NBA Draft Analysis: The Dallas Mavericks Should Consider Wendell Carter

Wendell Carter Jr.

University: Duke

Position: PF/C

Height/Weight/Wingspan: 6″10/251/7″4.5

College Averages: 13.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.8 SPG, 2.1 BPG

College Averages per 40: 20.1 PPG, 13.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 3.1 BPG

Slash line:  .561/.413/.738

Physical Tools

Wendell Carter passes the eye test marvelously, and that is where scouts and teams first look. He clearly has the size to play both power forward and center positions, standing at 6’10” with a powerful 251 pound frame, and a massive 7’4.5″ wingspan. Carter has the size, length and strength to play the post at the NBA level.

Carter is not just a big body, he also possess very good athleticism. Carter is a great leaper in space which, combined with his length, allows him to consistently play above the rim. In high school, there was a concern of him not running the floor very well, but at Duke, he blew those out the window with long, mobile, and coordinated strides.

He is not the same level athlete as Marvin Bagley, but he is more than capable of filling the lanes on transition. That is a big reason as of why he is so highly regarded, those physical tools help him a lot on offense and on defense.

More from The Smoking Cuban

• Dallas Mavericks: Tyrell Terry injures groin in summer league loss to Jazz
• Mavericks: How to maximize Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis pairing
• Dallas Mavericks: Did they do enough this offseason to jump into title contention?
• Mavericks: What to watch for as Dallas faces Utah Jazz in summer league
• Dallas Mavericks rumors: Bulls want first round pick for Lauri Markkanen

Tools on Offense

His tools are a big reason for him being so dominant offensively at the college level. His size, length, and athletic ability, in combination with his soft touch, allow him to dominate inside the paint on a consistent basis. His size, length, strength and vertical also helped him convert an amazing 70.2% at the rim per Hoop-Math.com.

Those are dominating numbers, and he was very consistent, as it represented 55.8% of his offense. That’s not all, Carter also made a whopping 75% of his putback attempts as well (Hoop Math.com). He was also a menace on the offensive boards, using his strength to get position, and his length to keep plays alive. He was able to do this by having a good motor and never giving up on a play. It is clear that Wendell Carter has more than enough tools to hang in the NBA for a long time.

Defense

Carter is not just great on the offensive end, he is a great defender as well. Carter played very well in Duke’s zone defense, blocking and altering shots left and right. His consistent rim protection was good for 3.1 blocks per game, according to Sports-Reference.com.

His length, instinct, and timing are a big reason he was able to protect the paint, and with his strength, he makes it very difficult for opponents to gain position in the post. He also controlled the glass with 13.5 rebounds per 40 minutes showing effort, and a great nose for the ball. He also posted a 92.8 defensive rating, which is better than defensive stud Jevon Carter, who had a 94.4 defensive rating, not too shabby.

Although he is not the quickest of the bigs, he does have potential in guarding pick and roll situations if he learns to sit down in a stance and slide his feet. With more fundamentals, he could become a versatile defender in time.

Next: Offense & Fit with Mavericks