Dream Fit: Clippers, Rockets, Nets

Overall Grade: 57.28

Projected Position: SF/Small Ball 5

Strengths:

• Tracks rebounds well

• Good physicality defending drives doing a good job forcing guys to the baseline

• Solid perimeter spacing

• Solid strength with big men

• Solid hands in passing lanes

• Good boxout positioning & strength

• Good low handle to keep ball secure when navigating traffic

• Stays composed & keeps ball secure when pressured

• Good baseline cut decisions

• Good perimeter pressure using pokes to make the ball handeler uncomfortable

• Good motion on 3pt shots

• Quickly finds a man in transition defense

• Good base & absorbs contact well

• Solid change of direction

• Good athleticism

• Ok, not great screen navigation

• Good athleticism on help blocks

Weaknesses:

• Floats on the baseline which can be advantageous, but it can be excessive especially when the paint in clogged

• Bad hands, the ball slips out of his grip very easily

• Risky passes, stolen with regularity

• Doesn't adjust well on shots around the rim leaving him suceptible to being blocked

• Drops too far defensively even with the ball on his side leaving shooters open in the corner

• Gives a lot of space on closeouts due to his lack of speed not affecting perimeter shots much

• At times doesn't recognize loose balls that go by him

• Late help rotation for trapped teammates

• Clunky lateral movement, relies of physicality to slow guys down

• Can be overaggressive on contests

Scouting Report: Carter Bryant

Position: Forward
Height/Weight: 6'8", 220 lbs
School: University of Arizona

Draft Projection: Late lottery to mid-first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft

Overview:
Carter Bryant is a versatile forward with a well-rounded skill set and significant upside. Known for his defensive versatility and athleticism, Bryant has the tools to impact the game on both ends of the court. His ability to guard multiple positions, combined with his offensive potential, makes him an intriguing prospect for the NBA.

Strengths:

• Defensive Versatility: Excellent lateral quickness and positioning allow him to guard wings and forwards effectively.

• Athleticism: Strong leaping ability and footwork make him a threat in transition and on the defensive end.

• Rebounding: Uses his size and physicality to secure boards on both ends of the court.

• Offensive Potential: Can score efficiently in transition and has shown flashes of a reliable mid-range jumper.

• Basketball IQ: Makes smart plays and reads the game well, especially on defense.

Areas for Improvement:

• Three-Point Shooting: Needs to improve consistency from beyond the arc to become a more complete offensive player.

• Shot Creation: Relies on teammates to create scoring opportunities; developing his own shot will elevate his game.

• Physicality: Adding strength will help him handle the physical demands of the NBA.

Player Comparisons:

• OG Anunoby: For his defensive versatility and ability to guard multiple positions.

• Jaden McDaniels: For his athleticism and potential as a two-way player.

• Trevor Ariza: For his role as a 3-and-D forward with transition scoring ability.

Summary:
Carter Bryant is a promising forward with the potential to be a valuable two-way player in the NBA. His defensive versatility and athleticism make him a strong candidate for teams looking to bolster their wing depth. With continued development in his shooting and shot creation, he could become a key contributor at the next level.

CARTER BRYANT

Position/Archetype: Athletic 3&D Combo Forward

College: Arizona

Pros:

• Size: For a young player and freshman, Bryant has good size, he looks pretty built already which is nice to see when hoping for him to impact day 1 which I think he can. He also has a wingspan just under 7ft which is obviously very valuable for these defensive stopper type guys which I see Bryant doing.

• Athleticism: Really good vert at 39 1/2 inch which is really good and combining that with his size it allows him to be really aggressive at the rim defending or on offence which is always very useful. Combining it with some other skills he has it makes an interesting mix. Another thing I will say is his reactions in game, his recovery time is pretty insane since he does have to cover up a few of his own defensive mistakes he can make.

• Defending: A lot more upside than talent here, a lot more eye test and flashes. He does make a few mistakes off ball and just basic stuff but he also does more of the complicated high level stuff that you like to see in wing stoppers which I see him as. The insane recovery speed, being able to poke the ball and spot passes and generally staying ahead of his man at a good rate is valuable. And then the switch ability of him is always gonna be interesting.

