10 NBA players approaching their last chance in 2017-18

4. Michael Carter-Williams

It’s a bit alarming how fast the 2013 Rookie of the Year has gotten to this point, but as he enters his fifth NBA season playing for his fourth team, Michael Carter-Williams is already having to settle for a one-year, $2.7 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets.

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It’s been a long, injury-riddled downward spiral for MCW since he put up 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game as a rookie for the Philadelphia 76ers. But the early Jason Kidd comparisons never panned out, and through his first four seasons, the 25-year-old has missed 12, 16, 28 and 37 games.

From bone bruises in his knee to wrist sprains to a torn labrum, MCW has had terrible injury luck over the last few years, preventing him from brushing up on the still-glaring flaws in his game like his complete lack of a 3-point shot.

Perhaps playing backup for Kemba Walker will help MCW re-establish himself before being an unrestricted free agent next summer, but after averaging 6.6 points 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 18.8 minutes per game last year — all career-lows — he’s getting dangerously close to falling out of favor with the league.