2018 NBA Draft: A First Look At Wendell Carter’s Status

Now that the season is over, attention will turn to spring recruiting and the draft. For Duke, that means a lot of attention for big men Wendell Carter and Marvin Bagley.

NBCSports has a bit up on Carter which is worth reading but not that in depth. To get the good stuff you need to step up a bit. DraftExpress.com has stopped publishing but their archives are still there. Here’s what they had to say about Carter’s prospects. Here’s NBADraft.net’s take. The site currently sees Carter going to the Knicks with the 9th pick.

What we noticed about Carter is a bit different. We noticed his commitment and his intensity, his anguish when he got in foul trouble or made a mistake. We wondered if his intensity - which people may miss because he’s fundamentally quiet - could hold him back.

We’re not saying he’s like former Wake and Arizona big man Loren Wood, who had emotional issues at Wake Forest and Arizona, where he tried to attack an official. In the NBA, he cursed out the coaches when he was with Minnesota and eventually wore out his welcome (he’s still playing in Lebanon).

Our suspicion though is that Carter is a perfectionist and that can be both a blessing and a curse. Managed correctly, like former Duke star JJ Redick has learned to do, and it’s a huge asset.