for other starters as well with his defense and shot blocking.

It’s a long season unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. We’ve seen rookies hit the wall many times. I don’t think it will do harm to ease him into his career.

And we have seen just the opposite happen. SO no reason to have to come off the bench.

When did we see the opposite? If you mean Lauri, he definitely hit the rookie wall last season.

[RedBulls23]

Most if not all rookies hit the wall at some point. It happens considering it's their first time playing this long of a season.

[Dez]

We matched Zach.
We added Jabari.
We added two rookies that we think will contribute right away.
We also didn't do any moves to just create more cap space next season ( like Melo trade).

How does one think that Lopez us not going to be a central part of the Center rotation given all of the above?

Bulls want to maximise wins this year. So, Lopez and Holiday will play. A lot.

Or they simply play the younger players together.

None of that defiantly says we are going to maximise wins this year, it just says we have a young roster.

The plan could be play the younger players together to develop and gel while sprinkling in some veteran play and see what happens.

[musiqsoulchild]

We matched Zach.
We added Jabari.
We added two rookies that we think will contribute right away.
We also didn't do any moves to just create more cap space next season ( like Melo trade).

How does one think that Lopez us not going to be a central part of the Center rotation given all of the above?

Bulls want to maximise wins this year. So, Lopez and Holiday will play. A lot.

Or they simply play the younger players together.

None of that defiantly says we are going to maximise wins this year, it just says we have a young roster.

The plan could be play the younger players together to develop and gel while sprinkling in some veteran play and see what happens.

Which is why the combo should be 4 Young + 1 Experienced.

And always, 3 plus defenders IF Jabari and Zach are on the court at the same time.

[fleet]

How can anyone say that don't start Carter and let him earn or slowly get into the things etc???

If we didn't do that with Lauri then why are we going to do that with WCJ? WCJ is not going to be a focal point of our offense, is not a primary ball handler, not our 1st, 2nd or even a 3rd option. He is also not felicio (who would need to "EARN" the minutes at starting spot).

Let WCJ play, let him play screen and roll/pop with our backcourt, let him build chemistry with Dunn/Lauri and other starters. There won't be too much on his shoulders to start the season anyway.

If anything, I think he will benefit greatly playing next to better players and he can also make life easier for other starters as well with his defense and shot blocking.

It’s a long season unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. We’ve seen rookies hit the wall many times. I don’t think it will do harm to ease him into his career.

If anything he benefits watching how Robin handles the first string bigs for awhile as he gets used to the schedule. I do not understand the impatience. And that's all it is no doubt.

[sco]

I think separating starting from minutes regarding WCJ/RoLo. I worry about our starters getting into a rhythm at the start of games, and think RoLo can help there. I also noticed that RoLo disappeared in the 2nd half of games and think Carter would give energy and 2-way help down the stretch.

[mack2354]

I'd start Lopez as well. Dunn, Lavine, and Lauri are comfortable with him already and there will some growing pains inserting Parker with that unit. Adding 2 new players (one being a rookie) into the starting line-up is destined to be ugly for the first couple months and ownership has already signaled they want to compete and not tank again.

I'd play Lopez 24 minutes a game with WCJ and Lauri taking the other 24. WCJ can get his shot starting after the all star break or the beginning of next season. The only way i'd consider starting WCJ is if he his head and shoulders out playing Lopez in the preseason.

[Bandit King]

The league aint ready for the BLOCK PANTHER!

[jump]

I would also start Rolo and let WCJ build up his confidence against 2nd units. He's still only 19 and he's occasionally shown some chinks in his armor when he doesn't do well (the head hanging). I have no problem with letting him build his dominance step by step. He's going to be a joy to watch.

[Dez]

I'm a fan of playing him 20 minutes a game to begin with and acclimate with the league. Build up his minutes if he's really adjusting well over the season but throw in a couple of periods where he rests for a week and maybe just travels with the team.

[Chi]

How can anyone say that don't start Carter and let him earn or slowly get into the things etc???

If we didn't do that with Lauri then why are we going to do that with WCJ? WCJ is not going to be a focal point of our offense, is not a primary ball handler, not our 1st, 2nd or even a 3rd option. He is also not felicio (who would need to "EARN" the minutes at starting spot).

