Carter-Williams to add depth at point guard
The Rockets’ greater freeagency goals remain, but they made the sort of small, subtle move they hope pans out the way other recent under-the-radar deals have for them.
The Rockets reached agreement with point guard Michael Carter-Williams on a one-year, minimum contract worth $1.9 million, a person with knowledge of the deal said Tuesday.
The 11th pick of the 2013 draft, Carter-Williams was the 2013-14 NBA Rookie of the Year with the Philadelphia 76ers, but he has largely struggled in the four seasons since, held back by his poor perimeter shooting and injuries in the past few seasons.
But the Rockets had wanted an emergency lead guard who could fill in for starters James Harden and Chris Paul and sixth man Eric Gordon. Wil-
liams is considered a strong defensive player who at 6-6 can play in the Rockets’ switching defensive style.
Their hope is that if he does have to step in at the point, as opposed to playing at shooting guard with Harden or Paul, he can play with enough shooters that his own shortcomings as a catch-and-shoot threat won’t be a factor.
Carter-Williams, 26, averaged 4.6 points on 33.2 percent shooting with Charlotte last season, playing in just 52 games before undergoing season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
In five NBA seasons with the Sixers, Bucks, Bulls and Hornets, Carter-Williams has averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds. But he has made just 25 percent of his 3-pointers.
Carter-Williams represented the start of “the process,” selected the year the Sixers traded Jrue Holiday to take Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel in the draft.
Carter-Williams got off to a strong start with the 76ers, averaging 16.7 points and 6.2 rebounds in 34.5 minutes as a rookie, but he was dealt to Milwaukee at the next trade deadline in a three-team deal.
He had a promising finish to that season with the Bucks, but he was out with a hip injury to finish that season and was caught in a glut in the backcourt with the Bucks the next season and after he was traded to Chicago. He had his best game with the Bulls in Toyota Center, scoring 23 points with nine rebounds and six assists in a loss to the Rockets.
His role with the Rockets will be limited as a guard playing the Rockets’ strongest position. But when Harden or Paul were hurt last season, Gordon had to move over the point, hurting the Rockets at his shooting guard spot.
If the expectations for Carter Williams do not match what they were when he began his career, the Rockets hope they have the fill-in they have lacked.