Carmelo Anthony and 20 Other NBA Stars Who'd Benefit From a Change in Scenery
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Boy has this Summer been wild.
The Decision was most definitely the highlight (or the low point depending on your affiliation), but the rest of the summer was sprinkled with sign and trades, blockbuster signings, and a massive dose of trade rumors.
and the good news? Much of what was talked about early in the Summer, actually ended up happening. (Well, in comparison to most summers it did.)
and even if it didn't happen, chances are that things are still up in the air.
Many of the people on this list have included in trade rumors, most of which never materialized. But yet I feel that each and every player would be better off if they were able to find a new home sometime in the near future.
So I present to you with Carmelo Anthony and the 20 NBA Players Who'd benefit from a change in scenery.
Thank you for reading.
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LeBron James
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Please.
Please LeBron James, don't play for the Miami Heat.
Your legacy will be riddled with what if's and question marks because you didn't prove to the rest of the NBA that you could be the best player on a Championship team.
You didn't show that you were capable of leading a team to a title with you being the only significant offensive option.
"The Chosen One" never did silence the doubters and now he will have to live with those questions for the rest of his career.
Personally, I believe that LeBron James has the talent to be a one man show, but I don't think he has the killer instinct or the ability to ice games.
and he didn't improve that situation at all by taking the easy way out.
By going to the Miami Heat, LeBron James has conceded that he can't win it by himself, he told the world that he needs other guys to carry the load, and that he isn't clutch enough to be the go to guy in the fourth quarter.
He may have set himself up for a decade of Championship games, but to be the greatest you can't concede anything.
You never say never.
You don't allow another player to catch you at your worst.
and you always prove the doubters wrong.
By joining the Miami Heat, King James has only conceded failure.
He took the easy way out.
and I'm sure that everyone outside of Miami Heat fans think that LeBron James to the Heat is bad for the NBA.
LeBron James, you made the wrong decision.
Sorry, but it would be best if you found somewhere else to win a title instead of taking the easy way out.
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Chris Paul
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Chris Paul started his summer by dealing with the trade demand that he may or may not have wanted.
Dealing with the possibilities of changing scenery, finding a new team to lead to the playoffs, or disappointing the fans of New Orleans.
There will be more drama, more rumors, more losses, more struggle, and it will eventually end in Chris Paul leaving New Orleans for greener pastures.
It will happen and I don't see a situation, other than the Hornets blowing people away next season, that Chris Paul will decide that New Orleans will be his permanent home.
It will either happen in five months or in two years, or somewhere in between.
and that is the only thing we can say for sure.
Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets need to end their relationship and the sooner the better.
The Hornets aren't getting any better and Chris Paul isn't getting any younger
So why waste your time?
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Carmelo Anthony
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Carmelo Anthony probably doesn't need to leave the Nuggets, but there are better options out there.
The Nuggets, with everyone healthy, are a contender in the Western Conference.
Unfortunately the Nuggets are imploding.
J.R. Smith is constantly in trouble with the law, Chauncey Billups is quickly becoming too old, Kevin Martin is on the trading block, and now there is the Carmelo Anthony drama.
Carmelo's stay with the Denver Nuggets has run it's course. I don't need to tell you that because at this point it is common knowledge. The Denver Nuggets want to keep him, but we all have the feeling that Carmelo has other ideas.
When those two things happen in an organization, it is time to move on.
I can guarantee that it will be best for both parties to move on.
For Carmelo it would allow him to hopefully find a contender to play for and the Nuggets would look to begin the long process of rebuilding.
Carmelo needs a new home, and the sooner that happens, the better it will be for all that are involved.
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Joe Johnson
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Joe Johnson shouldn't have signed that $120 Million dollar max contract deal the Hawks threw at him.
It wouldn't have been best for his pocketbook, but it would have been best for his legacy.
I don't see the Hawks as a team moving forward. They are losing options simply because they don't have the money to pay them or find a replacement.
Mike Bibby is getting old and Jamaal Crawford wants to get paid.
Those are two pretty big pieces to your team and it seems as though you are waiting for things to go really poorly before you fix them.
Joe Johnson could have been on the rise if he headed to New York for less money.
He may have found himself in the middle of a big-apple style big three in which he could end up being the third wheel, a role that suits Johnson skill sets perfectly.
Johnson isn't a leader.
