Carter sez: I fit well with Zinger
There’s a loose consensus that DeAndre Ayton, Luka Doncic and Marvin Bagley III will be the top-3 picks in the draft. After that, the mock drafts are sporadic.
But this much is becoming increasingly clear: despite suggestions to the contrary, it’s likely that at least one of the prospects in the following trio — Trae Young, Michael Porter and Wendell Carterwill be on the board when the Knicks pick ninth.
Carter, the Duke big man, was the latest to workout for New York on Friday and he touted his compatibility with Kristaps Porzingis. Carter, a 6-10 power forward who played alongside Bagley last season at Duke, said he’s willing to sacrifice and be a complementary player.
“(Porzingis) can stretch the floor and run the floor really well. And I think I run the floor really well. So we can interchange in the aspect,” said Carter, 19, who averaged 13.5 points and 9.1 boards last season with the Blue Devils. “I don’t always have to have the ball to affect the game. So I can let him do his thing.
“(Playing with Bagley) showed that I didn’t have to have the ball in my hands every second of the game. I don’t have to be the first or second option.” At about the same time Carter was at the facility in Tarrytown, the Knicks were represented at Porter’s Pro Day workout in Chicago. Porter has also scheduled a later meeting with the Knicks, according to ESPN, and he’s the X-factor to entire draft because he missed most of his freshman season at Missouri following back surgery.
Once considered the top talent of the class, Porter’s range is now projected from 4 to 15 — the ultimate high-risk, high-reward choice.
Carter is a safer pick if available and could represent Porzingis’ frontcourt mate of the future. The Atlanta product said he grew up a huge fan of LeBron James and has also worked out for the Cavaliers, who pick one spot ahead of the Knicks.
Of course, it’s unclear whether LeBron will be in Cleveland next season.
“Playing alongside of LeBron or playing against him, either one I’m quite alright with,” Carter said.
Carter has now worked out for the Bulls (picking seventh), Cavs (8th) and Knicks (9th). He has more scheduled with the Grizzlies (4th), Mavericks (5th) and Magic (6th).
So just like Young, the Knicks have the lowest pick of the team’s Carter scheduled a workout with. That’s a good sign for the franchise.
“They’re just working on trying to rebuild and be that old Knicks team that was really great,” Carter said.