Michael Carter-Williams' sixth season in the league saw him split time between two franchises for the second time in his career and the first time since his sophomore campaign. The 27-year-old started the season in Houston, where he played in 16 games and logged one start before a mid-season trade sent him to Chicago. Carter-Williams was subsequently waived and went on to sign with Orlando. He appeared in 12 regular season games with the Magic. Collectively, the 2013 lottery pick played 28 games between Houston and Orlando, averaging 4.8 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game. With the Magic, Carter-Williams averaged 18.9 minutes off the bench and produced 4.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per contest. In a win over the 76ers on March 25, Carter-Williams produced a season-high 15 points along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. He scored 10 points in a win over the Pacers on March 30 for his fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season. Carter-Williams appeared in all five of Orlando's first-round playoff games against Toronto, averaging 18.5 minutes per contest in the series. In the Magic's Game 1 victory, Carter-Williams finished with 10 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Carter-Williams ended up filling a reserve role in what would end up being his only season in Charlotte. Tasked with proving instant offense of the bench for the Hornets, MCW got in a nice groove beginning in mid-November. Starting with a Nov. 18 game against the Clippers, Carter-Williams would go on to play in Charlotte's next 33 contests. He did a little bit of everything during his time on the floor during that stretch, averaging 4.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steal/block per game in 15.9 minutes. MCW's best all-around performance of the season came in a tight, one-point loss to Cleveland on Nov. 24. In that game, Carter-Williams posted 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. He also drained both of this three-point attempts. MCW also shot a career-best 82.0 percent from the foul line. After the season, MCW signed with the Houston Rockets as a free agent in July.

Carter-Williams recovered from offseason hip surgery and appeared poised to enter 2016-17 as the backup point guard in Milwaukee. He even logged a few exhibition games with the Bucks but was traded to the Bulls in exchange for Tony Snell on Oct. 18. Carter-Williams was expected to serve as the backup point guard to Rajon Rondo, but after three games, he suffered a bone bruise in his left knee. That ultimately sidelined him for the next 27 games, and he didn't make a return until Dec. 26, scoring one point in 19 minutes off the bench. Carter-Williams eventually got back on track, though he went the remainder of the year without recording a double-double. His best game came Feb. 2 against the Rockets, when he started and recorded 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. It ultimately proved difficult to get into rhythm after that, as knee trouble resurfaced in early March and he spent the rest of the season as a reserve. The Bulls were bounced in six games by the Celtics in Round 1 of the playoffs, and while Carter-Williams didn't appear in Game 1, he averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists over 10.5 minutes in the next five. He became an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

Carter-Williams spent the offseason working on his jump shot, and despite an injury-shortened 2015-16 campaign, he posted a career-best field-goal percentage of 45.2. The third-year player recorded 20 points in the season opener and started the next three games, but then proceeded to miss a five-game stretch due to a sprained ankle. He returned Nov. 14 and started the next seven games but averaged 3.6 turnovers per game over that span. The Bucks ended up sending him to the bench in favor of Jerryd Bayless, but Carter-Williams won the point guard job back after 10 games as a reserve. He did bounce back a bit, scoring a season-high 24 points (9-18 FG) in a Dec. 18 loss to Golden State. His best all-around effort likely came Jan. 8 against Dallas, when he recorded 15 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and five steals. On Feb. 9, Carter-Williams went back to the bench in favor of O.J. Mayo, as Giannis Antetokounmpo was starting to develop into more of a point-forward role. Carter-Williams never returned to the starting five, and his season came to an end in late February. He was initially scratched due to knee tendinitis, but on March 7, the Bucks announced he would miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip. Milwaukee ultimately missed this postseason in what proved to be Carter-Williams' last season with the Bucks.

Carter-Williams played in 41 games (38 starts) for the Sixers in 2014-15, averaging 15.0 points, 7.4 assists and 6.2 rebounds. He underwent shoulder surgery during the offseason leading up to this year, which forced him to miss both Summer League and the preseason, in addition to the first seven regular-season games. He returned as a reserve for three contests -- averaging 16.0 ppg -- before picking back up his starting role. While his baseline stats were slightly below his rookie campaign, Carter-Williams still managed to record his third, fourth and fifth-career triple-doubles this season. It was smooth sailing until early-February, when ankle, shin and toe injuries forced Carter-Williams to miss a six-game stretch. On Feb. 19, Carter-Williams saw an abrupt change of scenery, as he was dealt to the Bucks as part of a three-team deal. Once healthy and ready to make his Milwaukee debut on Feb. 25, Carter-Williams stepped right in as the starting point guard for the departed Brandon Knight, recording seven points and eight assists in that contest. He ended up playing in 25 regular-season games for the Bucks that year, averaging 14.1 points, 5.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds. That stretch also included two 30-point games -- April 8 against the Cavaliers and April 13 against the Sixers, his former team. The trade to Milwaukee also allowed Carter-Williams to get a taste of postseason play, but the Bucks fell to the Bulls in six games in the opening round. Carter-Williams averaged 12.2 points, 4.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds in that series.

Carter-Williams was selected 11th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2013 NBA Draft. The Syracuse product earned a starting job for his NBA debut on opening night, Oct. 30, and never looked back. It was a stellar debut, as Carter-Williams produced 22 points (6-10 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 6-8 FT) to go along with 12 assists, nine steals and seven rebounds in a victory over the Heat. MCW's nine thefts were the most steals ever by a rookie in their NBA debut. Carter-Williams stayed hot and averaged 18.7 points and 8.1 assists through his first seven career NBA games, but foot soreness halted that progress for a four-game stretch in mid-November. He returned and averaged 18.0 points, 7.0 assists and 3.7 steals over another seven-game stretch before a swollen knee sidelined him for seven games. In the final game before the knee started acting up, the rookie recorded his first career triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a victory over Orlando on Dec. 3. Carter-Williams scored a career-high 33 points (13-25 FG) in a Jan. 7 loss to the Cavaliers. He recorded his second career triple-double in a Mar. 10 loss to the Knicks, collecting 23 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. While the rebuilding Sixers missed the postseason, it was still an outstanding individual season for Carter-Williams. He was awarded Rookie of the Year honors based on his per-game averages of 16.7 points, 6.3 assists, 6.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals.