Michael Carter-Williams’ Uncertain Milwaukee Bucks Future
By Adam McGee
After a tough start to his Milwaukee Bucks career, Michael Carter-Williams faces a fight for his future with the franchise.
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Michael Carter-Williams. For a player who has only been in the NBA for three seasons to date, he’s really been put through the emotional ringer.
He was drafted by an organization with little focus on winning and in spite of playing well for them he had to deal with constant trade murmurs before he was eventually moved. Couple all of that with a stream of frustrating injuries that he’s suffered with both teams, and the joy of being named Rookie of the Year doesn’t seem quite as joyful any more.
Most recently, of course, MCW suffered an injury setback that required him to undergo season ending surgery. As much as he will have to battle back to full health over the coming weeks and months, the biggest battle that will face the 24-year-old over the next couple of years of his career will be to define his identity.
I have little doubt that Carter-Williams still knows what kind of player he is, but for everybody else looking on it has become somewhat of a mystery.
As a player, he has had to deal with losing his place in the Milwaukee Bucks starting lineup on more than one occasion this season. Now having heard Jason Kidd, his coach and the man who seemingly pushed for the Bucks to trade for Carter-Williams, go on record as saying Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the team’s primary ball-handler next season, you have to wonder where the former Syracuse man fits in.
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Judging from recent comments from the man himself in conversation with the great Charles Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, he’s at least very sure of where he wants to be:
"I’m definitely more than willing to be here. I like it here and I’m focused here."
From Milwaukee’s point of view, the soundings still suggest that they feel Carter-Williams and Antetokounmpo can play together, regardless of what capacity that may take on.
The pair are known to be great friends, often the first to celebrate with each other on the court. Although the dynamic between the pair looks set to change on the court, Carter-Williams doesn’t feel like that really needs to change anything in a larger sense between the duo.
"We have a very strong relationship. We’re honest with each other. We’re not going to hide anything or shy away.We don’t get into that. Whatever coach has planned for us, we’re going to make the best out of it."
With Antetokounmpo moving further to the fore, there’s a strong possibility that MCW could be coming in off the bench next season. If he remains in Milwaukee, he’s certainly willing to do that.
"I don’t know what’s going to happen. I could stay coming off the bench, or I could be back in the starting lineup. We don’t know. If I do go back to the point guard, it’s how can we get the best out of Giannis."
It’s certainly not the only option for coach Kidd who believes the two can still play together, as on the defensive end of the floor, Carter-Williams would offer a more traditional point guard defender.
There’s a problem in all of this though.
Kidd has been very open about the fact that he views this as “an important summer” for Carter-Williams, as he looks to see big improvements on his post play as well as his jump shot. At this point in time, it’s only natural to question whether MCW is capable of the necessary improvements that Kidd certainly once thought he could achieve.
Carter-Williams has just posted his best shooting season yet, but the improvements are minor and still set him at such a low base that it remains difficult to put any true value on them. 45.2 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from deep may be career highs for Carter-Williams, but in the wider NBA context they still mean he’s not that close to where Milwaukee needs him to be.
Carter-Williams’ role changed this season with the further growth of Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, meaning his usage percentage and minutes per game reached career lows. While many would argue that that’s a good thing, with the point guard posting career lows in points, assists and steals when adjusted per 36 minutes, I wonder whether that starts to make Carter-Williams redundant.
He’s not a lights out shooter or a lockdown defender. He’s not an instant offense, spark plug off the bench. If he’s not scoring and dishing assists in the same quantity that he once was, what’s Carter-Williams real value?
This is not only a barrier for the Bucks as they try to establish how he can best fit within their team, but also to others around the league who may have interest in MCW playing for them.
If the Bucks hope to trade Carter-Williams the publicity garnered by his multiple benchings and how quickly many feel the organization lost belief in what he can do, did significant damage to his trade value. Add uncertainty over his role into the mix and the market likely doesn’t even exist though.
Carter-Williams is a good player, but if he’s not going to be one of the top 30-50 guys in the league, he needs to find his niche.
Next: The Milwaukee Bucks Varied Paths To The First Overall Pick In The 2016 NBA Draft
His future in Milwaukee depends on it, but it will also have implications for his long-term prospects in the NBA.