Checking in on Devin Carter's NBA Draft Process
Will the Big East Player of the Year crack the top 10 of this year's NBA Draft?
The NBA season came to a close earlier this week but for some of us who prefer the college game to the pros, it’s been NBA draft season since UConn cut down the nets in Phoenix back in April. This year, Providence’s Devin Carter will make history as the first lottery pick of the Kim English era, and the first to come out of Providence College since Kris Dunn was drafted 5th overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016. While I don’t expect Carter to be a top 5 pick, he will certainly be selected within the lottery (top 14) and has a very real chance of sneaking into the top 10.
If you’re looking for Friar-related connections in the top 14 picks, Carter being selected by Utah at #10 would see him paired up with Dunn’s current team, and the Chicago Bulls at #11 are coached by none other than Friar legend Billy Donovan. David Duke Jr. is currently on a two way contract with the Spurs who pick at #8 as well. For me, the most important thing for Carter is that he goes to a franchise that is actively trying to win games. Franchise stability and direction often plays an outsized role in the success of how young players fare in the NBA, and for reasons I won’t bore you with now, not all of them are always trying to win. In this lottery Memphis, Utah, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Sacramento would all be great landing spots for the Big East Player of the Year. Carter has skyrocketed up draft boards recently due to an impressive combine and individual team workouts, so with all that in mind let’s take a look at a few NBA players that Carter’s career could potentially mirror.
Jrue Holiday:
Holiday was an instrumental part of the Celtics winning their first NBA Championship since 2008 this season, and I think the ceiling for Carter’s NBA career mirrors that of the Celtics guard. Two-time NBA Champion, two-time All-Star, six-time NBA All-Defensive team member, and a brilliant player who can reliably be the 3rd (or 4th) option on a championship roster. Below is a side by side comparison of Holiday’s lone season at UCLA versus Carter’s junior year at Providence. There are some striking similarities but also some noticeable differences.
Carter took (and made) more 3 pointers than Holiday, and probably comes into the league as a more ready-made offensive weapon, but also had two additional years to develop in the collegiate ranks. The offensive rebounding and steal numbers do favor Holiday which makes sense given he has a full inch on Carter. The two players draft season measurements are below.
I believe that Carter will be able to be trusted as a connective playmaker based on his ability to see the court and what we saw from him at Providence. Carter was asked to do everything on the offensive end this past season and what impressed me the most was how many times he was willing to make the extra pass.
The ability to always make the right ‘basketball play’ is what separates Jrue Holiday from dozens of other NBA players that probably have a little bit more talent than he does, and Carter understands and sees the game in exactly the same way. In terms on their defensive impact, it’s hard to not see the similarities. Even though Carter is an inch shorter than Holiday, his wingspan and tenacity likely makeup for it over the course of an NBA career. If Carter has even 80% of the career Jrue Holiday has it’ll be a massive success, but knowing DC he’s aiming for higher than that.
Derrick White:
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