2018 NBA Mock Draft: March is finally here

Carter was quiet in Duke’s loss to Virginia Tech over the weekend, scoring five points on five shots and struggling on defense.

The speed of the game overwhelmed Carter from time to time, including several instances where he struggled to vertically contest shots by Hokie guards in transition. Staying balanced enough to defend at full speed without fouling is a skill few guys have, even in the NBA. And Carter’s size will make it more difficult for him to develop that skill.

However, he moves his feet well enough that he has the potential to become the kind of switchable defender who can make those plays. Carter’s combination of size and speed is part of what makes him so valuable. Unfortunately, touch is another aspect of his game that will need to get better. He air-balled two shots, a 3 and a hook shot, in the Virginia Tech game. That’s odd to see from a lottery prospect in rhythm.

Scoring simply isn’t the focus of Carter’s game, and it’s the reason he will help a young team like Chicago. But he still needs to become more effective there to be a truly impactful NBA player.