NBA: Regrading every first round pick from the 2018 NBA Draft

NBA: Re-grading every first round pick from the 2018 NBA Draft

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (C) poses with NBA Draft Prospects Trae Young, Marvin Bagley III, Deandre Ayton and Luka Doncic before the 2018 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 21, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) /

8 of 31

NBA draft (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

2018 NBA draft: Re-grading Pick Number 7. Wendell Carter Jr.: C

The first player on this list to already change teams, Wendell Carter Jr.’s development in the league has been less than what fans had expected. Coming out of college this felt like a steal for the Chicago Bulls. Carter profiled as an elite two-way big man who could find passing lanes for Zach LaVine to explode and crash the glass. LaVine turned into an offensive star but nothing else from that prediction came to pass.

Health has been a major issue. His third season saw him play his most games yet and even then he only appeared in 54 games. He is a solid rebounder (never averaging less than 2.0 offensive rebounds per game) but the rest of his game is still taking time to develop.

For the Bulls, the redeeming part about this selection is that despite his injuries and overall struggles he was still able to be part of the package that returned a second All-Star to the roster. Debating whether or not that trade was a good choice by the Bulls is not really part of the grading process. Were there better players available? Absolutely (even the next player on this list would have been considered a much better choice in hindsight), but Carter should be a serviceable big man going forward that Chicago used (along with two first-round picks) to make the rare playoff push.

Home/NBA Draft