NBA Draft Scouting Report: Utah's Branden Carlson

Player Info
Prospect Profile
Highlights
Draft Projection
2024 Big Board

Player Info

Branden Carlson

Center | Utah

Height: 7'0” | Weight: 220 lbs

2024 Draft Age: 25.04

Feb 18, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Brandon Williams (5) shoots the ball against Utah Utes center Branden Carlson (35) in the second half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Utah defeated UCLA 70-69. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports | Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Prospect Profile

Although Carlson is already 25 years old, he’s still an interesting prospect with his ability to space the floor as a 7-footer. Even as that becomes more common in players across the league, having bigs who can score from beyond the arc is still very valuable.

The fifth-year senior earned All-Pac-12 First-Team honors last season as he was one of the better bigs in the entire country. He graduated from Utah as the program’s all-time leader in games played and blocks.

When evaluating Carlson’s fit at the next level, you must consider his lack of athleticism. He may struggle defensively in space and is more of a pick-and-pop threat than someone teams will roll to the rim. He knocked down 37.9% of his triples last season on nearly five attempts per game. Meanwhile, he converted on just over 50% of his shots inside the arc and 71.4% of his free throws. His perimeter-oriented game would really serve in a niche role in a team’s rotation, rather than being a nightly piece.

Carlson notched 170 total career assists, but 219 turnovers. He also has shown the ability to block shots given his size, but isn’t elite in that department either. He lacks vertical pop and plays a pretty grounded game.

On the glass, Carlson pulled down just 6.6 boards per game last season, which feels a bit low for a 7-footer. His rebound rates tell the same story, so that’s another consideration when evaluating a player like him.

In short, Carlson provides size and 3-point shooting, but will need to be plugged in the right way situationally. He could provide value to a team, but it would need to be in the right role.

Highlights

Draft Projection

Potential Second-Round Pick in 2024 NBA Draft.

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