• Movement and IQ: What I love about Carter Bryant is when I watch him I see plays I don't expect from a young guy and a mindset thats rare from people his age. He's very composed on ball and under pressure, not too many mistakes from that yet somewhat turnover prone. But his off ball movement is very valuable in my opinion, Smart cutter and perimeter mover which is always valuable when trying to fit in an NBA system. On ball creation is what raises a ceiling, off ball raises the floor.

• Three point shooting %: Very strong spot up 3pt shooter in the 71st percentile in that realm and 37% 3pt shooter in general is very nice. Again just adds to the archetype he is and combined with his rim pressure is very nice.

• Rebounding: Very strong rebounder using his wingspan and athleticism. he is a 98th percentile defensive rebounder and having someone with his transition ability and athleticism grabbing boards is very valuable.

Cons:

• Volume: Super minimal role at Arizona, didn't get a tonne of minutes or usage over there and had to fit into a role on a competitive team trying to be the best in the nation. That means numbers such as the shooting percentages have a lot more questions than others so take that as you will.

• Shot Creation and On Ball play: Doesn't take movement shots and off the dribble shots, seems to pretty much a cut and spot up player right now but he's young and definitely has an opportunity to grow some more of these skills. Right now it's hard to project him doing much of that in the NBA. And yeah he can be more accurate and controlled although he is pretty good for his age already. just like to see more attacking with the ball.

• Defensive Mistakes: He's not a perfect defensive prospect yet, as mentioned prior he still makes mistakes on defence which he's been able to make up for so far in college but its a whole different ball game in the NBA.

NBA Pro Comp: Robert Covington, Jeff Green, Jaden McDaniels

Projection: Projects to be a great role-player, potential to be a lot more but right now looks to be a good starter role-player.

CHEESE FINAL BOARD RANKING: (coming soon)

https://youtu.be/cRi-e47u6n8?si=ixhGEs3bSqT2GAdg

Draft Range: 12-Late 1st

Projected NBA rookie role:

Projected NBA position: Forward

Projected Rookie Statline (Pts, Reb, Ast, Blk/Stl):

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Weakness:

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Best outcome:

mid outcome:

worst outcome:

Carter Bryant is an intriguing forward prospect with elite positional size, defensive instincts, and offensive versatility. His physical tools, standing at 6'7" with a 7'0" wingspan, allow him to impact both ends of the floor. While his role at Arizona was limited, he showcased flashes of his talent, particularly with his ball-handling and decision-making. Bryant is a menace on defense, using his length and instincts to disrupt plays. His switchability allows him to guard multiple positions effectively. He crashes the glass at an elite rate and makes great outlet passes to kick-start transition offense. His 7-foot wingspan and strong frame make him a valuable asset defensively and on the boards. While he shot well from deep, his overall offensive game is raw. He wasn’t asked to create much at Arizona, leaving questions about his ability to be a shot creating scorer. Bryant also had more turnovers than assists, which raises questions about his ability to handle the ball under pressure. Bryant has the tools to be a valuable two-way player in the NBA. His defensive prowess and rebounding ability make him an attractive prospect, but his offensive development will determine his ceiling. If he can work on his scoring and playmaking, he could carve out a role as a versatile wing.

NBA Comps: Kyle Kuzma, Marcus Morris, Jeff Green

Comp: Jaden McDaniels/Peyton Watson

• elite defensive prospect with great length, physicality, athleticism, versatility (1-5) and instinct; arguably the best disruptor in this class

• lateral foot speed could improve to make him the ultimate defensive wing prospect

• super coordinated for someone of his stature

• good rebound tracking + boxout instincts

• great timing and IQ as a cutter

• solid 3pt shooter with high shooting upside

• struggles to put the ball on the floor as he has a sloppy handle and bad footwork; doesn’t attack closeouts effectively

• risky passer but shows potential as a connector w/ IQ and passing talent

• poor agility and speed; susceptible to close-out struggles defensively and poor finishing

• doesn’t seem to have superstar potential but could be the greatest role player of all time if he pans out