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20 NBA Players Who Need A Change Of Scenery In 2015

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20 NBA Players Who Need A Change Of Scenery In 2015

Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks — With 2015 just underway, it is time for many people to turn over a new leaf. For several NBA players, this is just the case. Whether it is due to a lack of playing time or just bad chemistry with the rest of their team, many players in the NBA need to start anew. Here are 20 NBA players who need a change of scenery in 2015.

With 2015 just underway, it is time for many people to turn over a new leaf. For several NBA players, this is just the case. Whether it is due to a lack of playing time or just bad chemistry with the rest of their team, many players in the NBA need to start anew. Here are 20 NBA players who need a change of scenery in 2015.

20. Dorell Wright - Portland Trail Blazers

20. Dorell Wright - Portland Trail Blazers

Entering 2015 the Portland Trail Blazers find themselves second in the NBA’s Western Conference. With guys like Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum occupying most of the minutes on the perimeter for Portland, forward Dorell Wright has managed to only appear in 16 games this season. Shooting a respectable 41-percent from behind the three-point line, a change of scenery to possibly another playoff team could really do wonders for this 11-year vet.

19. Brandon Bass - Boston Celtics

19. Brandon Bass - Boston Celtics

With Rajon Rondo now in Dallas, it finally appears as though the Boston Celtics are committed to a full-fledged youth movement. For 29-year-old Brandon Bass, this is not great news. With the Celtics committed to younger big men such as Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger, Bass seems to have no future in Boston after his contract is up at the end of the season. A new team could help to extend Bass’ already respectable NBA career.

18. Jeff Green - Boston Celtics

18. Jeff Green - Boston Celtics

Just like Brandon Bass, 28-year-old Jeff Green’s future in Boston seems to be up in the air. With Boston possessing a number of first-round picks in the next few years, Green may not be in the team’s long term plans. Averaging a team-leading 18 points per game, Green could be useful to teams looking to make a run in the 2015 NBA Playoffs.

17. Luis Scola - Indiana Pacers

17. Luis Scola - Indiana Pacers

Despite a relatively successful 8-year NBA career, Luis Scola finds himself averaging just 21 minutes per game for the Indiana Pacers. Losing minutes to power forwards David West and Lavoy Allen has led Scola to posting averages less than what he is used to. With some good miles still left in the tank, Scola could carve out a niche for himself on another team that struggles to rebound the ball.

16. Kevin Martin - Minnesota Timberwolves

16. Kevin Martin - Minnesota Timberwolves

After missing a significant amount of time this season due to a wrist injury, Kevin Martin finds himself almost ready to return. The only problem is, minutes may be hard to come by once he is back. During his absence, Shabazz Muhammad has impressed many. With Minnesota at the bottom of the standings, the team could elect to continue to give Muhammad a heavy dose of minutes to prepare him for the future, leaving Martin to watch from the bench.

15. John Henson - Milwaukee Bucks

15. John Henson - Milwaukee Bucks

During this past offseason, John Henson’s name was seen as a valuable trade chip for the Bucks. But despite speculation, Milwaukee never dealt Henson, opting instead to keep him on their roster. However, Henson has not seen much playing time this season, stunting his growth as a player. With freakish athleticism, Henson possesses the raw abilities to be a solid contributor in the NBA -- something he will likely have to achieve elsewhere.

14. Eric Gordon - New Orleans Pelicans

14. Eric Gordon - New Orleans Pelicans

From day one Eric Gordon’s tenure in New Orleans has been less than stellar. After being acquired from the Clippers in the Chris Paul trade, Gordon’s career was expected to soar to new levels. During his brief time with the Pelicans, Gordon has struggled with both his play and with injuries. With Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans monopolizing the ball, Gordon will need to go somewhere else if he hopes to resurrect his career.

13. Jeremy Lin - Los Angeles Lakers

13. Jeremy Lin - Los Angeles Lakers

As a way to obtain another draft pick, the Lakers acquired Jeremy Lin and his nearly -million salary from the Rockets this past offseason. Despite beginning the year as the starting point guard, Lin has recently been demoted by head coach Byron Scott. Whether it is during the season or after when he becomes a free agent, Lin needs a change of scenery in 2015 if he hopes to catch any lasting remnants of the now fabled “Linsanity.”

12. Andrei Kirilenko - Philadelphia 76ers

12. Andrei Kirilenko - Philadelphia 76ers

Early in December, Andrei Kirilenko found himself traded to the rebuilding Philadelphia 76ers. Despite being dealt almost a whole month ago, Kirilenko has yet to report to his new team. With no burning desire to play for a team that sits at the bottom of the NBA standings, Kirilenko needs a change in scenery if he hopes to play another minute of basketball in 2015.

