If the Toronto Raptors want to add an NBA-ready point guard to their roster, they could draft Devin Carter with the No. 19 pick.
Devin Carter of Providence doesn’t stand out. The 6-foot-2 point guard recently completed his third year of college and appears to be the classic high-floor, low-ceiling prospect.
Carter isn’t a unicorn three-point shooting do-it-all wing with limitless potential, but he is reliable.
For the Toronto Raptors, that is the profile of a player worth considering in the middle of the first round. Toronto has a clear need for a backup point guard behind Immanuel Quickley, and Carter appears to be the type of talent who might step in and take over as the Raptors’ second-team guard on Day 1.
“Carter was immense as a breakout junior, marrying up an already-elite defensive package with an unstoppable offensive game and improved 3-point consistency,” noted CBS’ Kyle Boone, who has Carter ranked 19th.
Carter, the son of former NBA guard Anthony Carter, averaged 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 37.7% from three-point range.
It’s Carter’s three-point stroke that has thrust him into first-round conversation after two seasons in which he shot just 28.8% from behind the arc.
If the shot is real, Carter has a chance to be a very good pro. He’s a high-end defender and impactful rebounder who averaged nearly two steals and a block per game this year. He’s a tough point-of-attack defender and profiles as someone who should be able to hold his own against most other NBA guards.
For a Raptors team that’s in need of better on-ball defense, Carter could be an immediate impact player who isn’t likely to need much developmental time in the G League next year.
It’s unclear if Toronto is trying to contend next season or keep the long-term view a priority, but if the goal is to field the best team possible next year, Carter would certainly help the Raptors do that.
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