With the NBA trade deadline coming up, there are many players who need to just forget about the first part of the season that they had or need a fresh start on a different team.
Let's take a look at 10 impact players who need a fresh start at this year's trade deadline.
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Players Who Need A New Start NBA
10. Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield was almost moved last summer, but the deal with the Los Angeles Lakers fell through. He hasn't played particularly poorly this season, and he isn't a player who has to change anything about his game, but he may really benefit from joining a new team and possibly playing a different role that allows him to do more.
He's now averaging 14.9 points per game and shooting 37.6% from three-point range, which would be his second-worst three-point percentage of his career if this trend continues.
In terms of Russell Westbrook's need for a fresh start, there isn't much to say. He hasn't worked out with the Los Angeles Lakers, and it would certainly help his career if he could simply be on a different team and be the same guys he has been his entire career.
Los Angeles fans plainly do not want him on their roster any longer, and it would be best if all parties simply parted ways. It's unclear why so many people are unhappy with how he's performed this season, given that he's been inconsistent and prone to turnovers for most of his career.
Julius Randle has clearly struggled for the New York Knicks after a second-team all-NBA season a year ago. Randle gave the Knicks one of their most memorable seasons in the last decade and a half, but he hasn't been the player they expected him to be this season. The way these Knicks fans have treated Randle is unjust because they're wanting him to be something he has never been in his career: a player who can go score 25 or more points each night and be a genuine star on a championship team.
The Knicks must either do a great job this trade deadline by bringing in a star and valuable role pieces who can accompany him, or they must consider trading him so he can be great somewhere else.
Christian Wood has stated that he enjoys his time in Houston, but no young star with this much talent can enjoy losing as often as the Rockets do. As much as he claims to like his time in Houston, there's a chance he'll want to pursue another path so he can contend for an NBA championship, as he's clearly capable of assisting a team in achieving that goal.
He has been outstanding for the Rockets this season and will continue to do so if he is moved to a different team.
6. Marcus Smart
There have been rumors that Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics might be dealt before the trade deadline this year. Although it may not be the best move for the Celtics because he is one of those guys who goes out and does the dirty work while playing high-level defense, he may benefit in his own career if he does go elsewhere and gets the chance to actually have the ball and do things on the offensive side.
5. Bradley Beal
Despite the fact that Bradley Beal is still averaging 23.6 points per game this season, it is the lowest he has averaged in the prior three seasons. He is clearly dissatisfied with his current situation in Washington, and he is one of those guys who would really benefit from a change of scenery. Perhaps if he were ever on a team like the Philadelphia 76ers for a trade with Ben Simmons, it would benefit both parties and he would be able to compete for an NBA championship title immediately, which is something he has expressed an interest in.
4. Myles Turner
Myles Turner has made it obvious since the season began that he does not want to remain in Indiana any longer than he already has. He's one of those players that had a down year while playing for the Pacers before they opted to bench him before the deadline. He's still a great player in his own right, but he's not playing the sort of basketball he could be if he were in a better circumstance.
3. Jerami Grant
Jerami Grant is another one of the league's potential stars who is involved in a horrible scenario in Detroit. The Detroit Pistons are one of the worst teams in the NBA, and you might argue that they are the worst in the league. Grant has a possibility to be dealt with a championship contender before the deadline, and if he is, we might see Grant play some of the best basketball of his career.
Domantas Sabonis has continued to play excellent basketball this season, but there's a high possibility he'll find even more success elsewhere if he leaves the Pacers. This season, he's still averaging 19.1 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists per game, but that's only scratching the surface of what he might accomplish if he was in a better position.
1. Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons has yet to play a basketball game this season because he refuses to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. He's definitely the biggest NBA player who needs a fresh start somewhere else. He's not going to do the things that many people expected him to do when he came out of college and into this league, but he's still one of the best defenders in the league, and there's certainly a spot for him somewhere where he can excel, which is exactly what he'll hope for at the deadline this year.