Chicago Bulls: Wendell Carter Jr. taking the next step

Chicago Bulls center Wendell Carter will play in his second NBA season come October. After a first year marred by injury and inconsistency, Carter will look to bounce back and show why he was picked in the lottery in last year’s draft. 

The Chicago Bulls picked Carter with the seventh pick in last years draft. At 6’10 with an enormous 7-foot-4 wing span, he was drafted as a big man who could defend, shoot and play out in the open floor. Carter played the first half of last year, averaging 25 minutes a night while posting a stat line of ten points, seven rebounds and 1.3 blocks. In the 44 games Carter played, he showed flashes of the potential that many saw in his one year at Duke university.

Built for greatness

Carter’s imposing physical gifts combined with a high basketball IQ makes him a potential Bulls cornerstone of the future. Carter’s impressive verticality and long arms make him a nightmare for opponents at the rim. Many will remember him meeting a flying Russell Westbrook at the rim last season, denying the star point guard a poster dunk.

Though his stat line doesn’t jump off the page to casual fans, his per minute production can’t be denied. Per 36 minutes his averages jump up to 15 points, ten rebounds and two blocks. Per Cleaning the Glass his block rate was good enough to put him in the top 16% in the league last year.

Versatile defense

In a game against the Charlotte Hornets last year, Carter showed off his bag of tricks on the defensive end. Getting switched onto Kemba Walker he correctly shaded him right, not giving up middle. Still in the same play he gets switched back onto Walker and pushes him into the help defense. When the ball moves out to a driving Marvin Williams, Carter recovers to the rim and it takes a tough under hand finish from Williams to get past him.

Multiple effort defenders with strong instincts are tough to come by. Combined with his great size its easy to see why teams would pay a premium to get prospects like him.

Carter will need to temper his approach around the rim slightly due to his excessive fouls last season though. His three plus fouls per game, due in part to biting on pump fakes too often, while getting caught being slightly aggressive away from the rim.

Strong offense

Carter’s great hands combined with his court vision give him a high ceiling on offense. Adept at passing out of the post, he has shown the ability to throw Draymond Green like passes on the short roll too.

He has a great post game where he can draw fouls at will while finishing strongly through contact. His shooting potential though, should excite Bulls fans the most. Though he only attempted 32 three pointers last year, Carter shot almost 36 percent on jump shots in the season. He ironed out the kink in his shot from his college days and now showcases a nice high release with a smooth stroke.

Though this is a very small sample his 38% from mid range is a great starting point for a 20-year-old center. He needs to get more game reps in where he can take corner threes and then move around the arc from there. As an at rim finisher and lob threat he is quick off the ground as well. His finishing around the rim should take a big jump this next season from his league average 65  percent next year. Playing with a spaced floor on an improved team should help this part of his game.

After a first season with flashes of brilliance on both ends, Carter has had the better part of a year to take his game to the next level. On one of the most exciting young teams in the NBA, he can take the next step in what should be a bright future in the league.