NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Guys Dying to Go From Losers to Contenders
There are always players who play at a superstar level, only to watch their respective teams implode game after game.
They are the guys to build a team around, but their surrounding team prefers to look to them for all the answers.
There are always veterans who have given their heart and soul to the game of basketball on a consistent basis, only to be left on a rebuilding team as their career winds down.
This piece commends those players, who deserve more than what they get. They should feel honored to be on this list, as well as depressed.
The players on this list are on a team that is playing under .500 as of this writing. The length of time these players have been toiling in the sludge of mediocrity has also been taken into account.
Also, players such as Gilbert Arenas, who know they're on bad teams but take the money anyway, can't really be believed as caring about going to a contender.
Here are 10 Guys Dying to Go From Losers to Contenders.
10. Jose Calderon: Toronto Raptors
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Point guard Jose Calderon is in his sixth season with the Toronto Raptors. He has never averaged fewer than 4.5 assists per game despite playing 21 minutes a game one season.
He's been the ultimate team player.
But what has he gotten as a reward? Four playoff-free seasons and two seasons in which his team lost in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
9. Brad Miller: Houston Rockets
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A guy known for playing with grit and determination. He's even cried after some games upon losing.
In his last three years with the Sacramento Kings, the Kings missed the playoffs. Then he found himself on the Chicago Bulls, who, despite going to the playoffs two years, lost in the first round both years. But hey, that ain't bad, he'll take that
Then he was transported this season over to the Houston Rockets, who are 5-11 so far. Chicago would have been a nice team to end a career on. Oh, well.
8. Antawn Jamison: Cleveland Cavaliers
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Antawn Jamison has been one of the most consistent players in the league ever since his 1998-99 rookie season.
The problem is, he's played five seasons with the Golden State Warriors and five-and-a-half seasons with the Washington Wizards.
He was with Dallas for one measly year.
He gladly skipped over to Cleveland at the midway point last year, happy to join LeBron James and his fellow comrades. This was surely to end right for Antawn, right?
Well, we all know how that turned out.
7. Gerald Wallace: Charlotte Bobcats
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Gerald Wallace is the longest-tenured Charlotte Bobcat in team history, if you think about it. He came on in 2004 as the expansion team began its NBA era.
Despite being a multi-dimensional beast, Wallace has seen the Bobcats have five losing seasons in these six years. In their lone playoff season last year (with a whopping 44 wins), they got swept in the first round.
Gerald, you deserve more, so much more.
He probably doesn't enjoy his teammates making faces at him, either (see photo).
6. Tayshaun Prince: Detroit Pistons
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After a great run with the Detroit Pistons, it's safe to say that run is over.
They won 27 games last season and are in last place at 6-11 in the Eastern Conference Central Division this season.
Despite some talent on the roster, it just isn't worth the pain anymore. Move on, Tayshaun.
5. Richard Hamilton: Detroit Pistons
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Take your pick, both Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton are ready to move on with their lives.
Hamilton comes from a proud UConn dynasty, and was a part of a proud Detroit team moons ago.
But this ain't no dynasty anymore; this is a team that's likely going nowhere.
Go to Miami, win a championship there, Richard. Oh, wait...
4. Andre Iguodala: Philadelphia 76ers
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This is the dynamic Andre Iguodala's seventh season with Philadelphia. Once a proud athlete brimming with the possibility of a bright career, his pride has been taken away from him...by the Philadelphia 76ers.
They've been to the playoffs in half of the last six years, and lost in the first round of the playoffs all three years they were there.
They've never had more than 43 wins in a season during Iggy's prison term with them. And they are 4-13 so far this season.
You can still have a bright career, Andre; just don't give up hope.
3. Monta Ellis: Golden State Warriors
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The only thing that keeps Monta Ellis from being higher on this list is his shameful Moped accident that cost the Golden State Warriors, and the fact that he was part of one of the greatest upsets in postseason history in 2007 against the Dallas Mavericks.
But despite having three (going on four) stellar seasons for the Warriors since those playoffs, the Warriors haven't made it to the playoffs again, and have won under 30 games the last two seasons. They are 8-9 as of this writing.
Ellis looks absolutely horrified in this photo. I don't blame him.
2. Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets
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After a breakthrough 2007-08 season with the Dallas Mavericks, what did he get in return?
A trade to the (gasp) New Jersey Nets.
Despite being a consistent force for the Nets in about three total seasons with the team, they have never won more than 34 games and won a total of 12 last season.
They are 6-11 as of this writing.
Another once-promising career getting dragged down by a bad franchise.
1. David Lee, Golden State Warriors
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David Lee has got to be scratching his head right now.
He goes through five seasons in a predicament some people would seriously contend might be worse than Hell with the New York Knicks (never more than 33 wins, no playoffs).
Then he comes to a "rebuilding" franchise in the Golden State Warriors who just drafted Stephen Curry, have Monta Ellis playing some of his best ball ever, and have for the most part taken out the trash (previous years' players).
He misses eight games due to injury this season and the Warriors respond by going 1-7. Can't feel very comfortable with this situation. Hey, at least it's not New York.
He appears to be coaching in this photo. Not a good sign.
