The Philadelphia 76ers "tried hard" to trade Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams before the NBA draft. Carter-Williams, the No. 11 pick in the 2013 draft out of Syracuse, averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. He may miss the start of this season as he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

The Philadelphia 76ers "tried hard" to trade Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams before the NBA draft, Grantland's Zach Lowe reports.

Carter-Williams, the No. 11 pick in the 2013 draft out of Syracuse, averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds per game last season. He may miss the start of this season as he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Despite being tabbed as the league's top first-year, Lowe reports Philadelphia wanted to trade him, but didn't receive offers as good as they expected.

They tried hard during the draft, but they couldn’t draw the trove they envisioned or guarantee that the player they wanted with an acquired pick would be there, per several league sources. Expect Philly to repeat the exercise. It’s not a shot at Carter-Williams, or even a signal that the Sixers are dying to trade him. He may well end up a long-term cog in Philly. The team knows point guard is the most replaceable position in the league today, and it will seek out any deal that adds to its stockpile of high-value draft picks.

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General manager Sam Hinkie has focused on building the team through the draft. He traded All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday during the 2013 draft for a package that included Nerlens Noel, who missed all of last season while recovering from a torn ACL. The 76ers selected former Kansas center Joel Embiid with the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft, and his status for this season is uncertain after he had surgery on his foot in June. Hinkie traded for Croatian forward Dario Saric in the draft, and he will not join the team for at least two more seasons.

Philadelphia finished last season 19-63 and have reportedly drew the ire of opponents for "tanking." Lowe reported earlier this month that the NBA is considering changing the draft lottery system to eliminate the incentive to have a bad record and receiving a high pick.

The 76ers start the regular season on Oct. 29 against the Indiana Pacers.

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