The Phoenix Suns need a point guard. Could Michael Carter-Williams be the solution for this season?
Michael Carter-Williams started his career out with a bang, running out of the gates to several outstanding performances after being selected with the 11th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
In his rookie debut against the Miami Heat who had won the NBA title the season before, he almost posted a triple double and swiped a very impressive 9 steals.
He joined Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson as the only three rookies to average at least 17 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds.
Those numbers helped him win Rookie of the Year.
He needed to work on his shooting, make better decisions, improve his ball handling and be more consistent but he was a rookie. What rookie doesn’t have things to work on?
He was a bonafide stat sheet stuffer.
Michael was handed the keys to the team in a rebuild.
His second season he missed the beginning of the season due to shoulder surgery and was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks.
He shot a little better, became a decent defender and was less erratic with his turnovers. However, he wasn’t the student Jason Kidd dreamed of or the right fit next to rising star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
A torn labrum in his hip ended his Milwaukee hopes.
Phoenix Suns
He was traded to the Chicago Bulls.
Where he had a horrible season and only logged about half as much playing time.
He then signed a one year deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
Where he had an even worse season and suffered another torn labrum, this time in his shoulder.
The man tried another new start, this time signing with the Houston Rockets but it didn’t fare well there either.
Five years later, he’s team-less as he was just dealt in a move to save the Rockets luxury tax money and waived by the Bulls who didn’t really want him back.
That’s really not a good look. Chicago is one of the worst teams in the league and in serious need of a playmaker and they didn’t even give him a chance.
That could mean he’s done for the season, if no other franchise is willing to give him another opportunity for 2018-19.
That’s where the Phoenix Suns come into play.
He’s gone from a very promising prospect that was supposed to be the next tall point guard to flopping around like a fish out of water.
He’s been on 5 different teams already.
However, he is only 27-years-old.
If he can keep the injury bug away, he can find his way into a rotation again.
Two big knocks on him are him not being a consistently effective offensive player and having poor shooting mechanics.
Enter Head Coach Igor Kokoskov. He’s known for helping players develop their offense and improve their shots.
Look how much he helped Ricky Rubio when he was an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz.
Look at T.J. Warren‘s drastic improvement this season on his shooting. He went from being a player you did not want shooting treys to one of the best 3 point shooters in the association.
I’m more than willing to let him work his magic on Michael Carter-Williams.
Especially when we have an open roster spot, can start out signing him just for the rest of the season with no risks and have a need for an upgrade at the point guard position.
In a Suns uniform, his almost dead career could be revived.
Don’t look at him as our point guard of the future. Even though he could be.
Just look at him as an opportunity at getting better at point guard with nothing to lose.
Give him a chance next to Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton and all the two way wings we have on the team to establish himself.
A 6’6″ point guard next to Booker that can play decent defense, feed Ayton and work with Kokoskov on his offense and shooting over the season.
He’d be a free agent at the end of the season.
If it doesn’t work out with him, his contract expires and he’s a free agent again.
If it does work out, we took a stab in the dark and ended up with something magical.
There isn’t anything to lose but there’s a whole lot that could be gained.
This is the type of move that James Jones should be looking to make.
Give Michael Carter-Williams a chance.
He might pleasantly surprise us all.