NBA Philadelphia 76ers

Michael Carter-Williams Trade Rumors Should Be No Surprise

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By @Greg_Sacidor

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Getty Images

Once again, Michael Carter-Williams finds himself as the subject of numerous trade rumors. While shocking to some, this should not come as a surprise.

As the 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year, Philadelphia 76ers point guard Michael Carter-Williams seemed poised to become the next face of this once illustrious franchise. Alongside his former AAU teammate and class of 2014 draftee Nerlens Noel, Carter-Williams looked like the guy who was eventually going to lead the 76ers back to the top of the NBA mountain. But once again, reports have surfaced about the 76ers front office unwilling to commit to their starting point guard long-term.

In his live chat Wednesday afternoon, ESPN’s NBA insider Chad Ford said that he continues to hear about Carter-Williams’s availability.

“I’ve heard a lot of rumblings from GMs that Carter-Williams is available. There are some in ownership and in the front office, though not all, that don’t see him as a long-term piece of the puzzle. There was a lot of chatter that direction before the (2014) draft and in the past few weeks. I know several teams have had exploratory discussions with the Sixers.”

As Ford mentioned, this is not the first time Carter-Williams’ name has come up in trade discussions. Leading up to and even during the 2014 NBA Draft — a draft Carter-Williams was ironically in attendance for — the 76ers were rumored to be shopping their talented point guard. This should come as no surprise, however. After all, each player on the 76ers’ roster is viewed as nothing more than an asset to GM Sam Hinkie.

This season, Carter-Williams is posting solid numbers. In 29 games, which includes 26 starts, he is averaging 14.8 points and 7.3 assists per game. However, it should be noted that while he is averaging 14.8 points per game, Carter-Williams is shooting a less-than-stellar 37.6 percent from the field and 24.2 percent from behind the three-point line. These are not numbers that one would expect from the point guard of an eventual playoff contender.

While he may be at the center of some trade rumors, the 76ers do not appear to be on the verge of trading Carter-Williams anytime soon. “The challenge right now is that the Sixers will want a lot in return” Ford wrote.

A lot in return should be what Hinkie and the 76ers are demanding; Carter-Williams is in fact the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. Aside from his notoriously bad shooting — something that he struggled with even in college — Carter-Williams brings a unique skill set to the table. Standing at 6-foot-6, Carter-Williams is a rare breed as it pertains to NBA point guards. Although many of the smaller point guards may be more explosive, Carter-Williams’ sheer size often gives him an advantage defensively.

In Hinkie’s mind, there is always room for improvement — especially when it comes to the ongoing rebuilding process that the 76ers are undergoing. If he can get better assets in return for an asset that he is currently holding, then Hinkie will always be likely to make a deal. During this season, Carter-Williams will likely not be dealt. But when the 2015 NBA Draft rolls around, everything could change. For as long as Hinkie is in control, it should be no surprise when a player’s name is mentioned as the subject of a trade rumor — not even Carter-Williams. At the end of the day, it is nothing personal, it is just how Sam Hinkie operates.

Greg Sacidor is a Philadelphia 76ers and NBA writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Greg_Sacidor or add him to your network on Google.

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