NBA Draft: Why Vernon Carey Jr. could be a big sleeper from the 2020 class

How NBA Draft prospect Vernon Carey Jr. can be successful

Often times, the “pro comparisons” for draft prospects are silly and never quite end up being true, but looking at players who share similar traits to a prospect could give a pathway for that player to be successful.

Vernon Carey Jr. has traits in terms of his physical attributes and the game would make it so that a team that drafts him would be the best look at how the Indiana Pacers use Domantas Sabonis, and how DeMarcus Cousins was used both in Sacramento and briefly in New Orleans.

With the nimble quickness and physicality, Carey would be effective by being played out on the perimeter and inside much like Cousins was in Sacramento. The quickness and physicality Carey brings would allow him to do the same drive to the rim action Sacramento ran with Cousins to get easy buckets on slower centers closing out on Carey. Of course, the more Carey looks to shoot from deeper range would make that effective.

With another big on a roster, a team could look to use Carey Jr. the same way the Pelicans used Cousins in combination with Anthony Davis. That would mean one big always playing in the paint and another always playing out on the perimeter. If Carey continues his shooting improvements he could do this by being a perimeter big who has the threat of a mid-range or 3-point shot while also being able to get the ball dumped into the post where he can work body his way to the rim.

Another unique way to utilize Carey is exactly how Pacers’ head coach Nate McMillan has used big man Domantas Sabonis in Indiana. That being at times running some offense by being a passer at the top of the key, and also being asked to initiate offense from within the post, passing out to open shooters. Along with that using Carey Jr. as a rebounder on the offensive glass and a mid-range pick-and-pop player would make him extremely effective.