Never underestimate the work of Sam Hinkie when it comes to acquiring assets. On Wednesday, when Brett Brown said, "all things are on the table" with regards to the Sixers' roster and the Thursday 3 p.m. trade deadline, he wasn't kidding.
Michael Carter-Williams, selected No. 11 overall in the 2013 draft, ended his career with the Sixers having played 111 games with 108 starts. The Sixers traded Carter-Williams to Milwaukee and in return received the Lakers' 2015 first-round pick, which is top-5 protected (see story).
Currently, Los Angeles is 13-40, the fourth-worst record in the league behind the Knicks, Timberwolves and Sixers. If the Lakers keep the pick this season, it is top-3 protected for the following two years.
The Bucks sent starting point guard Brandon Knight to the Suns as part of the trade, as well. Carter-Williams, therefore, steps into a starting role in Milwaukee.
For his career, Carter-Williams averages 16.0 points, 6.7 assists, and 6.2 rebounds. MCW was thought to be a cornerstone of the franchise, along with Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, in the team’s rebuilding process.
The reigning Rookie of the Year needs to improve his shooting. In two seasons with the Sixers, Carter-Williams shot 39.6 percent from the floor, 26.1 percent from behind the arc and 68.3 percent from the foul line.
Carter-Williams did have offseason shoulder surgery. His stepfather, Zach Zegarowski, has often said Carter-Williams was a good shooter in high school. His shoulder bothered him on and off beginning in his sophomore year at Syracuse.
Zegarowski believes, in time, Carter-Williams' shooting will improve at the NBA level. Even with his poor shooting, MCW often flirts with a triple-double performance on game night.
Zegarowski shared in a Thursday telephone conversation that Bucks head coach Jason Kidd expressed interest in acquiring MCW previously. Kidd's long-time agent during his playing days represents Carter-Williams now. That familiarity is a plus for both sides.
In the short-term, the Sixers, who were playing better basketball, take a hit.
Replacing Carter-Williams with Tim Frazier or Isaiah Canaan will be a difficult transition. The drop-off in talent is great, and a third of the season remains.
Frazier, who played the last three games with the Sixers before the All-Star break, has been given a second 10-day contract. In his three games, the former Nittany Lion averaged 5.0 points, 8.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds. He did average 4.3 turnovers, as well.
Canaan, acquired from the Rockets Thursday for K.J. McDaniels and a future second-round pick, is a second-year guard who has appeared in 47 games in two NBA seasons.
A former Murray State four-year college player, Canaan was selected No. 34 overall by Houston in the 2013 NBA draft. At 6-foot-1, he is a score-first point guard, not unlike the approach of Tony Wroten, who is out indefinitely following ACL surgery earlier this month.
The Sixers are currently 12-41 with the Pacers on tap Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center.