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2018 NBA Draft: Could drafting Wendell Carter Jr. help the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2019 NBA Finals

By Nathan Beighle

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 21: Wendell Carter, Jr. #34 of the Duke Blue Devils dunks the ball against the Louisville Cardinals at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 21, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 21: Wendell Carter, Jr. #34 of the Duke Blue Devils dunks the ball against the Louisville Cardinals at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 21, 2018 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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Wendell Carter Jr. could be one of just a few coveted prospects to help the Cleveland Cavaliers win the 2019 NBA Finals. But will he fall to No. 8?

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded Kyrie Irving in the 2017 offseason. In return, the most valuable asset they received was the Brooklyn Nets 2018 first-round pick. That pick turned into the No. 8 selection of the 2018 NBA Draft.

With that pick, there seems to be a montage of players that Cleveland is considering. For starters, the national phenom Trae Young might still be on the board at No. 8. On top of Young, the Cavs might have to also decide between Carter Jr. or Michael Porter Jr.

NBADraft.net currently has those three going No. 6, 7, and 8. They have the Magic drafting Michael Porter Jr., but would they really want another athletic small forward to pair with their current star Aaron Gordan? Is that a recipe for success?

The Magic picking Trae Young seems much more likely, especially since they dished their young point guard, Elfird Payton, last season. Then, it turns to Chicago. Chicago could go either way, but with an extremely young team, it seems inevitable that they’ll draft Michael Porter Jr. They want potential, not impact.

For Cleveland, they’d be left with who they should’ve wanted all along, Wendell Carter Jr.

Carter Jr. would be a perfect fit in Cleveland. He’s a rare mixture of size, strength, and shooting. On top of that, Carter Jr. gives the Cavaliers something they haven’t had in years, an offensively talented center.

While Kevin Love has been forced to play the five this season, he’s expressed that his desired position is the four. That said, how intimidating would it be to look across the court and see Kevin Love and Wendell Carter Jr. manning the paint.

While just a guess, that frontcourt duo could help Cleveland post one of the league’s highest defensive rebounding rates.

As for Carter Jr. and his efficiency in college, he was on another level.

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In his freshman season at Duke, Carter Jr. was just 0.9 rebounds away from averaging a double-double. Scoring-wise, he averaged just 13.5 points per game, but he did so on 56% from the field and 41% from deep. On top of that, he was paired in Duke’s frontcourt with hopeful top-five pick Marvin Bagley III.

Carter Jr. is one of the most polished bigs in the draft, and while his ceiling might not be that of Bagley’s, his skill set to make an immediate impact is already there.

NBA.com said this regarding Carter Jr. and the intangibles that he brings to the table.

"Carter Jr. is more versatile, an excellent shooter for a big man with long arms, a 7-4 1/2 wingspan and 9-1 standing reach, which is similar to Elton Brand."

As we all should remember, Brand averaged 18+ points per game for his first 8 seasons in the league before steadily dropping off. If Carter Jr. is similar to Brand, sign me up.

For Cleveland, having a 6-foot-10 player that can spread out the floor would allow more dynamic, defensively-focused lineups in addition to giving the aging James more options on the offensive end is ideal. Assuming James re-signs, this might be our first chance to see him with a traditional center that isn’t offensively limited.

Against Golden State or really any championship-contending team, Carter Jr., while his moves might still be raw, should have enough experience after a full season to be dependable on both ends of the court.

Unless the Cavaliers slide into the top 2, they won’t find a more NBA-ready prospect than Carter Jr.

Next: LeBron’s best free agency option that nobody is talking about

That said, Wendell Carter Jr. should drop to No. 8. And, when he does, the Cleveland Cavaliers will need him and his presence to make yet another Finals run.