Marcus Carr made a mark in his first season at Minnesota. The redshirt sophomore averaged 15.4 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.3 assists per game. That earned him Third Team-All Big Ten honors.
Carr also enjoyed enough success that explore wading into the NBA Draft waters. The 6-foot-3 guard did not hire and agent thus leaving the door open for a return to the Gopher program.
Derek Murray of Babcock Hoops and Pro Basketball Combine joined us again on Sunday afternoon to discuss Carr's draft stock and future decision might be best for him.
Q: You've been watching a lot of film on Marcus Carr. What did you see?
Murray: "I like that he uses his frame and strength really well to compensate for the fact that he really lacks burst and a quick first step athletically. Finishing at the rim I don't think he will be able to do very well at the next level because he can't get vertical very quickly, and his bounce isn't good. But he uses his broad shoulders, and takes contact really, really well. He is able to contort his body in a way and finish. I was watching a lot of his finishes and wondering how did he even get that ball up to the rim. That's what I realized more than anything. I was surprised by the shots that he was able to get up. Even though he can't elevate above people he still has a way of finishing at the rim better than I anticipated."
Q: Since he is good as using his physical strength, do you feel that the Big Ten was a good place for him to be?
Murray: "Yes, I don't think he will fare very well in an offense that wants to run and gun the whole time. I think your slower pace offenses that want to operate more in the half court are going to be better fits for him."
Q: You kind of touched on weaknesses. Was there anything else you noticed?
Murray: "He played below the rim. It will hinder his ability to score in the paint at the NBA level. He's very crafty, but he does get blocked quite a bit, and again I just think that's a height and athleticism deficit, because he is skilled. He has a difficult time creating his own shot out of isolation. But when he's confident and gets any type of time to step into a shot he's actually a really good three-point shooter. He's balanced. The footwork is pretty good. So I think for him it's not going to be an isolation pull-up, trying to get people off of him into a shot. But if he can step into it at a two of off-ball, I think he will be able to score.
Some other strengths I liked: his pick and roll patience and feel for the game is really, really good. He does not rush into anything. He waits for his screens, and he's got really good vision, and he's a quick decision maker. I really like what he showed me in the mental side of the game, because you can tell he is able to slow down enough to let the game come to him which is a veteran thing which a lot of players DO NOT have. I think that's what I like the most about Carr's game."
Q: Outside shooting was going to be my next question. You see it as a strength.
Murray: "I think it is a strength, not when it's isolation one on one, but if somebody can create and kick to him, or pick and roll where he is able to get a screen and the big man goes under, I do like his ability at that point."
Q: Are there more weaknesses we need to touch on?
Murray: "Defensively his lateral quickness if average. Sometimes on film he's able to slide with his man all the way down the lane. Sometimes he gets beaten rather quickly by the really fast guards. Switchability is going to become an issue just because of his size. if you have a seven-footer down in the paint with any type of skill, I don't think he will be able to do anything.
The other strength I have, I looked at his assist numbers, and these are things that I really didn't know about him diving in on him yesterday and today. He's ninth in the nation in assists. On Sports-Reference it's labeled 6.5, and on the CBS Sports website it's 6.7. So either way he's ninth on one and tenth on the other. But it's on the 241st ranked team in field goal percentage. So he averaged 6.7 assists per game which is good for ninth in the country on a team ranked 241st in shooting. That's where the game has slowed down enough for him that he can lead defenders with his eyes one way and deliver a pass to another. He doesn't have to be fast in order to do that well. So I think maybe if you put him on a G-League team next year with some shooters he'll create the looks. His assist numbers are legitimate. They are valid. He is a legitimate assist machine, because he can stay one step ahead of you."
Q: If he would have played on a team who was a highly ranked shooting team, he would have led the country in assists.
Murray: "Oh yeah, you put him on any type of top fifty team in shooting, and he's going to be in the top three probably."
Q: When he came to Minnesota he was seen as a scoring point guard. Obviously, he's a better passer than anyone anticipated. Is a scoring point guard something you agree with?
Murray: "So he can score. He averaged fifteen per game, which is really good. He shot 41% from two, and that's what worries me. He's right at 50% inside the restricted area. In order to put pressure at the rim and even create drive and kick opportunities, he's going to have to be a better threat. I just don't know of he ever can be, because the burst there and the pop in the lane isn't really there. I think for him to create looks he's going to have to be a scoring point guard as a shooter. Even if he stays in the 34 to 35% three-point range, that is enough for him to be able to create looks for others. So I think he will be a pass first. They don't play alike, but even Rajon Rondo wants to get assists. He gets just enough shots to keep him on the floor, keep you honest to have to slide with him, I can't just sag off him and let him hit that open three even though he is a pass first guy. That's kind of where I see the mold of Carr's game."
Q: If he is in the G-League he becomes what kind of player?
