2024 NBA Draft: The Chicago Bulls' Case for Selecting Devin Carter

The Chicago Bulls' offseason tilted into action with a one-for-one trade that sent guard Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for guard Josh Giddey. The Bulls are also quickly approaching the 2024 NBA Draft, where they're slotted to select the 11th overall.

One draft prospect who has been connected to the Bulls is a junior guard from Providence University, Devin Carter. There has even been speculation that the Bulls' front office has promised to select Carter in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Carter, the son of former NBA point guard Anthony Carter , completed a standout 2023-24 college season with the Providence Friars, averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game.  You might ask yourself, "Why should the Bulls use their 2024 draft pick on another guard?" Consider the following attributes, and you'll see there's a case for adding Carter's talents to the Bulls' 2024-2025 roster.

Scoring Versatility

Devin Carter can add variety to the Bulls' scoring attack as a finisher in transition offense off the catch for three-point attempts. Carter also doesn't hesitate to punish defenses with his pull-up jumper. The Florida native shot 37.7% from three-point range on 6.8 attempts per game.

Additionally, Carter is a capable movement shooter who can run hard off a ball screen and immediately get his jump shot in the air. Carter could help improve the Bulls' offensive spacing and evolve beyond the basic pick-and-roll strategy that's dominated the Billy Donovan-led squad for the last four seasons.

Defensive Motor

Devin Carter is a relentless point-of-attack defender with good active hands. On defense, his eyes are consistently engaged across the court, not just on the ball. Carter navigates opposing ball screens well. If he's screened, he has enough speed to recover to the ball and affect the opposing offense's shot attempt.

A strong, athletic, vertical-space defender, Carter averaged 1.0 blocks per game in 2023-24. Carter's athleticism also shines in his ability to attack gaps to force steals and deflections that generate efficient transition scoring opportunities.

As an added bonus, Carter demonstrated strong defensive rebounding for his position averaging 7.7 boards per game in this past season at Providence.

Questions Devin Carter Must Answer in the NBA

What's not clear in Devin Carter's NCAA highlights is if he can consistently create offense for the other four players on his team.

Carter will need to find a throttle for his motor when it comes to making passing reads in transition and the pick-and-roll game as a ball handler.  Carter's NCAA career turnover percentage was 14.4%. For context, Coby White's career NBA turnover percentage through the 2023-24 season is 11.5%.

If Carter translates to a more narrow offensive role in the NBA, such as functioning more off-ball in catch-and-shoot scenarios, will he still be able to find a consistent shooting rhythm?

Overall, Carter's skills can make a valuable contribution to the Bulls' 2024-25 roster. Carter would add shooting that the Bulls have been starved for throughout Billy Donovan's entire tenure as head coach. In light of Alex Caruso's departure from the Bulls, Carter would also present an opportunity to shrink the defensive drop-off the Bulls may encounter without the All-NBA defender on the roster.

Carter may need time to develop into an NBA player who can be trusted with on-ball offensive reps, but the Bulls should seriously consider drafting Carter as a player who can add roster depth and potentially challenge Ayo Dosunmu for rotational minutes in a similar 3&D guard role.

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