Carter-Williams: 'I'm Pretty Confident That I'm Not Going Anywhere'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Would the Sixers really trade the rookie of the year?
Michael Carter-Williams is coming off a rookie-season where he averaged 16.7 points per game, 6.3 assists per game, and 6.2 rebounds per game, while winning the NBA rookie of the year award. Still, ESPN.com's Chad Ford reported that the Sixers—who hold the third and 10th overall picks in the 2014 NBA draft—have "bounced around" the idea of trading the 22-year-old point guard.
"I didn't even pay any attention to it," Carter-Williams told Angelo Cataldi and the WIP Morning Show on Wednesday. "I have a great relationship with coach's and the GM's here, you know, I'm pretty confident that I'm not going anywhere for a little while. So, yeah, I heard it and I didn't really pay any attention to it."
In last year's NBA draft, the Sixers acquired the sixth overall pick in Nerlens Noel. Noel, 20, missed the entire 2013-14 season recovering from an ACL tear he suffered during his freshman season with Kentucky. Carter-Williams updated the status of his former AAU teammate and long-time friend.
"He's been working really hard," Carter-Williams said of Noel, who expects to make his Sixers debut in July, in the NBA summer league. "His athleticism is back and improved from his knee injury. His instincts on defense are still unbelievable and he's working on, you know, his offensive moves and I think that's his biggest upside, getting those deep paint moves. For the most part, he's really active in there. His hands are really good and he's excited to play and he's going to be aggressive when he goes in."
The Sixers look to pair Carter-Williams and Noel with two more lottery picks next season. While many expect Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Joel Embiid to be the first three players selected in the NBA draft on June 26th, predicting the order is much more difficult.
"I follow it pretty close," Carter-Williams said of the NBA draft. "I am interested to see who we're going to get. To be honest with you, I have no clue as of right now, but I am interested to who comes to work out with us and how they do. I don't think I have a preference. Any of the guys will be great, the three of them [Wiggins, Parker, and Embiid] are all great players.
