Year after year, teams select players at the top of the draft in hopes of turning them into franchise stars. Or at least, players who will help them reach new heights.
Even if they still have talent, some players need a change of scenery before they can really blossom. Here are some former top players who could change teams next season:
Drafted sixth overall a few seasons ago, Black has long been considered a vital piece of the Magic’s rebuild. And while the giant point guard could still be that, the emergence of other guards, notably Jalen Suggs, makes his integration into Orlando more difficult.
We’ve seen versatile point guards fail to shine before – a la Dyson Daniels – but several teams could still covet Black as a rebuilding piece.
If the Magic are looking to add shooting prowess alongside their stars, he’s likely the first name on the list for many.
Ivey had a tumultuous couple of seasons in Detroit, playing mostly out of position when star Cade Cunningham was healthy.
Drafted 5th overall in 2023, there’s no doubt the former Purdue standout is talented, but Detroit might not be the best situation for him.
Other rebuilding teams could trade pieces with the Pistons if they felt they were getting a starting-level point guard like Ivey.
A former second overall pick in 2021, Green hasn’t quite lived up to expectations so far in his career but still possesses a solid skill set that most teams would bet on.
Better yet, he finished his third season strong, scoring 19.6 points on 42 percent shooting.
Houston has a logjam of young talent, and while Green is a good fit among them, there could be better roster configurations without him on the roster. If the Rockets feel they can get an adequate return for the guard, he could be traded.
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