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Report: Michael Carter-Williams may miss Summer League with shoulder injury

By Trisity Miller

Apr 5, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Michael Carter-Williams (1) is defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Michael Carter-Williams (1) is defended by Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Looking to improve his game for next season, Michael Carter-Williams may have to do so without the use of the Summer League. Tom Moore of the Burlington County Times reportes the point guard could miss out on the Summer League as he recovers from shoulder surgery on his labrum.

From Burlington County Times:

"In an exclusive interview after Wednesday’s appearance at Gwynedd-Mercy Elementary School, Carter-Williams said his right shoulder “is coming along good” after surgery to repair the labrum on May 6, one day after becoming just the Sixers’ second NBA Rookie of the Year (Allen Iverson is the other).He said he’s “not sure yet” if he’ll be able to play for the Sixers’ entries in the Orlando Pro Summer League (July 5-11) and NBA Summer League (July 11-21) in Las Vegas, though it’s hard to imagine that happening. Recovery time from labrum surgery typically varies from two to five months.An NBA source doesn’t expect Carter-Williams to play in the summer leagues.There’s no timetable for his return, according to Carter-Williams.“I’m just going along based on how I feel, really,” he said, adding that he’s just rested the shoulder for the past month and hasn’t “really tried anything specific” with it."

After an eventful season, one that ended in Carter-Williams being named Rookie of the Year, the first 76ers player to win the award since Allen Iverson, there are high hopes for the point guard entering next season. Carter-Williams showed how well a playmaker he is, showed flashes of how well a defender he could be in the future thanks to his wing span and foot speed, and with an improvement to his outside shot, MCW could spend the rest of his career as an elite point guard.

But first comes health. If Michael Carter-Williams isn’t fully healthy, there’s no reason to risk further injury playing in meaningless exhibition games.

The Philadelphia 76ers will appear in both the Orlando and Las Vegas Summer Leagues.