Cameron Carr may have been one of the more talked-about players coming out of the NBA combine after dropping 30 points in the scrimmage. It felt reminiscent of his year with Baylor, as he took the program by storm, averaging a school record 18.9 points per game. The 6’5 wing showed a little bit of everything, and he could be an exciting player coming out of the draft.
The first thing that may pop out when watching Carr is his athleticism, and he uses that to get to the rim to get easy points. He has
a quick first step, and once he gets to his spot, he’ll leave it up to you to find out if it’ll be a crafty layup or a dunk. He might be one of the best dunkers in the class, and he had a lot of opportunities to show off his vertical at Baylor.
With that athleticism, Carr also has the ability to rebound better than most players at his position, in which he averaged 5.6 per game. On top of that, he was a solid shot blocker, averaging 1.3 per game. It’s obvious that he has the intangibles that can change a game on either side of the ball, and that goes a long way for teams looking for a winner.
Outside of the athleticism, Carr’s other strength is his shooting, specifically from the 3-point line. He shot 37% from the perimeter, and he’s probably never taken a shot he doesn’t like. His mechanics are smooth, and he can raise up for a shot that can be hard to defend. What makes it even better is that he can go beyond the 3-point line, and that’s a plus in a league that is all about spacing.
Not only has Carr shown the catch-and-shoot ability, but he has flashes of being able to shoot off the ball and as a pick-and-roll handler.
In all, his 3-point shooting is probably what teams will enjoy about him the most, and if he can continue to show consistency in that area, he’ll be a player who can see a lot of time on the court.
Just as much as Carr’s shooting can be a plus, it can also turn into a negative depending on his shot selection. This was Carr’s first time as a true No. 1 option, and he probably felt like he had to do everything in order for the team to succeed. He won’t have the problem early into his NBA career, but teams will definitely want him to be smart about the types of shots he takes.
Defensively, Carr has the tools to be serviceable at the next level, and his length allows him to get in the passing lanes. He still has to get stronger and smarter on that side of the ball, which is where teams have taken advantage of him when he’s on the ball. Again, his frame and athleticism show promise for him to improve, so it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Carr is a player who could be drafted in the lottery range to the early 20s, and that could be a spot where, if the Hawks like him, they can take him. He offers 3-point shooting that would be an instant plus on the team, and his defense is solid enough that he can make an impact. It’s hard to know if the Hawks would want to add another guard, especially when they have needs at guard and center, but Onsi Saleh is all about drafting the best player available.
