Cleveland Cavaliers: 5 options for pick No. 8 in 2018 NBA Draft
By Ryan Piers
4. Wendell Carter Jr.
The Duke big man played second fiddle to Marvin Bagley III in the duo’s one college season. On almost any other team, he would have been the No. 1 option. Carter averaged 13.5 points per game and 9.1 rebounds, just a hair under a double-double.
He’s long and lean with excellent range, drilling 56.1 percent of his field goals and 41.3 percent from beyond the 3-point line. That’s Carter’s big selling point; he has the marksmanship and length comparable to Kristaps Porzingis.
He’s wide framed and a solid defender, averaging 2.1 blocks per game. Carter has the all-around game, the type of player you can build a team around if he reaches his full potential.
Some may view him as a smaller, less hyped Joel Embiid. It’s not a bad comparison, except Carter can shoot better. Their footwork appears comparable.
If LeBron returns, Carter could be a good running mate. He’s an excellent shooter from the corner and a stalwart rim protector. Those are exactly the kind of players that jell with LeBron. It’d be interesting to watch Carter line up in one corner and Love in the other while LeBron isolates. That could create havoc for opponents.