Why Devin Carter Has Struggled To Find An NBA Role

After Devin Carter was waived by the Hawks, the guys discussed why the former Kings guard has had a hard time finding a consistent NBA role.

BY BRENDEN NUNES

Sep 14, 2026, 12:50 PM

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SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Devin Carter #22 of the Sacramento Kings handles the ball during...

Devin Carter #22 of the Sacramento Kings handles the ball during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Golden 1 Center on April 05, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/Getty Images)

(Photo by Don Collier/Getty Images)

Since being drafted 13th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, Devin Carter appeared in just 74 games before being rerouted to a new team. Sacramento traded him to the Atlanta Hawks, along with a second-round pick, to move on from Carter for financial reasons.

Atlanta has since waived Carter, and he reportedly signed a deal with the Boston Celtics.

The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross discussed Carter’s situation, looking at why it has been difficult for the former Kings guard to get a consistent opportunity.

“He’s a tweener,” Dave said. “He’s not a point guard, but he’s a little small for a two guard.”

Carter has an all-around game without one standout skill, but plays with energy, can pressure the ball, and is theoretically a defensive playmaker. Finding an ideal offensive fit, though, seemed complicated, and his relationship with Sacramento’s decision-makers was described in similar terms.

“The knock on him here was that he wasn’t exactly adhering to what the coaches wanted him to do,” Dave said.

Dave said his understanding was that the Kings wanted Carter to focus on playing hard, defending, and letting the game come to him rather than forcing his own offense.

“They were saying, just go out there, play your ass off. Don’t force your offense. Get into the rhythm of the game,” Dave said. “And Devin had issues with that.”

Carter was drafted in the lottery with real defensive and athletic appeal, but he still needed to show he could fit into a role offensively. If he is not going to be a true facilitator and he is an inconsistent shooter, it’s difficult to find rotational minutes for him. Jason Ross pointed to that same issue.

“There’s spots for guys like that, but you have to then almost be so exceptional that you’re like, yeah, he doesn’t really have a position, but we can’t keep him off the floor,” Ross said. “Offensively, it felt like it was missing. And then when you’re not the true point guard, when you’re not an exceptional shooter in the tweener of those two positions, it’s kind of like where does that fit?”

Carter also entered a difficult roster situation in Sacramento behind plenty of other lottery guards they had selected or traded for in years prior.

The Celtics could be a good landing spot for Carter, similarly to how that team managed to carve Neemias Queta, who started with Sacramento, into a starting-caliber player. Dave said Boston would be near the top of the list for ideal fits.

“I like that Boston’s the right place for a guy like that,” Dave said. “Of course he’s going to turn into the next Marcus Smart.”

Being in a new spot means that Carter no longer has to deal with lottery expectations either. Anything the Celtics are able to get from him will be viewed as a success.

“He’s in a spot now where the fact that he’s a lottery pick doesn’t matter anymore,” Dave said. “You got to figure your life out, dude, on the basketball court, or it’s G League or somewhere else.”

If he carves out a role it won’t be a great look for the Kings, but it made sense for them to move on when they did.