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The Chicago Bulls have the utmost faith on their new rookie Wendell Carter Jr., whom they drafted with the seventh overall selection in this year's draft.
Most importantly, the Bulls feel their new frontcourt asset will adjust to become a modern day big man
“You've got a modern day big with Wendell,” said head coach Fred Hoiberg, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.
Carter was used at the high and low-post, playing in the same frontcourt as No. 2 overall selection Marvin Bagley III as teammates at Duke University.
The 6-foot-10 power forward possesses a deft touch around the rim and an improving perimeter game, which will help him stay in this evolving league for a long time.
“I'm a very hard worker,” said Carter. “I'm a winner. I'll do whatever I need to to help this team win.”
The 19-year-old is already showing signs of being a potential steal, asking Hoiberg to come and get a few shots up on Sunday, only three days after being drafted.
“I know that work ethic will carry over,” said Hoiberg.
Carter will have to coexist with perennial marksman Lauri Markkanen, who has occupied the starting power forward spot for most of the 2017-18 season.
Their future partnership will hinge of them playing off each other, which could play right into Carter's wheelhouse as a playmaking big man.
“I was willing to share the pot. I'm not a selfish player by any means,” said Carter of his time at Duke. “I wanted to win. To play alongside so many great players at Duke and still hold my own, I thought spoke volumes.”
Carter was Duke's highest-rated commitment before Bagley decided to join the Blue Devils, yet Carter didn't seem overshadowed or underused, fitting it nicely enough in that uber-talented frontcourt.
