Young NBA Players Who Need Changes of Scenery to Thrive
For the most part, young NBA players can't choose where they wind up. And every year, a few get thrown into difficult situations that can negatively impact their development.
The following examples highlight the importance of team fit for prospects out of college.
For some, learning from the bench isn't the answer. Many of these young players were drafted by teams that didn't have available minutes or room for long-term growth up the depth chart.
We used first-, second- and third-year players who could benefit from a trade. Think of guys like Moe Harkless, who recently joined the Portland Trail Blazers after three subpar years in Orlando. The change of scenery, extended leash and overall fresh start should all work in his favor.
Dennis Schroder, Atlanta Hawks, PG
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Dennis Schroder flashed a significant amount of upside last season, and he continued to build his image over the summer, having looked terrific as Germany's lead guard during EuroBasket.
It's too bad he'll return as a backup in Atlanta, where Jeff Teague is under contact until 2017.
Schroder won't hit his ceiling—which reaches starting point guard heights—coming off the bench behind Teague. To max out his potential, he'll need reps managing an offense and running a team for longer stretches, especially when you consider decision-making remains one of the bigger wrinkles in his game.
Though Atlanta has done a nice job of bringing him along slowly, Schroder appears ready for a larger workload.
His career would benefit from a trade that sends him to a franchise in need of a floor general, such as the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets or Philadelphia 76ers.
With the assumption the Hawks don't plan on paying major long-term dollars for both Teague and Schroder, it wouldn't be shocking to see the latter draw interest around the league before he hits free agency.
C.J. Wilcox, Los Angeles Clippers
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Another year in L.A. would mean another year warming the bench. C.J. Wilcox could use a change of scenery to jump-start his career.
Wilcox hasn't played much basketball since 2014. He appeared in 21 games (101 total minutes) for the Los Angeles Clippers and just five in the D-League as a rookie.
And with the additions of Lance Stephenson, Wesley Johnson and Paul Pierce, Wilcox is looking at a second consecutive season off the radar.
The fact that he turns 25 years old in December only makes the issue more pressing.
Coach Doc Rivers even admitted being hesitant about sending his young players to the D-League, which means more watching and less playing for Wilcox.
"I don’t like a team where I’m sending one of my players and they’re running something else and doing something completely different,” he told the Orange County Register's Dan Woike.
Failing to crack the final roster may even be a blessing in disguise. A handful of teams (Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies) could look to bring in and use a shooting specialist like Wilcox.
Spencer Dinwiddie, Detroit Pistons, PG
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We saw flashes from Spencer Dinwiddie as a rookie, but unless he gets traded, that's all we'll likely see once again in year two.
He won't exactly have much of an opportunity to hold down a steady role in Detroit. Even with Brandon Jennings still in recovery, Reggie Jackson, Steve Blake, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jodie Meeks will make it difficult for coach Stan Van Gundy to find time for his second-year guard out of Colorado.
It would be nice to see Dinwiddie get a chance to build on last season's flashes, particularly his per-36-minute averages of 8.2 assists and 2.6 turnovers. He'll also need reps to work on sharpening his half-court scoring repertoire, considering he shot 30.2 percent on 169 field-goal attempts.
Having played just 17 games in 2013-14 (torn ACL) at Colorado and 41 combined (34 with Detroit, seven in the D-League) in 2014-15, Dinwiddie could really use a full season of regular rotational minutes. The Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Portland Trail Blazers appear to have openings in the backcourt.
Tyler Ennis, Milwaukee Bucks, PG
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The beginning to Tyler Ennis' career is a reminder of just how critical team fit can be to a prospect's early development.
There wasn't much room for him last year in Phoenix, where Ennis played just eight games before the All-Star break and was shipped to the Milwaukee Bucks. And now he finds himself stuck behind Michael Carter-Williams, Greivis Vasquez and Jorge Gutierrez.
It's tough to envision Ennis getting much of a chance in year two. And though still just 21 years old, he'll eventually need to start seeing regular NBA reps.
Ennis has not looked overly sharp in limited action, and given his lack of traditional quickness and athleticism for a point guard, it's important he gets more comfortable with the NBA's speed.
Unfortunately, he just underwent shoulder surgery, which puts him even further behind the eight ball. Either way, a trade to a team that lacks point guard depth could benefit and expedite Ennis' development. Philadelphia seems like an ideal destination.
Jordan Adams, Memphis Grizzlies, SG
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Jordan Adams had a quiet rookie year as a youngster among veterans in the Memphis Grizzlies' rotation. The addition of Matt Barnes to the lineup will only make it harder to crack for Adams, who's buried on the depth chart heading into year two.
"It's tough for young guys to break in with us," coach Dave Joerger admitted, per Bryan Fenley of Local 24 Sports.
Adams ultimately needs reps to adjust to the speed and athleticism of the pros, especially considering he's one of the least explosive guards (29½" max vertical) you'll come across. He also needs to improve his jumper and defensive awareness.
And it's just not going to happen in Memphis, where he only made 30 total appearances and averaged 8.3 minutes per game as a rookie.
Adams would benefit from playing on a team that offered him an opportunity to learn on the job. The Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers fit the description.
Archie Goodwin, Phoenix Suns, SG
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Though an obvious project out of Kentucky, Archie Goodin hasn't quite made the progress one would have hoped for through two NBA seasons. You could even argue he regressed as a sophomore, with his two-point field-goal percentage dropping to an ugly 41.9 from 54.2.
He's totaled 92 turnovers and 64 assists since entering the league. More of a 2-guard than one you'd want running your offense, Goodwin has Eric Bledsoe and 2015 lottery pick Devin Booker to compete with on the Phoenix Suns' long-term depth chart.
Unless he's locked into a 20-plus minute role, which seems unlikely, considering he averaged 13 minutes last year and the team's wing depth only got stronger, a change in scenery could help Goodwin take the next step with his development. The Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers could each use athleticism and upside in the backcourt.
K.J. McDaniels, Houston Rockets, SF
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K.J. McDaniels jumped out to a promising start with the Philadelphia 76ers. There were visible holes in his game, but none that couldn't be aided by repetition and confidence.
It's going to be tough for McDaniels to build either as a Houston Rocket behind James Harden, Trevor Ariza, Corey Brewer, Marcus Thornton and potentially rookie Sam Dekker.
After averaging 25.4 minutes in Philadelphia, McDaniels only played 3.3 per game in Houston (10 games), and that was without Dekker and Thornton in the picture.
Apparently, the three-year, $10 million deal offered by the Rockets was just too good to pass on. But it might not have been the best move for his long-term development.
Though a terrific athlete loaded with defensive potential, McDaniels' offensive game, particularly his jumper and shot-creating ability, remains a work in progress. A change in scenery would give him a better chance to work out the kinks through trial and error.
Terry Rozier, Boston Celtics, PG
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On one hand, Terry Rozier had to be pumped about attracting the Boston Celtics and going No. 16 overall. But on the other hand, he has to have some doubt regarding the fit and developmental setting.
General manager Danny Ainge just drafted Marcus Smart the year before and recently traded for ball-dominator Isaiah Thomas—the team's best offensive player who's under contract until 2018.
Rozier won't have much of a chance behind Smart and Thomas over the next few years. And considering how little experience he has running the point—Rozier frequently played off the ball at Louisville, where he struggled with facilitating—he requires reps and work as a decision-maker and setup man.
He may have been better off slipping later into the first round and going to a team such as the Portland Trail Blazers or Brooklyn Nets—franchises that have minutes to go around and limited expectations.