Murray: "At least early on I believe he is a backup point guard. Under the right system when a coach realizes he can actually distribute and give me just enough points. But I think he can maybe become a ten day or two way kind of guy. But the swing factor is he is going to have to score. I am not concerned at all about the assists. He's so smart in the pick and roll. He's going to be able to dish just fine. But he's going to have to be able to score.
Q: A lot of these young men who are declaring are not going to get drafted. How important is a ten day or two way contract to a player who's name is probably not going to get called?
Murray: "They are highly, highly competitive. If you look at a lot of the guys over the past two seasons who have gotten two way contracts and they are quite frankly guys who are probably good enough to have gotten drafted. I mean here (Oklahoma City) we put Lou Dort on one early. There were some teams last year that had a round one grade on him. Those two ways are competitive. I think you can be put on a two way up to your third season in the G-League. I don't expect he would get one in the first year, but I think could demonstrate enough with his passing ability to earn one. I hope these young players don't ever think oh, it's just a two way. A two way is the door in for a lot of guys. I hope they see the value in it."
Q: I don't figure he's in your top two rounds, but do you have him among your top one-hundred prospects?
Murray: "He's on the back end of my top one-hundred, because of how smart he is. If his assist numbers were not as good as they are, I would worry. I look at him in the paint and I worry that he's not going to be able to score on the next level. Anybody who can manipulate defenders with his eyes there's a place for you, even to go and learn somewhere."
Q: Should he come back to college and improve his game or does he do it on the professional level?
Murray: "I think he should come back to school. You've got a lot of guys leaving the Big Ten, and I think he can set himself up as one of the best point guards in the conference. At that point he stands out more where he can get a little bit more draft hype. I truly understand if a team tells him if he doesn't get drafted to keep his name in that way you can be on a G-League team next year. But I think he's really got a chance to solidify himself as this is Marcus Carr. This is the guy we thought he was. He comes back with leadership, he's already playing thirty-six minutes so it's not a role thing. But I think he can really be good enough to get more attention of the national media.
Q: You and I have reviewed eight guys overall, and you have far and away been more enthusiastic about Carr coming back than anyone else we have spoken about.
Murray: "If you look at E.J. Montgomery, he's not going to come back and be one of the best big men in the SEC. Carr has the ability to gain the most. He can be one of the best point guards in the Big Ten. The national media spotlight could be a little bit more on him. He'll have a lot of control on that team as far as a leader and a potential captain. He has more to gain in the 2021 Draft than some of the other guys we've talked about. I think Carr has the ability to REALLY raise his stock if he comes back, because he could be one of the best."
Carr also enjoyed enough success that explore wading into the NBA Draft waters. The 6-foot-3 guard did not hire and agent thus leaving the door open for a return to the Gopher program.
Derek Murray of Babcock Hoops and Pro Basketball Combine joined us again on Sunday afternoon to discuss Carr's draft stock and future decision might be best for him.
Q: You've been watching a lot of film on Marcus Carr. What did you see?
Murray: "I like that he uses his frame and strength really well to compensate for the fact that he really lacks burst and a quick first step athletically. Finishing at the rim I don't think he will be able to do very well at the next level because he can't get vertical very quickly, and his bounce isn't good. But he uses his broad shoulders, and takes contact really, really well. He is able to contort his body in a way and finish. I was watching a lot of his finishes and wondering how did he even get that ball up to the rim. That's what I realized more than anything. I was surprised by the shots that he was able to get up. Even though he can't elevate above people he still has a way of finishing at the rim better than I anticipated."
Q: Since he is good as using his physical strength, do you feel that the Big Ten was a good place for him to be?
Murray: "Yes, I don't think he will fare very well in an offense that wants to run and gun the whole time. I think your slower pace offenses that want to operate more in the half court are going to be better fits for him."
Q: You kind of touched on weaknesses. Was there anything else you noticed?
Murray: "He played below the rim. It will hinder his ability to score in the paint at the NBA level. He's very crafty, but he does get blocked quite a bit, and again I just think that's a height and athleticism deficit, because he is skilled. He has a difficult time creating his own shot out of isolation. But when he's confident and gets any type of time to step into a shot he's actually a really good three-point shooter. He's balanced. The footwork is pretty good. So I think for him it's not going to be an isolation pull-up, trying to get people off of him into a shot. But if he can step into it at a two of off-ball, I think he will be able to score.
Some other strengths I liked: his pick and roll patience and feel for the game is really, really good. He does not rush into anything. He waits for his screens, and he's got really good vision, and he's a quick decision maker. I really like what he showed me in the mental side of the game, because you can tell he is able to slow down enough to let the game come to him which is a veteran thing which a lot of players DO NOT have. I think that's what I like the most about Carr's game."
Q: Outside shooting was going to be my next question. You see it as a strength.
Murray: "I think it is a strength, not when it's isolation one on one, but if somebody can create and kick to him, or pick and roll where he is able to get a screen and the big man goes under, I do like his ability at that point."
