New York Knicks Wendell Carter Jr.
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Wendell Carter Jr. is on the New York Knicks radar in the upcoming draft and the big man has nothing but good things to say about Kristaps Porzingis.

The most pressing question surrounding the New York Knicks’ draft pick seems to be—how will the pick complement Kristaps Porzingis? In the case of Wendell Carter Jr., the Duke product feels that he and KP would fit alongside each other quite well.

Carter told Adam Zagoria of SNY:

“He can stretch the floor. He runs the floor very well and I think I run the floor very well so we can interchange in that aspect. I don’t always have to have the ball in my hands to affect the game, so I let him do his thing. I’m just there to clean up rebounds so we can easily complement each other’s game.”

A frontcourt running mate for the Latvian All-Star is near the top of the Knicks’ wish list. If not for the need for a versatile wing, Porzingis’ running mate would surely be number one on the priority list.

Carter Jr. has the ability and skill to become a modern day big man. He can shoot the ball fairly well, crash the glass, defend the paint, and he’s athletic enough to run the floor. On paper, Carter and Porzingis look like they would mesh well together.

Carter Jr. also has the benefit from the experience of playing alongside an excellent big man while he was at Duke. Carter Jr. played with Marvin Bagley III—who is projected to be selected somewhere in the top five. When asked about his experience playing alongside Bagley, Carter told Zagoria:

“I think that showcased that I’m able to play with other great players and still be able to do what I have to do on the offensive and defensive end.”

There’s no guarantee that Carter Jr. falls to the Knicks at nine, but if he does, the Knicks are sure to think long and hard before passing him up.

 
NY/NJ hoops reporter (NBA/NCAA) & sports betting writer for XL Media. Never had the makings of a varsity athlete.