He doesn't take over games and he doesn't seem like he could be the best player on a championship team.
If he was one part of a three player tandem, he would thrive.
Unfortunately for him, someone threw $120 million at him, an offer he couldn't refuse.
The chances of Johnson leaving the Hawks is slim, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be for the best.
Johnson should look for a new home if he can get it.
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Rudy Gay
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The Memphis Grizzlies don't seem to be worried about winning, but more about the money that they are losing.
If you don't look further than the starting lineup, the Grizzlies look a very competitive team.
Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol.
You have three players that are averaging close to 20 points a game, two players that are almost a nightly double-double, and every single player in young.
Memphis looks golden.
Until you look at their bench.
Acie Law, Tony Allen, DeMarre Carroll, Darrell Arthur, and Hasheem Thabeet.
Yeah, I wouldn't call that competitive.
The problem doesn't lie within the player development department or the player evaluators, it lands right in the owner wallet.
He just isn't willing to spend the money that needs to be spent to turn this young nucleus of players into a perennial playoff team.
It is as simple as that.
If I'm Rudy Gay, I might be asking to be traded before this situation turns ugly.
Oh yeah, and your best player just got arrested for drug smuggling charges.
Rudy Gay, do you really want to play for a team without a chance?
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Danny Granger
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Can you believe that Danny Granger is a top four fantasy player?
Really, he is.
and I guess when you average 24 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in a season, you probably deserve to get some attention.
The problem is that it is hard to give a team from Indiana attention unless they are going to be really spectacular.
and heck, maybe the Pacers could end up being better than average next season. They just added Darren Collison but looking at their roster, I would have to see a couple players really step up and play big next season.
First off, the Pacers don't have a power forward that is a viable starting option.
Josh McRoberts? Tyler Hansborough?
Really?
One of those two would need to have a monster year for the Pacers to really surprise people next season.
Second, the Pacers lack depth at every single position.
Jeff Foster could very well be over the hump, Brandon Rush is turning into a head case, James Posey has seen better days, and that is really it.
The Pacers don't have a monster lineup.
They aren't ready to hit homeruns right now and nor will they be in the next few years.
The Pacers just don't have the players to make it happen.
If I am Danny Granger, I'd like to see improvement rather than just optimism.
and maybe i'd like to be shown the door.
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Steve Nash
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Steve Nash deserves a championship. Well, actually I wouldn't say he deserves a championship because he hasn't earned it. But he is most definitely good enough to be the best player on a championship team and its a shame that he will never get the chance to lead a playoff team to a title victory.
Steve Nash, a player who averaged 18.8 points, 10.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds in his best season, has been on teams that were almost there, but just didn't have enough juice in the tank to make the final push into the finals.
Nash led teams have been to the Western Conference Finals three times, but none were able to go further than that. He has also been awarded with two consecutive Most Valuable Player Awards.
Unfortunately, Nash will be marked down in the history books as just another pretty good player that wasn't ever able to win it all.
If Steve wants a ring, and I'm sure he does, a new team would most likely be in order.
It may not be the best for The Phoenix Suns, but it would be for Steve.
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Deron Williams
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Derron Williams is either the best point guard in the NBA or he is the second best point guard in the NBA.
Take your pick.
But I have the feeling that Williams is going to find him self in a situation that could turn unsavory fast.
The Utah Jazz have been a good team for a while now but their recent situation throws up a few red flags because they are not the team they used to be.
They no longer have the front court depth that made them a difficult team to matchup with. Now they are left with only one center coming off a ruptured achilles tendon, a power forward that doesn't play defense, and an undersized power forward that could probably be the starter.
It isn't the worst situation you could find yourself in, but it could turn bad if one of those three fall to injury.
They no longer have the shooters that Derron Williams has had in the past and i don't think that their defense will be as strong as it was last season.
The Jazz are either going downhill quickly or incredibly slowly, but either on ends with bad circumstances.
Derron Williams should get out as soon as he can because I'm sure that he is good enough to be the starting point guard on a Championship team.
The problem is that the Jazz aren't going to be a title contender anytime soon unless some major changes are made.
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Ricky Rubio
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I know, I know, Rubio isn't an NBA star, but he will be someday.
I'm just not sure about the whole Ricky Rubio situation.
Maybe he actually does want to play for the Minnesota Timberwolves but my guess is that he probably doesn't.
