Michael Carter-Williams Doesn’t Think Brett Brown Wanted Him Traded From Sixers
Michael Carter-Williams being sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-team trade was one of several eyebrow-raising moves made during last Thursday’s trade deadline. The trade split up a young Philadelphia 76ers core that seemed set to grow and develop together, but Sixers GM Sam Hinkie had other plans.
Carter-Williams, the reigning Rookie of the Year, made his debut with the Bucks against his former team on Wednesday night. The trade came as a surprise to him too and he expressed disappointment, while also sharing that he feels he’d still be in Philly if it were up to his head coach, Brett Brown.
Via Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com:
“The ultimate thing it comes down to: Coach Brown coaches and Sam does the moves,” Carter-Williams said after the Bucks’ shootaround. “That is what it comes down to, that is the agreement, and that is all I know. I think if it came down to Coach Brown, I don’t think I would have been moved, to be honest.”
Brown hasn’t been happy with every move Hinkie has made this year. When Brandon Davies was dealt in December, Brown lamented it because such moves can preclude the development of team chemistry and culture. …
“We were rolling, we were getting some wins,” Carter-Williams said. “We were finding ourselves and finding our identity, and for that to break up is pretty sad. After this game and the media, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It is over and done. It is what it is, and it is time to move on.”
Moving on is all there is to do for Carter-Williams, who now finds himself on a playoff contender with second-year head coach Jason Kidd and a new crop of young developing teammates.
It will be interesting to see the development of Carter-Williams under Kidd and alongside the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker when he is healthy. If things work out, MCW could end up as a cornerstone for this franchise instead.
