2018 NBA Mock Draft: The standings are set

I’ve started to see Carter pop up a little higher on mocks as we start to remove the bias of the present and evaluate these prospects’ seasons as a whole. People love him.

But I think drafting Carter any higher than the 7-9 range means you really believe in his ceiling. You have to believe he will be able to anchor a great defense as a rim protector and switcher, and you probably buy into the idea that his passing and shooting are real NBA-caliber weapons on offense. In Dallas, I think there’s a better chance than most programs that potential will be unlocked.

With so many solid young shot-creating guards around him, Carter’s smart offensive glue-guy game will come alive. He is a good screener, makes the right pass and spaces the floor in a way that will help Dennis Smith Jr., Seth Curry and others rather than take possessions away from them.

And with the Nerlens Noel experiment effectively over for the Mavericks, the need for a great defensive center is now once again staring the team in the eye. Long-term, Carter makes more sense in a switching, versatile role than relying on the athletic rim protectors that Dallas has always loved. Those players are not as valuable in 2018.

If no team reaches for Carter in the top six, Dallas can lurk here and snatch him.