11. J.R. Smith - New York Knicks

11. J.R. Smith - New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have been nothing but a disappointment so far this season. With the NBA Playoffs almost completely out of the picture, many members of the franchise need a new start elsewhere. J.R. Smith’s talents are doing no good sitting in New York. With many teams looking for a scoring punch off of the bench, Smith needs to find himself in a new uniform sometime soon.

10. Amar'e Stoudemire - New York Knicks

10. Amar'e Stoudemire - New York Knicks

Just like with J.R. Smith, Amar’e Stoudemire is just wasting away in New York. With the Knicks likely to start rebuilding next offseason, it does Stoudemire no good to continue to play out the rest of the year with the Knicks. With only a few years left in his career, a change of scenery could help Stoudemire experience one final hurrah in the NBA Playoffs.

9. Goran Dragic - Phoenix Suns

9. Goran Dragic - Phoenix Suns

Having three point guards in the same rotation has not worked out for the Phoenix Suns. Despite being arguably the most talented of the trio of point guards, it appears unlikely that Goran Dragic has any long term future as a member of the Suns organization. A new team could help propel Dragic to play at an All-Star level, much like he did last season.

8. Kenneth Faried - Denver Nuggets

8. Kenneth Faried - Denver Nuggets

In 2014, Kenneth Faried had one heck of a summer playing for Team USA over at the FIBA World Cup. Many expected Faried to ride that wave of momentum right into the start of the new NBA season. But as the 2014-15 season has progressed the Denver Nuggets and Faired have found themselves struggling. With the potential to become a star in this league, Faried needs a new home if he hopes to look like the player we all saw this past summer in Spain.

7. Mario Chalmers - Miami Heat

7. Mario Chalmers - Miami Heat

Ever since the Miami Heat became one of the NBA’s premier teams, Mario Chalmers has always seemed to be on the receiving end of a countless amount of criticism. In the wake of LeBron James leaving, there appeared to be room for Chalmers to grow during this season. But so far this has not been the case. With plenty of playoff experience, a change of scenery could help Chalmers get his career back on track.

6. Deron Williams - Brooklyn Nets

6. Deron Williams - Brooklyn Nets

After being the centerpiece for the Nets move to Brooklyn, Deron Williams’ career has gone completely downhill. Recently, Williams has even lost his job as the team’s starting point guard. Despite nagging injuries always seeming to play a role in Williams’ career, a fresh start in a new city could help Williams possibly relive his glory days.

5. Brook Lopez - Brooklyn Nets

5. Brook Lopez - Brooklyn Nets

Just like his teammate Deron Williams, Brook Lopez has recently seen himself coming off of the bench for head coach Lionel Hollins and the Brooklyn Nets. After being held onto during many previous trade situations, it now seems time for the Nets to finally part ways with Lopez. A new start with a new team would help Lopez play to the potential many have seen in him since the beginning of his NBA career.

4. Taj Gibson - Chicago Bulls

4. Taj Gibson - Chicago Bulls

When Carlos Boozer was finally amnestied by the Chicago Bulls this past offseason, it appeared as though Taj Gibson would finally get his chance to become a starter for the Bulls and a star in the NBA. But shortly after Gibson seemed poised for an increased role, Chicago brought in All-Star power forward Pau Gasol. With Gasol in the mix, Gibson needs to go somewhere else if he ever hopes to become a star in the league.

3. Dion Waiters - Cleveland Cavaliers

3. Dion Waiters - Cleveland Cavaliers

Last season began the end of Dion Waiters’ time in Cleveland. After an abysmal season filled with rumors about fights with Kyrie Irving, things got even worse for Waiters when the Cavaliers brought in LeBron James and Kevin Love. Now coming off of the bench, Waiters doesn't really seem to fit in anywhere with the Cavaliers. A change of scenery could allow for Waiters to play as he is used to -- with the ball constantly in his hands.

2. Lance Stephenson - Charlotte Hornets

2. Lance Stephenson - Charlotte Hornets

After a breakout year, Lance Stephenson was signed by the Charlotte Hornets this past offseason. Seen as a guy who could elevate the franchise to the top of the Eastern Conference, Stephenson was seen as a great addition. But only a few months into the season and this is not the case. Stephenson is almost guaranteed to play for a new team at some point in 2015, which will be nothing but a positive for both Stephenson and the Hornets.

1. Carmelo Anthony - New York Knicks

1. Carmelo Anthony - New York Knicks

Heading into this season Carmelo Anthony's status with the New York Knicks seemed to be in question. But after a few free agent visits to other teams, Anthony chose to take the money and return to the team that traded for him just a few years prior. With the Knicks a hot mess, Anthony’s time in New York needs to finally come to an end. A new team would only help to elevate Anthony back into the conversation as one of the league’s top players.

Greg Sacidor is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter

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