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2018 NBA Mock Draft: Impact of the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs

By Maxwell Ogden

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Mikal Bridges #25 of the Villanova Wildcats celebrates a win during the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament East Regional against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at TD Garden on March 25, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wildcats won 71-59. Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Wendell Carter, Jr. #34 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free throw line against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional Final at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Wendell Carter, Jr. #34 of the Duke Blue Devils concentrates at the free throw line against the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional Final at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

player. 170. . Center. Duke Blue Devils. Wendell Carter Jr.. 11

Age: 19 (4/16/1999)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’10”, 258 pounds, 7’3″
Slash Line: .561/.413/.738
Season Averages: 26.9 MPG, 13.5 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.9 ORPG, 2.0 APG, 2.1 BPG, 0.8 APG, 0.5 3PM

The Charlotte Hornets have an abundance of centers, including former New York Knicks fan favorite Willy Hernangomez. The reality in Charlotte, however, is that for all of the talent it’s accumulated at the 5-spot, it hasn’t found the right player.

While some might argue that the Hornets are prepared to move on from the pursuit of the center that Steve Clifford idealized, Wendell Carter Jr. is easily the best player available.

It’s never too late to find the right player at a position, and that’s exactly what Carter would be for Charlotte. He’s the complete package on both ends of the floor, displaying the versatility to play multiple roles for an NBA team.

Whether he’s passing out of the high post, scoring from the low block, spacing the floor, or crashing the boards, Carter can do it all offensively.

Defensively, Carter is an excellent rebounder and a solid enough athlete to switch against the pick and roll. He also has strong hands that help him pull down boards in traffic and excel on the other end of the floor as a target off of high screens.

Charlotte may have a surplus of centers on the roster, but Carter has all of the tools to blow the rest away and become the full-time starter of the future.

Knicks Note: The New York Knicks should give serious consideration to selecting Carter. He could be the Al Horford, only tougher.

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