30 NBA players that got better after leaving their first team

30 NBA players who got better after leaving their first team: 28. Larry Hughes

Larry Hughes was a lottery pick, so it should come as no surprise that once he was given an opportunity, he succeeded. He was drafted eighth overall out of Saint Louis University by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1998 but would only play 100 games for the team over two seasons. Over those two years, he averaged 9.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

At the trade deadline of his second season, Hughes was dealt, along with Billy Owens, to the Golden State Warriors. Over the final 32 games of that season, Hughes averaged 22.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Hughes would go on to play for the Warriors for the next two seasons before moving on to the Washington Wizards. During his final season with the Wizards, he led the league in steals (2.9) and was named to the All-Defensive First Team. After a successful stint in Washington, he moved on to the Cleveland Cavaliers to pair with a young LeBron James. The duo was successful as he was an integral member of the first Cavaliers team in history to make it to the NBA Finals in 2007.

He was traded in the middle of the following season, starting his career transition into being a journeyman. The year he made the Finals with the Cavaliers was the last time he finished the season with the team he started it with as he would play for the Cavs, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic over the next three seasons.