Let WCJ play, let him play screen and roll/pop with our backcourt, let him build chemistry with Dunn/Lauri and other starters. There won't be too much on his shoulders to start the season anyway.

If anything, I think he will benefit greatly playing next to better players and he can also make life easier for other starters as well with his defense and shot blocking.

It’s a long season unlike anything he’s ever experienced before. We’ve seen rookies hit the wall many times. I don’t think it will do harm to ease him into his career.

And we have seen just the opposite happen. SO no reason to have to come off the bench.

I agree... I mean...

Should Donavan and Tatum had come off the bench? Karl Anthony Towns and Embiid? Ben Simmons?

If you're not ready, just stay in school. This is grown man business now. Carter is as ready as anyone.


Why do we always feel it's necessary to be the team that has to baby our players all the time? Take the pacifier out of their mouths...

[FriedRise]

Watch on YouTube

[The Bandit]

So post summer-league what is your revised opinion on WCJ's position amongst the best bigs from his class? Will he wind up being better than JJJ?

[NDave79]

So post summer-league what is your revised opinion on WCJ's position amongst the best bigs from his class? Will he wind up being better than JJJ?

After watching summer league, I'm more excited about Wendell than I was before the draft (and I liked him a lot, but had a couple reservations).

While I still don't think he is a freak athlete, the mobility and athleticism he displayed in summer league basically took away the main concerns I had.

I feel like he has enough functional athleticism that will allow him to succeed offensively and defensively. Obviously, crazy athleticism like Kemp or Amare would be preferable, but I think he is as athletic as Duncan or Malone and I would take them all day, err day over the previously mentioned athletic freaks.

While his height is a little low for centers, I actually think it might be a blessing in disguise in the current NBA.

I feel as if his slightly lower than average height for a center helps him with having a lower center of gravity. Obviously, there are exceptions (like KG), but in general, a lower center of gravity helps your mobility and agility. A little like how Hakeem being a little undersized served him well. Not that they are all that comparable imo. Hakeem had the agility of a cat. The OG Block Panther, lol. Wendell's not as agile, but naturally stronger imo.

For a 19 year old, he is strong and wide. I think if his head wasn't so massive we would appreciate his shoulders and physique more. In person, you would quickly understand the difference, but on camera or video it distorts the reality imo. This kid at 19 is a freaking beast and he is just going to become more of a beast as he works with NBA trainers and naturally fills in to his fully mature adult frame (which probably won't happen until he is something like 25 or 26).

With his strength, athleticism and wingspan, I think he will be able to hold his own against the centers in the NBA, and with his slightly lower center of gravity and the agility he has shown, I'm also hopeful he can keep up with perimeter guys enough to make things challenging for them.

Most importantly though, he seems to have things right in the head. Basically, he seems like a hard worker with a team first mentality (while also having a high BBIQ).

[Dan Z]

So post summer-league what is your revised opinion on WCJ's position amongst the best bigs from his class? Will he wind up being better than JJJ?

I'm excited to see how he does, but hesitant to say too much because Summer League is difficult to gauge. I think he may have been overlooked, in the draft, because of his perceived lack of upside when it comes to the other bigs (JJJ, Bagley and Bamba). I'm glad he's on the Bulls.

[Proven_Winner]

So post summer-league what is your revised opinion on WCJ's position amongst the best bigs from his class? Will he wind up being better than JJJ?

I'm excited to see how he does, but hesitant to say too much because Summer League is difficult to gauge. I think he may have been overlooked, in the draft, because of his perceived lack of upside when it comes to the other bigs (JJJ, Bagley and Bamba). I'm glad he's on the Bulls.

The upside part always confuses me because I check the kids age and he’s younger than Lauri. I don’t see why they made a deal about his potential when he’s young and already showing a willingness to play both ends while being head strong. You would think that would be enough to speak for his potential.

[Red Larrivee]

So post summer-league what is your revised opinion on WCJ's position amongst the best bigs from his class? Will he wind up being better than JJJ?

Tough to say. Jackson has so much more raw talent, but Carter is so advanced in skill, smarts and detail. But overall, I think the only thing I would change about Carter is that his sneaky-high upside is no longer sneaky.