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Ever since he was dealt to the Milwaukee Bucks in a shocking trade deadline move in mid-February, Michael Carter-Williams has gone from being viewed as a revered Rookie of the Year winner with tons of potential to an increasingly concerning offensive nightmare.
His shaky three-point shot only seems to be getting worse, and defenses are much more willing to let him take a slightly contested mid-range jump shot over an unimpeded drive to the basket where he is most effective. Carter-Williams is known for being a triple-double specialist (with five recorded in his two-year career) but a guy who simply cannot score the ball from the perimeter or mid-range.
Because of this, he has been a target of criticism lately, as evidenced by the way many analysts praised Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie for trading him to the Bucks. In a day and age where spacing the floor and shooting from the outside is everything in basketball, Carter-Williams is certainly lacking right now in both of these departments.
But what most critics are discounting is the fact that he is only 23 years old and in his sophomore season in the NBA. You would think after hearing all of this recent negative talk that he was 30 and already at the ceiling of his potential level. Yes, he is not a skilled shooter yet, but that does not mean he could not get better.
Just ask San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, who came into the league as someone who completely relied on his speed to get to the basket and finish with ease. Like Carter-Williams, he did not possess a jump shot at all during his first few seasons in the league. But thanks to outstanding leadership by head coach Gregg Popovich, phenomenal player development work by assistant coach Chip Engelland who helped Parker revolutionize his game and a dedicated effort by Parker himself, he improved drastically and became one of the best point guards in the sport.
Or maybe we should look at Jason Kidd, Carter-Williams’ coach. The early days of his playing career were very similar to Carter-Williams’ in a few ways. He gobbled up triple-doubles and was a very impressive rebounder and defender for his position. And, just like Carter-Williams, Kidd could not shoot worth a lick from the perimeter. But in the final stages of his career with the Dallas Mavericks, he became a legitimate threat from the outside, shooting above 40 percent from three-point range during his first two and a half seasons with the team. Hopefully Carter-Williams can pick up this skill much sooner than Kidd did in his career, but the point is that very talented players who work on their weaknesses over time can eventually turn them into strengths.
Carter-Williams is very good in some areas and not so great in others. But basketball fans and analysts are sometimes way too quick to write off players as “busts” or disappointments because those grab headlines and page hits for having such a bold and at times hyperbolic viewpoint. Patience is a lost virtue and one that is only maintained by a select few in both the sports world and the realm of fans attached to it.
It will take excellent coaching, but with the perfect coach in Kidd, a player like Carter-Williams has all the tools to be another standout point guard in this league if he puts the work in. The idea to trade him was still a good move by the Sixers considering where they want to take their franchise, but the Bucks also have acquired a player who could become a perennial All-Star one day if he is developed correctly over time.
Dan Schultz is a Senior Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @dschultz89. “Like” him on Facebook and add him on Google.
