Houston Rockets: How will Michael Carter-Williams fit in next year?
By Jason Elbaum
How he fits
From the perspective of a Houston Rockets fan, this signing has to make you scratch your head. He is only a backup for Chris Paul, but MCW has not played in more than 54 games in a season since 2015-16 due to injuries. He is also a career 25.0 percent shooter from beyond the 3-point line, which certainly does not fit into the style of play that D’Antoni preaches to his team.
At 6’6″ and playing the point guard position, Carter-Williams is almost always in a position where he can shoot the ball with his natural shooting motion over a smaller defender. However, he has always been an inefficient shooter since he was drafted by Philadelphia in 2013. Last season with the Charlotte Hornets, he shot a career-worst 36.5 percent just on 2-point attempts.
It’s clear that Carter Williams’s fit with the Rockets really only makes sense on the defensive end of the floor. With his long wingspan, he can deflect balls traveling through the passing lane and cut off driving angles against opposing guards. The fact that he can defend both guard positions allows James Harden to focus on the weaker backcourt player on the opposing team.