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Syracuse Basketball: Michael Carter-Williams turns opportunity into revival

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 16: Michael Carter-Williams #7 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball as Jeremy Lin #17 of the Toronto Raptors defends during Game Two of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 16, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 16: Michael Carter-Williams #7 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball as Jeremy Lin #17 of the Toronto Raptors defends during Game Two of the first round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on April 16, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Former Syracuse basketball player Michael Carter-Williams turned a small opportunity into a total career revival. Here are all the details.

Michael Carter-Williams received a 10-day contract from the Orlando Magic last season with no promises.

The former Syracuse basketball star turned that small opportunity into a complete career renaissance.

Being a first-round draft pick buys you time. If an NBA team is willing to invest that kind of capital into you, they believe you can become a key cog on their team.

MCW rewarded the Philadelphia 76ers with a Rookie of the Year campaign. Little did he know at that moment it would all go downhill from a statistical perspective.

Michael Carter-Williams never got close to that 16.7 points per game he averaged in the city of brotherly love. With the drop off in play and the mounting injuries, MCW would become a journeyman of sorts playing for seven different NBA teams over the next seven years.

When it appeared that his car was running out of gas, he got one last opportunity with the Orlando Magic on a 10-day contract.

A 10-day contract is where a free agent signs a deal with a team that lasts for 10 days (or three games). NBA teams are only allowed to sign a player to 2 separate 10-day contracts in a single season.

MCW signed his first 10-day contract with the Magic on March 15, 2019. After impressing in a few performances, he showed enough of a spark to force the Magic to sign him to another 10-day contract.

On that same day, Carter-Williams had his best game of the season scoring 15 points against the team that drafted him with the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, the Philadephia 76ers.

At that point Orlando had to make a decision, let MCW walk and potentially sign with another NBA franchise or sign him for the remainder of the season. The Magic chose the latter and the rest was history.

Zach Weisleder explained last week why MCW earned his keep with the Magic and why “NBA teams would be lining up to bring him in”, well the Orlando Magic didn’t allow that to happen.

ESPN NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski was first to report that the Magic and MCW had agreed to a one-year deal to retain his services for the 2019-20 season.

MCW may never be a superstar in the NBA, but that’s okay. Last season he proved he can be a spark plug and a competent backup point guard and there’ll always be a spot in the NBA for that role.

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His shooting percentage will always be an issue, but MCW delivers beyond the stat sheet. The Magic felt that during their postseason push and that’s why they wanted to bring him back.

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