Who Needs a Change of Scenery?

When it comes time for teams to address their roster concerns in the offseason, one of the first things to consider is whether any players need a change of scenery. Maybe a free agent signing or midseason trade acquisition didn’t pan out. Perhaps an older veteran or two is not in the team’s plan for the future. Whatever the reason is, teams usually do what they can to accommodate those players.

Here’s a look at some of the biggest names in the Eastern Conference that should be looking to move on from their current teams.

Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks

Perhaps the biggest name in desperate need of a new home is Carmelo Anthony. There was chatter at the trade deadline about moving Anthony, but the Knicks decided to hold on to him and possibly revisit trade scenarios in the summer. Anthony has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he must approve any potential trade. But after six and a half seasons, it is time for the Knicks and Anthony to part ways. Anthony can use a player option to become a free agent at the end of next season, but both the Knicks and Anthony should make finding him a new team a priority this summer.

With Kristaps Porzingis in place and another top lottery pick coming the Knicks’ way, Anthony just doesn’t fit in the team’s rebuilding plans. His season averages of 22.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists are right around his career averages, so he still has All-Star level basketball left in him. He shouldn’t waste what high-level years he has left on a team that is moving into the rebuilding phase. He can be the missing piece that a team needs to put them over the top and become a real contender for a title.

Derrick Rose, New York Knicks

Also needing a new destination is Anthony’s teammate, Derrick Rose. Rose will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, so he’ll have a bit of an easier time figuring out where he’ll play next. The Knicks had aspirations of making it back to the playoffs and making some noise when they traded for Rose and signed Joakim Noah. For many reasons, it just didn’t work out and Rose should seriously consider leaving the Knicks.

Rose has actually stayed healthy for the most part this season. His averages of 18 points per game, 3.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists are not too far off his career averages. His 47.1 percent shooting from the field is the third-highest for his career. He can still be a serviceable player for a playoff team.

His starting days, however, might be nearing an end and should he go to a team that is looking to make a deep playoff run, he may need to reinvent himself as a sixth man type of scorer off the bench. At any rate, he also has enough left in the tank to be a difference-maker for teams in need of some added scoring punch. Rose is only 28 years old and should have a few more productive seasons left should he be able to remain healthy.

Paul George, Indiana Pacers

Another big name that could change teams this summer is Paul George. George, like Anthony, has the option to terminate his contract at the end of next season. George’s name was also mentioned at the trade deadline, but nothing materialized. The Pacers have been a big disappointment this season. Following an offseason that saw them add Al Jefferson, Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young, they sit in eighth place in the East and are in danger of missing the playoffs altogether.

Statistically, George is having one of the best seasons of his career. His 22.8 points per game are the second-highest for his career as is his 45.2 percent shooting from the field. He remains one of the best two-way players in the league and has shown no lasting effects from the injury that forced him to miss most of the 2014-15 season. At 26 years old, he is in the prime of his career.

If the Pacers keep him heading into next season, and they show no noticeable improvement, it is likely he will exercise his option. Barring any major moves that catapult Indiana near the top of the East, it would be wise for both sides to push for finding George a new home in the summer.

Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls

It seems there is no shortage of talented perimeter players who need new homes in the East, and Jimmy Butler is next on the list. Butler’s name was also tossed around at the trade deadline but like with Anthony and George, nothing happened. The Bulls are stuck in no man’s land right now. They started the season looking to make a run in the playoffs, but have since looked more like a team ready to hit the reset button. That leaves Butler in an interesting situation. He could either be part of a potentially long rebuild while in the prime of his career, or the Bulls could elect to move him this summer and allow him to go to a team with postseason aspirations.

Butler is averaging career highs across the board in points (23.5), rebounds (6.2) and assists (5.5). Like George, he is in the prime of his career and among the best in the league when it comes to two-way players. His current contract runs through the 2018-19 season, at which point he can use his player option to become a free agent.

As it stands, the Bulls are still alive in the East’s playoff race and if they end up making the playoffs, it will no doubt be because of Butler’s brilliance. But even if they do get there as a low seed, do they have the chance to actually pull off an upset? That’s what Butler has to ask himself, and ultimately this summer the Bulls should make moving Butler a priority. He, like George and Anthony, can also put a team over the top.

Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls

Butler isn’t the only Bull who should change teams in the offseason. His teammate Dwyane Wade needs to consider it as well. The duo of Wade and Butler, along with the rest of talent the Bulls had looked good on paper, but the chemistry just hasn’t been there this season, which is why they are on the verge of missing the playoffs. With a trade deadline move that saw Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott shipped off to Oklahoma City, it should be obvious that the Bulls will be heading down the rebuild path sooner rather than later.

While Wade has shown flashes of the player he once was this season, his 18.3 points per game are his lowest since his rookie year. His 30.2 minutes per game, 3.9 assists and 43.4 percent shooting from the field are all career lows. He’s missed the last six games due to an elbow injury, and eight of the last 12 overall. It was the first time in 12 years that Wade was not named to the All-Star team.

That’s not to say that Wade doesn’t have anything left to offer a team. He’s a three-time champion and veteran leader. As he enters the twilight of his career, he can still be an important piece to a team that wants experience and leadership, as well as some scoring punch as they look to make a playoff run. He can opt out and become a free agent in the summer, and he should definitely do so and see what comes next.

Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks

Another potential free agent that should seriously consider going elsewhere is Paul Millsap. Millsap’s name also came up around the trade deadline but the Hawks decided to hang on to him. Atlanta is also in the dreaded no man’s land. A middle of the pack team that is not good enough to do anything in the playoffs, but not bad enough to take advantage of a top lottery pick.

Millsap, however, has been having one of the better seasons of his career. His 18.1 points per game and 3.8 assists per game are career highs. He was named to the All-Star team for the fourth consecutive year. He’s ready to win now as he’s in the last years of his prime. It’s just not clear whether he can do that in Atlanta.

Millsap has a player option this summer, which he should definitely exercise to test the free agent waters. At 32 years old, this is probably his last shot at securing a big, long term contract. And it’s obvious that he still has quite a bit of game left, his recent injury notwithstanding. He may end up re-signing in Atlanta, where he would continue to be the team’s best player and focal point of the offense. He owes it to himself though to test the market and see if there is a better opportunity for him than Atlanta can offer.

There are a couple of other somewhat high profile names that could potentially switch teams. However, these high-profile players have plenty of reason to consider making a move. Considering how much noise there was surrounding each of these players around the trade deadline, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some serious changes during the upcoming offseason.