Empire of the Suns NBA Draft Big Board 2.0, Part II: Another option at C

With conference play already getting underway for some college basketball teams, it’s time to take a look at our NBA Draft big board and see where things stand.

If you missed our first edition of the big board, check out parts one, two and three for initial reads on the top prospects and how they’d fit with the Suns.

Now, with extending our board into the entire lottery and looking at new risers, we will cover new prospects and how well they’d slide into play in Phoenix as well as give updates on previously covered prospects.

After covering some of the newer names in Part I, Part II gives a read on a new name at center and updates on some players from our last board.

10. Wendell Carter Jr., Duke, C, 18 years old (NR)

In my eyes, Carter is the most fascinating prospect to see responses to.

He’s a mix of old and new, possessing sound footwork in the post and is able to consistently put himself in positive positions on offense.

He’s a good passer, really understands how bodies are moving around the floor and rebounds well, making him great around the basket on both ends.

He has an NBA body right now (6-foot-10, 7-foot-3 wingspan, 257 pounds) and moves fluidly with it.

Now, what’s next creates the divided opinions.

He’s a step slow defensively. He works hard and slides at a respectable rate, but not enough to be a difference-maker. Basically, you hope that he’s average and has upside to be good as a switcher.

Protecting the rim, he’s not a quick leaper and needs to be composed and on two feet to really get up and challenge a shot. He’s smart and athletic enough to be good there, but again, just how good can he be?

Lastly, on offense, teams need to buy his jumper. Right now, evaluators are using the verb “project” when it comes to his NBA range.

For me, I’m buying it. His form is legitimate and I see him becoming a good shooter a couple of years down the line.

If this sounds like Al Horford, it’s because he’s basically Al Horford. Seriously. Watch him and tell me he’s not Al Horford. What Horford doesn’t get credit for enough, though, is how good he is as a defender on top of his skill as a scorer.

That’s where Carter needs to land on the spectrum, and right now, he’s at least on it.

Fit in Phoenix: Carter is just “solid.” He does a little bit of everything, but what the Suns need next to Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss is someone special.

Now, if the previous four centers are somehow off the board by the time the Suns pick, they can do worse than Carter. Having someone reliable, smart and tough next to those two guys isn’t the worst turnout.

9. Collin Sexton, PG, Alabama, 18 years old (–)

While the Trae Young hype continues to spread, Sexton is over at Alabama putting up his own strong numbers.

He’s posting 20.5 points per game for Alabama, and most notably, is doing it with strong efficiency at 46 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent from 3-point range.

The debate with Sexton comes with how good is he at what he’s supposed to be the best at.

Is he the best athlete of the first-round point guard prospects? No, Trevon Duval is.

Is he the best shooter of the first-round point guard prospects? No, Young is.

Is he the best defender of the first-round point guard prospects? No, De’Anthony Melton is.

Is he the best passer of the first-round point guard prospects? No, Young is.

Is he the best attacker of the first-round point guard prospects? Yes.

Does he have the best attitude and mentality as a player of the first-round point guard prospects? Without a doubt.

The concerns of Sexton as a primary ball-handler must shine through again when he’s averaging only 3.5 assists per game on a very talented Crimson Tide squad.

This case has made me apprehensive as to how high he should be rated. I’m going to keep him at No. 9 for now, but could see myself slipping him down toward the end of the lottery once we get closer to June.

The question is: What do the next couple of prospects to do leap him?

8. Miles Bridges, F, Michigan State, 19 years old (▼1)

Bridges “is what he is” at this stage.

Out of the lottery prospects, he has the most comfortable ceiling-floor. There aren’t really major strides he can cover this year, as his major question mark was his shooting and he addressed that last year, which is why he should have declared for the draft.

What Bridges can do is continue to prove he’s one of the best players in college basketball, which he will do, because he is.

It’s worth noting his 3-point shooting is down to 34 percent, a year after his 39-percent number seemed like a best-case scenario and a prime reason for him to stay in the draft. Keep an eye on that.

7. Jaren Jackson Jr., C, Michigan State, 18 years old (▼1)

Uh oh.

Jackson is fouling every 6.9 minutes while shooting 44 percent from the field and 34 percent from deep.

I still consider myself a Jackson-head, but if he’s not blocking shots at a comfortable enough rate without fouling, that is what they call a red flag.

His playmaking, an appealing nugget of his overall offensive outlook, has resulted in 15 assists in 13 games.

The argument for Jackson’s upside now becomes, “How much do you bank off what you are seeing on film as opposed to actual production?”

He’s still blocking 3.4 shots a game and flashing everything you want to see out of his overall game when you watch him.

But with how that all stands in late December, I feel comfortable bumping him out of a tier with the top guys outside of — spoilers — the top prospect in Luka Doncic.

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