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NBA Trade Deadline 2019: 10 players who could use a change of scenery

By Ian Levy

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 29: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards sit on the bench during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena on December 29, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 29: Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards and John Wall #2 of the Washington Wizards sit on the bench during the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at Capital One Arena on December 29, 2018 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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Markelle Fultz
BROOKLYN, NY – NOVEMBER 4: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up prior to a game against the Brooklyn Nets on November 4, 2018 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5. Markelle Fultz, G, Philadelphia 76ers

Fultz hasn’t played a game for the 76ers since Nov. 19, as he’s worked on getting his shoulder healthy and his shooting form back to something approaching reliable. Nearly all the shine has come off the former No. 1 pick but the circumstances surrounding his health and mysterious shooting slump, and the horrible communication between him and the team, and both parties and the media, makes everything seem worse.

If he ever can fix his jumper and get back to the player he was coming out of college, he still has star potential. Even if he can’t fix his jumper, he’s still an elite ball-handler who averaged 11.9 drives per 36 minutes (about the same as Bradley Beal) and shot 51.5 percent on shots off drives (about the same as DeMar DeRozan), despite everyone knowing he wasn’t going to be pulling up for a jumper. Tack on 5.9 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.4 steals per 36 minutes from a 20-year-old point guard and there is still utility there. A fresh start might be just the thing to wipe away the pressure and let him just focus on being a basketball player again.

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