Michael Carter-Williams ready for leadership role with 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers guard Michael Carter-Williams said he is ready to be a bigger leader for the team if veteran Thaddeus Young is traded, The Intelligencer's Tom Moore reports.

Young is expected to be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for 2013 No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett as part of the trade sending Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Carter-Williams, 22, won the 2014 NBA Rookie of the Year award after averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds. He had offseason shoulder surgery to repair his labrum.

He said he expects to be more of a leader no matter who his teammates are this season.

“Definitely,” he said. “I think regardless who is on the team, I have to be a leader out there, give direction to the new guys and really bring the team together.”

Philadelphia selected Kansas center Joel Embiid with the No. 3 pick in the 2014 NBA draft, but he is expected to miss significant time with a foot injury. The Sixers also traded for Croatian big man Dario Saric, but he is not expected to join the team for another two seasons.

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- Paul Palladino