After winning the Rookie of the Year last season, Michael Carter-Williams is already being mentioned as trade bait for the Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia Inquirer's NBA lead writer Bob Ford believed the Sixers are seriously considering in moving the young point guard, and apparently, the Los Angeles Lakers might have enough in their hands to pull a trigger on this one.

The Sixers' brow-raising and ambitious rebuilding effort hits its third with another dismaying record. In the past two drafts, general manager Sam Hinkie has been able to acquire multiple draft picks and use some of it to select the likes of Carter-Williams, Joel Embiid, Nerlens Noel, KJ McDaniels, and Euro stash prospect Dario Saric.   

Among its roster of youngsters, Carter-Williams has been flat-out the most productive statically, averaging 15.3 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 34 points per game. However, there's is an asterisk next to his stats line. The 23-year old Syracuse product is shooting 38 percent from the field (39 percent in his career) and 25 percent from beyond the arc.

According to Ford, Carter-Williams' shooting mechanics is so much flawed that it may take years for him to add a consistent jumper to his arsenal of skill-set. With an exception of Jason Kidd and few late-bloomer shooters, there's a little chance Carter-Williams can become an efficient scorer in his career, and that makes him very much dispensible in the eyes of the Sixers' top-brass.

"I think they're trying to deal him right now. I wouldn't be surprised if Michael Carter-Williams were traded before the deadline. ...I think they've looked at him for a couple of years and decided his shot is not fixable," Ford stated.

League sources indicated the Sixers have been trying to sell Carter Williams on the trading block in hope of landing multiple first-round picks. Obviously, it would be hard to think of an NBA team willing to throw away two or more first-round picks for a player who is shooting under 40 percent in his career, but there's a team in the West so desperate to have an upgrade at the point guard position - the Lakers.  

Since Derek Fisher's heyday, the point guard position has been the weakest link for the Lakers the past four seasons. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchack made several trades to address the issue, including the acquisition of Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin, but none played out well.

While multiple first-round picks are the standard asking price for the Sixers, there's an outside chance the Lakers could swoop in and make a deal for Carter-Williams using the first-rounder they acquired from the Rockets last summer, few second-rounders and an expiring contracts (Jeremy Lin?). Sure, it would be a tough task for the Lakers' front-office to come through with another massive coup on the trading block, though there's no way it's impossible.

At 23, Carter Williams has still plenty years in front of him to improve several facets of his game, not only his ugly shooting mechanics. His incredible physical tools and enormous upside is still there, waiting to be tapped. The Lakers are very much aware of the kid's potential, that is why it won't be shocking if they make another try at acquiring him over the next few months.