Carmelo Anthony and 15 Players Who Need a Change of Scenery
The 2010-11 NBA season will be remembered for how the superpowers rose out of the East, but before all is said and done, there are several players who need a change of scenery.
Some of these players represent malcontents that need a new home, while others represent players in the twilights of their careers and who can bolster the prospects of championship contenders. There are also some players who need more minutes to help their games grow and who cannot find them on their present teams.
This list is about those players.
Tracy McGrady, Detroit Pistons: Needs To Find His Golf Swing
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Tracy McGrady was one of those talented kids with very high basketball IQ's taken right out of high school. At 6'8, he had length as well as an almost unmatched athletiscm as exhibited by his explosive dunks to compliment his well-rounded game. He is without a doubt, one of the greatest leapers the NBA has ever seen.
A perennial All-Star, McGrady had stellar years with both the Orlando Magic and the Houston Rockets, and when he was at his best, he was impossible to stop. He was the other part of the dynamic duo in Orlando (matched with Grant Hill) and Houston (Yao Ming), but unfortunately for McGrady, his partners in crime were injured too frequently to be of any use in the playoffs. It is an extreme stroke of bad luck, because had they been healthy, both those cities would have a couple more championships each.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
McGrady is close in age to Kobe Bryant, yet he seems to have started aging in dog’s years. He has been plagued by back and knee injuries that have crippled this former superstar. McGrady has had the big contracts and the big games, but now it’s time for him to retire. For the most part he has been relegated to the bench and although in recent games he has started for the lowly Pistons, it no longer seems correct to call him T-Mac. His amazing legacy has already begun to plummet. Had he been able to remain healthy, McGrady would have been destined to be one of the all-time greats.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 41 | 20.7 | .479 | .364 | .632 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 6.8 |
Career | 855 | 33.9 | .436 | .337 | .747 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 20.8 |
Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis Grizzlies: Needs a Fresh Start
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Hasheem Thabeet is a 7 ft 3 in giant that was taken second overall in the 2009 draft by the Grizzlies, but he has fallen far short of expectations.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
Thabeet is unlikely to get much of a chance in Memphis playing behind both Marc Gasol and Haddadi at the center spot. He did get 11 minutes of playing time against the Bulls, pulling down four rebounds and scoring two points. Thabeet needs to play on a team that can help him grow as a player by giving him consistent minutes. He is all too often a bench warmer for the Grizzlies.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 30 | 9.0 | .414 | .000 | .462 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 1.2 |
Career | 98 | 11.8 | .556 | .000 | .555 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 2.5 |
O.J. Mayo, Memphis Grizlies: Needs to Be Traded Already
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O.J. Mayo has not exactly lived up to the great expectations placed upon him in his short time in the NBA, but this first round (third overall) draft pick from 2008 has shown flashes of brilliance.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
Mayo is not happy playing off the bench in Memphis and his name is constantly being thrown around in trade talks among NBA GMs, one of whom has him going to Denver in a blockbuster Carmelo Anthony trade. He remains terribly inconsistent when he plays, but could help a number of teams in a starting role, and he could use a fresh start.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 40 | 29.0 | .403 | .365 | .747 | 2.6 | 1.9 | 12.5 |
Career | 204 | 36.2 | .441 | .380 | .832 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 16.9 |
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers: Needs to Be Traded Already
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Andre Iguodala is a 6 ft 6 SG who has yet to reach his amazing potential in the NBA. He is an explosive leaper who can score and defend, especially on the perimeter.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
It’s not a question of whether or not Iguodala will be traded but when. Unfortunately, that “when” seems to be taking forever, which has Andre in a constant swirl of annoying trade rumors. There are a lot of teams that could benefit from this 26 year old's talents.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 28 | 37.6 | .439 | .361 | .664 | 6.2 | 5.6 | 13.8 |
Career | 514 | 38.1 | .463 | .323 | .747 | 5.8 | 4.6 | 15.7 |
Jose Calderon, Toronto Raptors: Needs to Free Up Cap Space
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The 6 ft. 3 Jose Calderon is a talented point guard who can run the floor very efficiently and is considered by many as an elite point guard. While he may not be in the same conversation as a Chris Paul, he is a force to be reckoned with.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
