2018 NBA Mock Draft: Enter the madness

Chicago is in a great draft position for the beginning of a rebuild, considering they’re not a top three team in the lottery. If Carter is available, the Bulls would effectively kill two birds with one stone by drafting him. They would get the best player available at No. 8, while also nabbing a player who fits what they try to do on both sides of the ball.

Carter is sort of a souped-up Robin Lopez, if you think about it. The freshman plays with mindfulness rather than explosion, always in the right place to make the best play. Carter can run the offense from the elbow (or the middle of the zone, as it were) or step out from 3.

Defensively, he’s going to be at his best in a conservative scheme where ball-handlers are pushed his way and it becomes a one-read rim protection challenge. Fortunately, the Bulls allow Lopez to drop and survey the floor when defending the pick-and-roll, meaning Carter could learn the same good habits from the veteran.

Finally, Carter is a perfect match for Lauri Markkanen, who plays almost exclusively on the perimeter and lacks diversity in his game. This one just makes sense.