Here is the rundown for the Rubio situation:
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Ricky Rubio with the fifth pick in the 2009 NBA draft. There were concerns within the NBA community that Rubio did not want to play in Minnesota, and those concerns were realized just moments after Rubio was drafted.
"It's too cold," he said, a day after announcing that his mother also thinks the city is too cold. "I have to think about that ... I'm going to talk with my agent about that and we are going to see."
But then earlier this summer Rubio said this: “Everyone is talking like Minneapolis is not a good city to live, but I think that it’s a great city to live,” he said. “O.K., the weather is not so good. But there’s a lot of things to do there, a lot of sports to watch and centers to go. I think it’s a great city.”
The Timberwolves took a chance on a player that would either become the next big thing or the next big thing to never play a minute in Minnesota.
So now that the world has had the chance to watch Rubio play against NBA talent, everyone is pretty high on the new Spanish Phenom.
and at this point it seems that Rubio is rather undecided.
Does he stay or does he go.
Minnesota is headed nowhere.
They have a confused roster built by a confused General Manager and the last thing we want is a young superstar to get stuck in a situation where he can't play on a national stage.
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Gerald Wallace
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Gerald Wallace is a very good player that doesn't seem to get enough credit for what he provides on the floor.
Unfortunately though, it looks like Gerald's good circumstances are deteriorating. The team that he has found success with looks as though they will struggle to make the playoffs next season.
What I would look for If I were Gerald Wallace would be immediate success.
If the Bobcats aren't going to win next season, then it is unlikely that they will have success in the following years.
Your golden years are something that you don't waste and if the Bobcats aren't going to win right away, then I have a hard time believing that Gerald Wallace couldn't find a better situation.
The Bobcats may have been a one and done and the last thing you want to do is waste your time on a team that is just treading water.
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Jason Kidd
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Jason Kidd is the kind of player that everyone wants to see win a championship, but unfortunately the Mavericks aren't going to get that done while Kidd is still under 40.
So what can Jason Kidd do?
Get out of town and head for a championship quality roster or sit in a good situation, but not perfect, and pray that you get a chance at a title.
Because at this point that is all you can do.
I want to see Kidd win a title, but I just don't see that happening in his current situation.
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Mo Williams
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Mo Williams is about to find himself in a very difficult situation.
Fresh off the drama of King James leaving town and owner Dan gilbert promising a Championship before the traitor won his own with the Miami Heat... Yeah, the Cavaliers are really going to have a hard time transitioning from playoff appearances to lottery selections.
and guess who is going to take the brunt of the criticism when they are sitting last in their division with no hopes of getting better?
Mo Williams.
Yeah Mo, you better get ready for some unfair scrutiny.
and If I were you, I would beg to be traded before the season starts because these next few years as the only offensive threat on a bad team could really hurt your chances at getting a big contract in the next few years.
Right now Mo Williams stock is pretty high, but it will only continue to decrease in value over time.
Get out now while you can.
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Dirk Nowitzki
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Believe it or not but this could very well be the last season we see Dirk Nowitzki playing the kind of basketball that we are used to.
The reason? He is getting old and seven footers just don't last as long as smaller players. The way he moves around the floor has got to be tough on the joints, increasing he normal wear for a player his age.
Yes I know Dirk just signed a new contract with the Mavericks that will likely be his last, but I think it would be wise for Dirk to find a Championship team.
I really respect what Dirk is trying to do; trying to win a Championship with the very team he started his career with.
Here is a statement he made in n interview with Dime Magazine that I thought really display his character.
“I would say the key point, is that our owner Mark Cuban immediately came to me and said, ‘Hey, Dirk, we both sit in the same boat,’” Dirk said. “The same boat, that was it. He wants to be champion, I want to be champion. He dreams of it, I dream of it. If I would’ve left, I would have thought, ‘I gave up, I did not make it.’ It would have seemed to me like running away.”
I love it.
(Shot intended for LeBron)
You are supposed to want a Championship, but not ditch the team that was loyal to you for years to join others.
Unfortunately though, that is the only way I see Dirk Nowitzki winning a Championship.
and I feel that he would be wise to find a team that can bring him a ring.
Loyalty hurts, but sometimes you have to realize that you have done enough.
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Kevin Martin
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Kevin who?
