Sometimes all a player needs in order to thrive is to have a fresh start elsewhere, as his talent isn’t really being exploited where he is right now, or he has already given all he could to that team, or the toxic environment just won’t let them fulfill their true potential.
We’ve seen a lot of times that payers were looking like scrubs and made the most of the opportunity when they were finally dealt away from bad teams and had the chance to actually succeed, with Victor Oladipo being the most recent example of that trend.
Over the course of this campaign, we’ve seen some players we believe that have a lot to offer on the hardwood, but are never going to be able to produce where they are right now, that’s why today; we’re going to let you know about the top 10 players that need a fresh start.
10. Hassan Whiteside
Hassan Whiteside thinks he’s way better than he actually is, and he’s always pursued personal glory rather than actually trying to help his team, something that has forced Erik Spoelstra’s hand to bench him through key stretches, causing a lot of discomfort in the Center’s environment.
Whiteside is going to be on the trade block over the summer after being completely humiliated and owned by Joel Embiid in the playoffs, and even though he’s never going to be as good as he said he is, he’s still a solid rim protector that could thrive when focused on the team and not on him.
9. Jahlil Okafor
Jahlil Okafor was one of the most overhyped prospects the league has seen in ages, and even though he’s never going to be a good defender and was looking like a major bust because of the lack of playing time and rhythm, he has the kind of skill set to be a Brook Lopez kind of big man.
Modern NBA may not have much room for back-to-the-basket big men anymore, but he’s extremely gifted on the offensive end of the hardwood and has a very sky ceiling as a low risk / high reward kind of pickup for this upcoming summer.
8. Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol is heading towards the end of his prime and he sure as hell knows it, letting everybody know that he wanted no part on any team’s rebuilding process and that wasn’t happy at all with the direction the Grizzlies chose to go, blatantly tanking throughout the entire regular season.
Gasol is a former Defensive Player of the Year and is an extremely crafty offensive player as well, being able to connect from beyond the arc as well as taking it all the way to the rim, and he needs to be dealt to a contending team right now while he still has some value.
7. Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard has earned a lot of detractors over this season, especially among his very own teammates; as most people believe he just decided to bail on the Spurs organization and wanted to sit throughout the whole season in order to force a move out of one of the best franchises in all competitive sports.
Kawhi doesn’t seem happy at San Antonio anymore and he’s going to have a lot of suitors interested in his services during the summer for sure, and being the kind of two-way franchise player he is, he needs to go to a place where he can enjoy basketball again and prove that he’s still got the desire to play.
6. Tristan Thompson
Tristan Thompson earned a lot of money mostly because of his close relationship with LeBron James instead of his actual impact on the hardwood, as he’s even lost his feel for grabbing offensive rebounds, the lone aspect of the game where he was a major factor.
Thompson has been involved in a lot of controversies lately and he may need a change of environment in order to focus in his basketball career more than his love life and personal affairs, so let’s hope the Cavs find a way to move it ASAP.
5. Derrick Rose
Derrick Rose is on a mission to prove that he can still be at least a 2nd string point guard during the postseason, playing his heart out for the Minnesota Timberwolves after being dumped by the Cleveland Cavaliers and then waived by the Jazz; but he’s going to find it really tough to get a lucrative deal considering his history with injuries.
Rose is never going back to his former self and has lost most of his explosiveness, but he’s still a terrific playmaker and a guy everybody wants on his team during clutch time, and hopefully, this one won’t be his last season in the NBA.
4. Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas is yet another guy that’s so high on himself and doesn’t work on his flaws, and besides being perhaps the major defensive liability in the league, he’s also lost most of his craftiness to go around defenders, find space and hit from everywhere on the hardwood as he did in Boston.
Still, he’s one of the most talented scorers in the league over the past couple of seasons, as well as proving he’s extremely clutch. Nonetheless, he’s going to have to learn how to embrace a substitute role again, as he’s unlikely to become a starter after this mediocre season.
3. Nerlens Noel
Nerlens Noel’s Dallas Mavericks tenure was a complete disaster, and he’s looking like a major bust after being one of the most hyped players of his generation due to his once-in-a-lifetime rim protection, shot blocking and rebounding skills; also failing to prove his worth at Philly due to his constant injuries.
Besides always being hurt, he’s had made some really bad decisions over the last few months, getting into an altercation with coach Carlisle for stealing a hot dog during a game’s halftime and now being handed a suspension due to marihuana use.
2. Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon finally showed the glimpses of the greatness most scouts saw in him earlier in his career, improving in every single aspect of his game, making threes, being more active and aggressive on defense and even improving his ball handling and playmaking skills.
Nevertheless, the Orlando Magic is one of the most mediocre franchises in all of the NBA and they were even reportedly trying to silently move him prior to this year’s trade deadline. With him set to become an unrestricted free agent, he just needs a positive environment and a team with an actual system to prove he’s bound for stardom.
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1. Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker is not an elite point guard, but he’s proven that he can be a volume scorer and almost single-handedly lead a team, as he’s done ever since entering the league with the sluggish Charlotte Hornets, but struggling to find playoff success and any kind of consistency whatsoever.
Still, he could be a major boost over some teams desperately craving a starting point guard, and with the Hornets likely to kick-start yet another rebuilding process, he’s a prime trade candidate and could might as well explode and show all of his tools on a much better team.
