4. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks
Although Carmelo Anthony missed the post-All-Star break portion of the 2014-15 campaign due to knee surgery, he’ll return with the same mindset he’s shown throughout his career: Get buckets. But the Knicks need Anthony to change the process in which he most often scores.
Carmelo is a ball-stopper. According to NBA.com, Anthony hoisted 14.1 percent of his attempts after holding the rock for six seconds or more but connected on just 32.4 percent of those shots. If Anthony is going to wait that long, he absolutely must be more efficient.
Regardless, few NBA players can score like Carmelo when he’s on a roll. The 31-year-old will also have a couple more offensive weapons—namely Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez and Kristaps Porzingis—to help reduce pressure on himself. Anthony should have the Knicks competing for a playoff spot in 2015-16.