Calderon doesn’t fit well in the Raptor’s rebuilding plans and his large salary would go a long way to reducing the cap to help bolster the young club. The Raptors also have a young and talented, Jarryd Bayless to step in and take over. Calderon however, is a very effective player that would be an immense upgrade at the PG spot on many teams. Most notably, elite teams like the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic where he would easily average a double-double while strengthening title hopes.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 35 | 29.1 | .471 | .432 | .804 | 2.8 | 8.4 | 10.3 |
Career | 394 | 27.3 | .493 | .392 | .873 | 2.4 | 6.7 | 9.8 |
Marcus Thornton, New Orleans Hornets: Needs a Team He Can Start On
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Marcus Thornton who? That very well may be the sentiment of this second-year, highly explosive New Orleans Hornets’ player. After an incredible rookie season where this 6 ft 4 shooting guard was given a starting role in the second half of the season and lit up score boards for 19 PPG, Thornton has been a major bust this season.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
While Thornton has struggled mightily at the beginning of the season, he has had a couple of breakout games and has shown that with consistent minutes he can be a major producer. In fact, fans want to see him on the floor, but coach Monty Williams is proving extremely stubborn towards that endeavour. Thornton needs to find a club that will start him.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 31 | 14.7 | .379 | .327 | .794 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 6.5 |
Career | 104 | 22.4 | .437 | .367 | .810 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 12.1 |
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat: Needs to Clear Cap Space
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The third wheel of Miami Thrice is having an All-Star year and has really found his game from previous early season struggles.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
It’s almost inevitable that a Chris Bosh trade will occur if not this year, then next year after the Heat fail to get out of the East in the playoffs. The fact of the matter is that the Miami Heat are an excellent team that are extremely lacking at the center and point guard spots and without bolstering up, they cannot hope to beat the Boston Celtics. To add to this point, the Bulls and Magic are all set in their rotations, and the Knicks are only a trade away. Moving Chris Bosh opens up some serious cap room that would enable the Heat to become almost unbeatable by bolstering their lineup.
Can you imagine how dominating the Heat could be if they replaced Bosh with the 6 ft 11 Andray Blatche at PF, brought in Marcus Camby at C and Steve Nash at the point to accompany the dynamic duo?
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 42 | 35.5 | .500 | .313 | .812 | 8.2 | 1.9 | 18.6 |
Career | 551 | 36.9 | .493 | .299 | .797 | 9.3 | 2.2 | 20.1 |
Antawn Jamison, Cleveland Cavaliers: Needs a Championship
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At 6 ft 9, Antawn Jamison is approaching the end of his career, one that has been relatively good but could have been much better given the PF’s talents. He is not having all that great a season on a scrub team like Cleveland, but his last seven games are a reflection of his quality play as his minutes rise. In those games he is averaging 23.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks. He has also logged an average of 37 minutes in those games.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
The Cavs are in rebuilding mode after the departure of LeBron James and Jamison’s huge salary is a hindrance to that process. He is still a very effective player who would be motivated on a contending team that could help increase his legacy. There are many contending teams who could use the well-rounded game of Jamison, including the Thunder who may be letting Jeff Green walk away.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 37 | 30.8 | .433 | .339 | .694 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 16.4 |
Career | 901 | 36.5 | .455 | .347 | .727 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 19.7 |
Stephen Jackson, Charlotte Bobcats: Needs to Bring Meaning to His Career
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The 6 ft 8 Stephen Jackson is a versatile player who is just as comfortable dishing out assists like a PG as he is scoring as a forward, and at the age of 32, he is still very effective.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
Let’s face it, the Bobcats are not going anywhere fast and Jackson is in the twilight of his career. There are contending teams, most notably, the Chicago Bulls who could use his talents. The Bulls are set in their starting rotation with the exception of the SG spot and are aggressively trying to fill this hole through a trade.
According to the Chicago Tribune (Dec. 31):
USC coach Kevin O'Neill, a longtime college head coach and NBA assistant has experience with Stephen Jackson and O.J. Mayo, both of whom are reportedly on the Bulls' radar.
"Jackson is a better shooter and probably is a better fit alongside Rose," O'Neill said. "Mayo is more of a slasher and wants the ball in his hands to take it to the basket, which takes the ball out of Rose's hands. (That's why) Jackson is probably a better complement to Rose."
