New Faces in New Homes: What NBA Players Have Made Most Impact

By Connor Schumock on Monday, March 3rd 2014
New Faces in New Homes: What NBA Players Have Made Most Impact

Every year, teams look to add players to help them compete. Whether it is through free agency or trades, all teams seek to add players that will help them improve. This past season was no different, as many teams participated in free agency, and a select few tried to chase the big name free agents. The other way in which teams attempted to improve their roster is through trades. While we have seen any blockbuster trades recently, there have been many that have made significant impacts. Bringing in a player is always a risk, as it is nearly impossible to know how the player will adjust to the new environment. Sometimes, teams can reap the benefits of an improved player. However, there are just as many examples of players faltering when expected to succeed.

 

Dwight Howard – Houston Rockets

Outside of Chris Paul, Howard was the premier name for free agency. Once Paul resigned with the Clippers, all attention fell on Howard. After a horrendous season with the Lakers, one marred by injuries and conflicts, Dwight turned away extra money in order to leave LA. It is very rare that you hear of a player leaving an extra-large paycheck in LA to go play elsewhere.

After missing multiple games and struggling to recover from injuries, Dwight’s season with the Lakers is one he would soon like to forget. He averaged only 17 points and 12 rebounds on the season, the worst averages in five years. He also conflicted heavily with Kobe Bryant and head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Dwight had many suitors, but he ended up signing with the Houston Rockets. The Rockets were a young team, full of budding stars, most notably James Harden. The addition of Howard immediately made the Rockets contenders in the West in many people’s eyes. Currently, the Rockets are fifth in the East with a record of 39-19. The Rockets have already nearly matched their win total from last year’s record of 45-37. The Rockets have improved greatly with the addition of Dwight Howard and Howard’s averages are up as well. He is currently averaging 19 points and 12 rebounds. While this isn’t the kind of production Howard had in Orlando, he is now surrounded by many other talented players and his attitude has certainly improved.

 

Monta Ellis – Dallas Mavericks

Throughout his career, especially these past two years with Milwaukee, Ellis has been known as a “chucker”. He earned this reputation by shooting a paltry 43 percent but still shooting the ball on average of 18 times per game. While together in Milwaukee, Ellis and Brandon Jennings formed one of the least effective back-courts in the NBA.

When the Mavericks signed Ellis this offseason, many people felt that the Mavs were simply trying to throw together some pieces in a last ditch effort to compete before Dirk Nowitzki eventually retires. Turns out that is exactly what they were doing, however; to many people’s surprise, it worked. While Ellis’ statistical production is very similar, he has been extremely efficient.

He is currently shooting 45 percent from the field, the highest mark since his third year in the league. He is also averaging two fewer shots per game than last season, but still averaging 19 points. Ellis’ transformation has been very surprising and just as impactful. The Mavs are currently seventh in the very competitive West with a record of 36-24. They also possess one of the better offenses in the league, due in large part to Ellis.

 

Paul Millsap – Atlanta Hawks

After years of consistent production in Utah, Millsap has thrived with the Hawks. The signing of Millsap was one of the underrated signings at the time, and it allowed Atlanta to efficiently make up for the loss of Josh Smith. To start the season, the Hawks appeared to be locked in for a playoff berth as they were sitting happily in the third seed. Unfortunately, Hawks center Al Horford went down with a significant injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the season. This, along with an overall improvement in the Eastern Conference teams, caused the Hawks to slide. The Hawks are currently eighth in the East but have lost nine of their last ten.

While it has been a relatively disappointing season for the Hawks, Millsap has thrived in Atlanta. He is averaging career highs in points, steals, and assists. He is also having one of his best seasons rebounding the ball. This production earned him his first ever All-Star appearance. While the Hawks are currently struggling, it’d be hard to imagine where they would be without Paul.

 

Al Jefferson – Charlotte Bobcats

Last season the Bobcats were one of the worst teams in the NBA. They had plenty of young talent but couldn’t get it together. After years of mediocrity and losing seasons, the Bobcats went into free agency and signed one of the biggest names on the market. Al Jefferson is one of the most talented offensive centers in the NBA and had years of success as a member of the Timberwolves and Jazz.

This year, Jefferson is having one of the best of his career and the best season in over four years. He is posting averages of 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. Many people felt that he was snubbed from the All-Star game, and with that production, you could certainly make a case for that.

While Jefferson’s production has been very impressive, the impact he has made on this Bobcats team is even more important. The Bobcats are currently 27-31 and are seventh in the East. If the Bobcats can manage to win two more games, they will have won more games than the past two seasons combined.

 

Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings – Detroit Pistons

On paper, the addition of Jennings and Smith to an already solid young core of Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe sounded like a great idea. In fact, many people believed the Pistons could potentially compete in the East. Oh how wrong they were.

Both Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith have been known as “chuckers”. Only once in his career has Jennings shot over 40 percent. To make matters worse he averages nearly 16 shots per game. To put that into perspective, Jennings is only taking one less shot per game than LeBron James. Smith, while extremely talented, has very poor shot selection. He is a very talented post player and gets to the rim very well for his size. He is also more than capable of taking good shots and shooting a higher percentage. However, there is something possessing him to take far too many outside shots. Smith averages over three three point attempts per game and shoots a horrendous 23 percent from behind the arc. He also has a PER of 15, the lowest of his career.

What started as a once hopeful season has turned into a disaster for Detroit. They are currently tenth in the East with a record of 23-35. While they could still make the playoffs, this team has no chemistry. There were also many reports of the Pistons trying to trade Josh Smith before the deadline. The additions of Jennings and Smith have been impactful, just in all the wrong ways.

 

Rudy Gay – Sacramento Kings

Rudy Gay is another player who has been known to never not like a shot attempt. This reputation became extremely apparent in his last three seasons, where shot only 40 percent. To begin the season, Gay was horrendous with the Raptors. He was shooting a mediocre 38 percent and was averaging nearly 19 shots per game. The Raptors were 6-12 in their first 18 games. It was at this point the Raptors decided to trade Ray. Once they shipped him off to Sacramento they never looked back as they are currently 26-14 post the Gay trade.

In Sacramento’s first 18 games they held a record of 5-13.  Since the addition of Gay they are 20-25. One must also consider that both Gay and Kings star center DeMarcus Cousins have battled injuries through this time. While the Kings have not made massive improvements, they have formed a very dynamic offensive big three of Cousins, Gay, and Isaiah Thomas. While this trade didn’t make the Kings contenders, it has brought back some competency to the organization.

The greatest transformation has been Gay improved play. Since joining the Kings Gay is averaging 20 points, seven rebounds, and shooting 50 percent, which are all career highs. Gay has also been averaging only 15 shot attempts, the lowest since his rookie year. At the end of this season Gay has a $19 million player option and it is still unclear whether he will accept it. As long as he continues to shows that he can take good shots and contribute in other facets of the game, Gay could be in for a big pay day. 

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