Redrafting the 2018 NBA Draft: Elite playmakers and modern bigs

Wendell Carter Jr. ranks high on the list of star players nobody talks about. He’s obscured by the general lack of fanfare around the Orlando Magic, which is a shame — both because he’s really good, and because that team is downright fun to watch. A lot of pre-draft appraisal comes down to checking boxes. Carter’s skill set is quite expansive. He checks a lot of boxes and his weaknesses are few.

There are manifold definitions of the so-called “modern big.” A floor-spacer. A switch-friendly defender. A playmaker. Carter does it all. He can anchor the paint with his strength and towering wingspan, or he can move his feet on the perimeter. He’s not an elite shooter, but he attempts over three triples per game. He can function as a playmaking hub on the elbow, or he can fulfill the more traditional roll-man duties associated with NBA 7-footers.

There is inherently a lot of value in Carter’s ability to oscillate between different roles and skills. He provides the Magic with a lot of optionality on both sides of the ball. Part of the reason for Orlando’s wide range of lineup combinations is the fact that Carter can slide into just about any group. He’s schematically adaptable on defense. On offense, he can mold his game to the personnel on the floor. He’s the perfect No. 2 or 3 star for a future contender for that very reason. No matter who’s out there and what his role is, Carter will find ways to contribute to winning.

It’s worth doubling down on the extent of Carter’s defensive impact. He won’t join the All-Defensive team conversation until the Magic start to win games, but on a good night Orlando can look like one of the NBA’s best defenses. Carter is in the middle of it all. He’s one of the few players with the physical tools to battle the Eastern Conference’s elite bruisers like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo.