Last season ended poorly for Michael Carter-Williams. Traded by the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Tony Snell, he joined the Chicago Bulls just ten days before the start of the regular season.
While Carter-Williams’ career had steadily declined since his 2014 Rookie of the Year campaign, many believed he’d be a valuable contributor off the bench or even a temporary substitute for the struggling Rajon Rondo. They were wrong. In 45 appearances, Carter-Williams notched career lows in every major category, averaging just 6.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
In an all-time first for a former Rookie of the Year, the Bulls declined to make a qualifying offer to Carter-Williams this summer, forcing him to test the uncertain waters of free agency.