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 37 | 36.8 | .407 | .341 | .818 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 18.3 |
Career | 717 | 33.4 | .418 | .339 | .799 | 4.0 | 3.3 | 16.2 |
Andray Blatche, Washington Wizards: Needs a Change of Scenery
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At 6 ft 11, Andray Blatche is a power forward who can also play center and who has a lot of upside to his game. He’s still only 24 years old and has the potential to be a star in this league.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
After an off-court altercation with Wizards’ center, JaVale McGee, the team is trying to unload Blatche as a result of his attitude problems. An attitude problem is certainly not something new in a league full of malcontents, especially a team that once had Gilbert Arenas as the face of its franchise. There are many contending teams who could use the well-rounded game of Blatche, including the Thunder who may be letting Jeff Green walk away.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 33 | 35.6 | .417 | .267 | .796 | 8.4 | 1.8 | 16.3 |
Career | 352 | 21.8 | .461 | .241 | .728 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 9.3 |
Jeff Green, Oklahoma City Thunder: Needs to Find Happiness
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The 6 ft 9 Jeff Green is a young PF with lots of upside but has been enduring an almost two-month slump he can’t seem to shake after a very strong start to the season. He has already shown his tremendously explosive scoring abilities, so his game is not yet in question.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
The failure of the Thunder and Green to negotiate a contract extension makes Green an unrestricted free agent this coming summer, leaving yet another hole to fill for the team. It’s also likely that Green’s recent poor play is a reflection of the two sides' failure to come to terms. If the Thunder are unwilling to stake their claim to this promising young talent, a new team would be in Green’s best interest.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 34 | 37.4 | .418 | .278 | .809 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 15.1 |
Career | 274 | 34.5 | .440 | .336 | .768 | 5.7 | 1.7 | 14.2 |
Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets: Needs an Up-Market Team
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What can’t be said about Chris Paul? He is arguably the best PG in the league who can run an offense with extreme efficiency, and he does it by making everybody on the court a better player. Paul is a career double-double machine who has garnered the respect of fans, teammates and opponents alike.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
Chris Paul is a marquis talent playing in the football town of New Orleans, where the Hornets come behind the Saints as well as college football and Paul is not on the same page as the likes of Drew Brees and Reggie Bush. The team struggles to fill seats and the franchise has encountered serious financial difficulties. The Hornets are now under the financial control of the NBA and the Hornet’s outlook in the Big Easy is uncertain. There has been strong speculation that the NBA may move the Hornets to Seattle, a city that would very much appreciate the team and Paul as first class sports entertainment. If Seattle is not in the cards and the team remains in the Big Easy, it would be in Paul’s own interest to seek out an up-market team.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 42 | 35.3 | .484 | .452 | .901 | 4.1 | 9.6 | 16.2 |
Career | 387 | 37.1 | .474 | .363 | .853 | 4.6 | 10.0 | 19.0 |
Lamar Odom, L.A. Lakers: Needs to Find Respect
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Lamar Odom has been a solid player in both the Lakers’ championships and is having a career year for an encore. Not only has Odom been the most consistent Laker in a turbulent season, but he is ranked fourth in the league in field goal percentage (.568) with over 150 shot attempts more than the three guys above him in the same category. Odom has been extremely versatile, first starring at the PF spot because of an injured Andrew Bynum and now coming off the bench as a huge weapon in the form of the sixth man.
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
It doesn’t matter what Odom does, he will never get the respect he deserves in Tinsel Town, where Kobe Bryant hogs most of the glory and where Pau Gasol comes a distant second. Odom already has two championships and his efforts in bringing in a third will only increase the legacy of Bryant. Odom would be far more appreciated on another title contender, and that in the end, would bolster the man’s own deserving legacy.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 43 | 34.0 | .568 | .354 | .652 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 15.4 |
Career | 790 | 35.8 | .468 | .317 | .698 | 9.0 | 4.1 | 14.7 |
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns: Needs a Championship
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Steve Nash has been one of the most exciting point guards to ever play in the NBA, and he has literally revolutionized the run-and-gun offense. Chris Paul even admits to studying Nash’s video footage to help improve his own game, that’s how good Nash has been and still is. He has also won two MVP awards and even at the ripe old age of 36, Nash is a devastating sparkplug
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
Nash has been the face of the Suns and despite having countless pieces desert him, including Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire, he has always given his team a 100 percent effort. It’s time to reward the guy by placing him on a strong contender. He would certainly help either the Miami Heat or the Orlando Magic in their quest for a championship.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 37 | 32.7 | .520 | .394 | .913 | 3.7 | 10.8 | 17.2 |
Career | 1052 | 31.3 | .490 | .430 | .904 | 3.0 | 8.4 | 14.6 |
Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets: Nuggets’ Fans Want Him Gone Already
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The media has Melo going to the most implausible places, and these unsubstantiated rumors are going on and on and on. Melo is known for playing hard only when he feels like it, and he does it against teams like the Lakers. While he has the talent to be one of the top three superstars in the league, it’s his laziness that pulls him back. Now imagine Melo with Kobe Bryant’s fire?
Why He Needs a Change of Scenery?
After making it known that he wanted out of Denver, Melo has complicated the Nuggets trading power by asserting that he will not sign an extension with any other team except for the Knicks. So why would anybody else trade for him? They won’t unless they get that extension and the Knicks are unwilling to give up their well rounded pieces. Denver Nugget fans, however, want to see Melo gone, and they certainly do not want to wait till his contract expires, but that is the most likely scenario.
Season & Career | ||||||||
G | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | RPG | APG | PPG | |
2010-11 Season | 33 | 34.8 | .433 | .269 | .805 | 8.1 | 3.0 | 23.1 |
Career | 547 | 36.4 | .458 | .306 | .801 | 6.3 | 3.1 | 24.6 |
