The Chicago Bulls had a very active trade deadline, highlighted by the influx of new talent at the guard position. But in the process, they also dropped some veteran guards, including Jevon Carter.
Carter was very limited in his time with the Bulls this season, but has re-established himself as a winning player since joining the Orlando Magic.
Jevon Carter is finding new life with the Orlando Magic
Carter was very disappointing in Chicago to start the year. He played in just 23 games, averaging 5.4 points per game in 11 minutes. Notably, his poor shot-making (just 40 percent shooting from the field) hindered him from having any positive impact.
The Bulls wisely decided to move on from Carter and retool with younger pieces. It’s paid off for both parties so far; the Bulls have seen growth from their youngsters, and Carter is helping the Magic win games.
He’s still not shooting the ball well: just 38 percent from the field and 33 percent from three for the Magic. At least he was hitting 41 percent of his threes for the Bulls.
However, Carter has still been able to play meaningful basketball with the Magic due to his supplementary skills.
The Magic are 11-7 when Carter plays, and he’s become a mainstay at backup point guard. Despite his own scoring deficiencies, he’s having a positive impact through playmaking and defense. He averages 8.0 points, 2.6 assists and nearly a steal per game for the Magic.
Carter has found a better fit for his play style
Carter didn’t click in the Bulls’ run-and-gun style but has found a potential home in Orlando. At his best, he’s a solid defensive presence and a steady hand at point guard. The Magic thrive on these attributes since their biggest strengths are defense and a controlled, methodical offense.
The Magic are also better suited to receive and benefit from Carter’s veteran leadership. He’s in his eighth season and has been a part of many playoff contenders.
The Bulls, however, are firmly in a rebuild phase and more concerned with potential draft prospects than wins this season. However, Orlando has made win-now moves and hopes for a deep playoff run.
Since joining the Magic, Carter has spoken publicly about holding teammates accountable. And the team has responded well, including a recent seven-game win streak.
Although Orlando remains firmly in the play-in tournament picture, it looks like a more complete and mature team since picking up Carter.
That’s not to bash the Bulls for waiving Carter. That was absolutely the right decision considering the mismatch in playstyles and timelines.
But Carter should serve as a reminder that many role players in the NBA can have extremely different impacts depending on their circumstances.