Michael Carter-Williams was the best rookie last season, but the Philadelphia 76ers might still decide to trade the former Syracuse standout.
John Zitzler of Basketball Insiders reported that Carter-Williams could be placed on trading block before the 2014-15 NBA season trade deadline. The 76ers were impressed with MCW during his rookie season, but they might part ways with the young point guard in exchange for a high draft pick next season.
"Although Carter-Williams played well in his rookie season, the Sixers, at this stage in the rebuilding process, are always looking to gather more draft picks." Zitzler wrote. "It's not that they feel Carter-Williams is a bad player, but speaks more to the value they place on high draft picks."
Cater-Williams, the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, averaged 16.7 points to go along with 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds en route to winning the Rookie of the Year award last season.
But despite being named as the best rookie, sources revealed that the 76ers tried to trade Carter-Williams during the offseason. The 76ers reportedly shopped the 23-year-old point guard for a high pick during the 2014 NBA Draft, but they failed to find a taker.
Trading Carter-Williams away might frustrate the 76ers fan base, but Zitzler is convinced that Philadelphia won't hesitate to make the move if they could get an asset that could be a factor in their ongoing rebuilding.
"A trade of Carter-Williams would certainly not sit well with the fan base that already went through one season of non-competitive basketball," Zitzler wrote. "While the fans may not like it, if the Sixers are presented with the opportunity to better themselves in the long-run by moving Carter-Williams, don't expect them to say no."
The 76ers, who went winless in their first three games this season, have made it no secret over the past several months that they are willing to unload talents to get high draft picks.
