Why not just have a photo of every player in the league and who ever is the highest rated on each team automatically shows up on the team select screen. Doesn't seem all that difficult to do to me.
don't forget we have a supposedly "robust" Create-A-Player feature at our disposal if we wish. It was a pain being unable to incorporate missing players to classic teams the previous iteration. Although inauthentic, it's better than nothing.
To all of those concerned about trades and how it would affect player models. They could do it like MLB the Show, and just have it to go 2K's player model. But that is just a thought on my part.
Ah. If the player featured on the select screen has been traded and does not have a photo with his current team, show the 2K models for both teams. Tada.