The Lakers don't need to take things any further than that, depending on what they hear. But they have to find out if the reigning Rookie of the Year really is on the trade block and how much it would take to pry him out of Philly.
On the surface, this seems like an odd time to inquire about Carter-Williams' availability.
While a weakened rookie crop may have assisted him in securing that individual hardware, his numbers were historically relevant nonetheless. Last season, he joined Hall of Famers Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to average at least 16 points, six rebounds and six assists as a rookie.
Critics will point to different areas to discredit Carter-Williams' stat sheet—Philly's league-leading pace or his 40.5 field-goal percentage and 3.5 turnovers—but a 16-6-6 stat line is special no matter how it's sliced. The only other player to hit those marks last season was four-time MVP LeBron James.
All of that said, Carter-Williams is not untouchable. Far from it, in fact.
According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, the Sixers have been shopping the lanky point guard for a while now and will continue to do so:
They tried hard during the draft, but they couldn’t draw the trove they envisioned or guarantee that the player they wanted with an acquired pick would be there, per several league sources. Expect Philly to repeat the exercise. It’s not a shot at Carter-Williams, or even a signal that the Sixers are dying to trade him. He may well end up a long-term cog in Philly.
The team knows point guard is the most replaceable position in the league today, and it will seek out any deal that adds to its stockpile of high-value draft picks.
If Carter-Williams' draft-night a...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