Really, Kevin Martin.
The guy who averaged 20.6 points a game last season. Yeah, that guy.
It's just too bad he can't stay healthy on a consistent basis despite his youth. Right now Kevin Martin is in his prime and might be able to salvage his young career in a different city.
Sometimes injuries can really wear on the player-organization relationship and most times that ends in a divorce.
I'm guessing Martin would rather initiate the breakup that have it end in a tearful, fateful mess.
(an overstatement to be sure)
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Andre Iguodala
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How many years has it been since Andre Igoudala has been mentioned on the national stage. It seems that he, like many, has fallen into the trap of finding himself on a terrible team.
Let's not sugarcoat this. The 76ers aren't a good team and it would probably be best if they started the rebuilding phase while they still have young players under contract.
Coincidentally, it would also be best for Andre Iguodala to change scenery and hopefully find himself on a contender, in a prominent role.
What can he offer?
Well Iguodala is a high flyer to say the least and is as athletic as they come. Andre is also a pretty good playmaker with an above average scoring touch.
He is also still young and has many years left in his prime.
So why not get out before it's too late?
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Monta Ellis
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Monta Ellis is either in the best situation a player could possibly find himself in or he is in a deteriorating role that will eventually force him out of town.
Take your pick.
But when the team drafted Stephen Curry and eventually became the teams rising star, the Monta Ellis era had all but vanished.
Maybe it can work.
Maybe you can run a system with two undersized guards if the only thing you are worried about is offense.
It might very well be the only system in which you can play two defensively incompetent guards that are undersized but great scorers.
Chances are that Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry will be the Warriors back-court for quite some time, but is that really an ideal situation for either player?
Consistent lottery selections are not something that you should want if you are averaging 20 plus points per contest.
Monta Ellis would be wise for leaving for greener pastures.
Maybe he finds himself in a more limited role on a defensive minded team, but at least he would be able to compete for something that is meaningful.
and besides, it's clear that Stephen Curry is going to be there for a while, so why not get out while you can?
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Rajon Rondo
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The Celtics are getting old and when the time comes for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to retire, the Celtics will shift from Championship contention to lottery hopefuls.
Rajon rondo should then take the advice of his current teammate when that time comes:
"Loyalty is something that hurts you at times, because you can't get youth back. I can honestly say that if I could go back and do my situation over, knowing what I know now with this organization, I'd have done it a little sooner."
- Kevin Garnett
There is no reason that Rondo should wait three to four years for the Celtics to rebuild, those are years you will never get back.
If Rondo can find a way out within the next couple of years, he shouldn't even think twice.
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Chauncey Billups
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Chauncey Billups is past his prime.
There is no arguing that.
The Denver Nuggets are looking to rebuild and there will come a time when the Nuggets are a lottery pick team and in that case, Chauncey Billups would have no purpose on that roster.
The last thing Chauncey should want to do is play on a team without a chance. I'm guessing the money isn't the biggest issue and that winning would be higher on his priorities.
That is why it would be best for Chauncey Billups to move on and find a new home in the NBA.
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David West
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David West has really fallen from stardom and out of the minds of most NBA fans.
Heck, I didn't know that West was still averaging 19 points and 7.5 rebounds.Those are near all-star numbers, but it seems that David West has been forgotten and that he is no longer being given the credit he deserves.
Maybe it's just a case of out of sight out of mind.
The Hornets haven't been anywhere near the playoffs in a while and that is the only way that the Hornets are going to get national media attention.
If Chris Paul ends up getting a ticket out of town, I wouldn't be surprised to see David West right on his heels.
and besides, it would be best for all parties involved.
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Rudy Fernandez
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Rudy Fernandez isn't an NBA star by any measure, but his stardom beyond the confines of this great country is enormous.
The guy has the potential to be something special but he is stuck in the wrong system, behind better players, and in his contract. The Portland Trail Blazers have tried to trade him, but Rudy's recent string of media mishaps have only made that prospect more unlikely.
There is not doubt in my mind that Rudy Fernandez would benefit from a change in scenery and could blossom in an uptempo system like New York, Phoenix, or Golden State.
But chances are that Rudy will stay put until the Blazers can get a first round selection in return.
Rudy Fernandez has the talent to be a star in this league, but it is more likely that he will return to Spain, returning to his superstar status as a Spanish basketball player.
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