In a way, Michael Carter-Williams is the gift that keeps on giving for the Philadelphia 76ers. He hasn’t suited up for the team since he was traded in February 2015, but the trade that sent him to Milwaukee has indirectly led to the team’s latest front office chess move.
Markelle Fultz is a Sixer, and Philadelphia fans are thanking Michael Carter-Williams
Let us explain.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
That’s led to a few Sixers fans in his Twitter mentions expressing their gratitude to a bewildered Carter-Williams:
The 76ers swapped their No. 3 pick in this year’s NBA draft for the No. 1 pick this year, which belongs to the Celtics. That pick allowed them to draft Markelle Fultz. Boston will also get Philadelphia’s 2018 pick next year that’s unprotected.
The Carter-Williams trade was a three-way deal that gave Philadelphia the rights to the Lakers pick with protections in 2016 and 2017 (that kicked in, allowing LA to keep the pick in those years.) But in 2018, the pick is unprotected so the Celtics will get it no matter how good or bad the Lakers are, and it’s coming via the Sixers.
With Fultz the crown jewel of this year’s class, Philly got the best prospect thanks to MCW:
While his Washington Huskies did not make NCAA tournament, he still had an outstanding year. He averaged 23 points, 5.9 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. Pairing him alongside the young core of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons makes for an exciting future in Philadelphia. The scoring and playmaking of Fultz is exactly what this team needs.
Even though Carter-Williams had a productive rookie season in Philly, you could argue his greatest contribution to the franchise has nothing to do with what he actually did on the court. He got them Markelle Fultz — indirectly.
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