Q: Are there more weaknesses we need to touch on?
Murray: "Defensively his lateral quickness if average. Sometimes on film he's able to slide with his man all the way down the lane. Sometimes he gets beaten rather quickly by the really fast guards. Switchability is going to become an issue just because of his size. if you have a seven-footer down in the paint with any type of skill, I don't think he will be able to do anything.
The other strength I have, I looked at his assist numbers, and these are things that I really didn't know about him diving in on him yesterday and today. He's ninth in the nation in assists. On Sports-Reference it's labeled 6.5, and on the CBS Sports website it's 6.7. So either way he's ninth on one and tenth on the other. But it's on the 241st ranked team in field goal percentage. So he averaged 6.7 assists per game which is good for ninth in the country on a team ranked 241st in shooting. That's where the game has slowed down enough for him that he can lead defenders with his eyes one way and deliver a pass to another. He doesn't have to be fast in order to do that well. So I think maybe if you put him on a G-League team next year with some shooters he'll create the looks. His assist numbers are legitimate. They are valid. He is a legitimate assist machine, because he can stay one step ahead of you."
Q: If he would have played on a team who was a highly ranked shooting team, he would have led the country in assists.
Murray: "Oh yeah, you put him on any type of top fifty team in shooting, and he's going to be in the top three probably."
Q: When he came to Minnesota he was seen as a scoring point guard. Obviously, he's a better passer than anyone anticipated. Is a scoring point guard something you agree with?
Murray: "So he can score. He averaged fifteen per game, which is really good. He shot 41% from two, and that's what worries me. He's right at 50% inside the restricted area. In order to put pressure at the rim and even create drive and kick opportunities, he's going to have to be a better threat. I just don't know of he ever can be, because the burst there and the pop in the lane isn't really there. I think for him to create looks he's going to have to be a scoring point guard as a shooter. Even if he stays in the 34 to 35% three-point range, that is enough for him to be able to create looks for others. So I think he will be a pass first. They don't play alike, but even Rajon Rondo wants to get assists. He gets just enough shots to keep him on the floor, keep you honest to have to slide with him, I can't just sag off him and let him hit that open three even though he is a pass first guy. That's kind of where I see the mold of Carr's game."
Q: If he is in the G-League he becomes what kind of player?
Murray: "At least early on I believe he is a backup point guard. Under the right system when a coach realizes he can actually distribute and give me just enough points. But I think he can maybe become a ten day or two way kind of guy. But the swing factor is he is going to have to score. I am not concerned at all about the assists. He's so smart in the pick and roll. He's going to be able to dish just fine. But he's going to have to be able to score.
Q: A lot of these young men who are declaring are not going to get drafted. How important is a ten day or two way contract to a player who's name is probably not going to get called?
Murray: "They are highly, highly competitive. If you look at a lot of the guys over the past two seasons who have gotten two way contracts and they are quite frankly guys who are probably good enough to have gotten drafted. I mean here (Oklahoma City) we put Lou Dort on one early. There were some teams last year that had a round one grade on him. Those two ways are competitive. I think you can be put on a two way up to your third season in the G-League. I don't expect he would get one in the first year, but I think could demonstrate enough with his passing ability to earn one. I hope these young players don't ever think oh, it's just a two way. A two way is the door in for a lot of guys. I hope they see the value in it."
Q: I don't figure he's in your top two rounds, but do you have him among your top one-hundred prospects?
Murray: "He's on the back end of my top one-hundred, because of how smart he is. If his assist numbers were not as good as they are, I would worry. I look at him in the paint and I worry that he's not going to be able to score on the next level. Anybody who can manipulate defenders with his eyes there's a place for you, even to go and learn somewhere."
Q: Should he come back to college and improve his game or does he do it on the professional level?
Murray: "I think he should come back to school. You've got a lot of guys leaving the Big Ten, and I think he can set himself up as one of the best point guards in the conference. At that point he stands out more where he can get a little bit more draft hype. I truly understand if a team tells him if he doesn't get drafted to keep his name in that way you can be on a G-League team next year. But I think he's really got a chance to solidify himself as this is Marcus Carr. This is the guy we thought he was. He comes back with leadership, he's already playing thirty-six minutes so it's not a role thing. But I think he can really be good enough to get more attention of the national media.
Q: You and I have reviewed eight guys overall, and you have far and away been more enthusiastic about Carr coming back than anyone else we have spoken about.
Murray: "If you look at E.J. Montgomery, he's not going to come back and be one of the best big men in the SEC. Carr has the ability to gain the most. He can be one of the best point guards in the Big Ten. The national media spotlight could be a little bit more on him. He'll have a lot of control on that team as far as a leader and a potential captain. He has more to gain in the 2021 Draft than some of the other guys we've talked about. I think Carr has the ability to REALLY raise his stock if he comes back, because he could be one of the best."
