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New York Knicks: A Realistic Point Guard Wishlist For 2016 Trade Deadline

By Jon Shames

Jan 12, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) tries to get around Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) in the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) tries to get around Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) in the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) and New York Knicks guard Jose Calderon (3) battle for a loose ball in the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Carter-Williams scored 20 points as the Bucks beat the Knicks 106-91. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Carter-Williams (5) and New York Knicks guard Jose Calderon (3) battle for a loose ball in the fourth quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Carter-Williams scored 20 points as the Bucks beat the Knicks 106-91. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

2.) Michael Carter-Williams

Knicks get: Michael Carter-Williams
Bucks get: Jerian Grant, Sasha Vujacic, Cleanthony Early, Knicks 2017 first-round pick

Screen Shot 2016-01-15 at 11.11.47 AM
Screen Shot 2016-01-15 at 11.11.47 AM /

The Milwaukee Bucks are nine games under .500 after many projected them a playoff lock this year, and point guard Michael Carter-Williams — despite possessing tremendous skill — has been an awkward fit since he arrived in Wisconsin after last season’s deadline.

Carter-Williams, a Syracuse product, offers the diversity and two-way skill to be a major factor in the Knicks offense, without necessarily having to dominate it. What he will do, however, is force defenses to account for one more unpredictable threat, which would divert attention away from Porzingis and Anthony, New York’s top scorers.

Carter-Williams is a superb athlete who stands at a whopping 6-foot-6, an excellent size for a point guard. He has tremendous court vision, a good first step, and an ability to finish at the rim.

He’s averaging 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game this year, modest averages, but Carter-Williams’ role in Milwaukee isn’t too significant; a usage rate of 22.3 percent ranks Carter-Williams 26th among point guards.

Perhaps the biggest value MCW offers is on the defensive end. This season, he’s averaging 1.6 steals in just 30.2 minutes per game. He also ranks 10th among point guards in defensive real plus-minus.

In this scenario, New York sends two prospects in Jerian Grant and Cleanthony Early to the Bucks, along with veteran Sasha Vujacic and a 2017 first-rounder in exchange for Carter-Williams.

For New York, it may seem a steep price to pay, but Carter-Williams turned 24 in October and is one of the many promising young pieces the Bucks have to build around. Considering Milwaukee sent away cornerstone Brandon Knight in the deal to acquire Carter-Williams, it’s safe to say the team won’t be eager to field calls for the latter unless the pot is sweet enough.

Next: Option No. 3: moderate risk; moderate chances at a high reward

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