BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 28: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket on Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter of the game at TD Garden on December 28, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
We won’t forget the 2018 NBA trade deadline anytime soon. Deadline day began with the Cleveland Cavaliers trading Isaiah Thomas to the Lakers. By the end of the day the Cavs had sent out and received so many players that they had become a completely new team.
The impetus for the Cavs pushing the reset button: the squad was falling apart. The locker room was a disaster. Stars were calling out other stars. It was evident that some guys on the court weren’t even trying, and LeBron James was clearly fed up with the whole situation.
This downward spiral started in July, when someone leaked to Kyrie Irving that the Cavs’ front office had brainstormed potentially trading him. Kyrie was already unhappy with his role in Cleveland, so when he heard the rumor, he told the team he wanted out. The Cavs traded him to Eastern Conference rival Boston.
Seven months later, that deal looks like a huge win for the Celtics. Kyrie has emerged as an MVP candidate in his new alpha role, and the players the Cavs received in the deal—most notably Thomas and Jae Crowder—looked like shells of their former selves when they suited up for Cleveland. They are both gone now.
From a big-picture perspective, the trade wasn’t a complete disaster—the Cavs made shrewd moves at the deadline to hemorrhage their wounds. But in a vacuum, the Boston-Cleveland deal of this past offseason is one of the most lopsided trades that we’ve seen in years.
The deal looks worse as time goes on. One from this offseason that has gradually looked more even: the Bulls trading Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves. Fans were quick to overreact – seriously, that’s all you could get for Jimmy Butler? – but the young pieces Chicago received in return have looked great. The same could be said for the Paul-George-to-Oklahoma-City trade.
Some trades looks awful immediately and better as time goes on. Others look awful immediately and still look awful years down the road.
Over the years, NBA fans have seen many a terrible trade unfold. Complex presents: The 20 Worst Trades In NBA History.
Honorable mention: Tim Hardaway to Heat, Dennis Johnson to Celtics, Elvin Hayes to Bullets, Damian Lillard* to Blazers, Andrew Bogut to Warriors, Tyson Chandler to Hornets, Andrea Bargnani to Knicks, Deron Williams to Nets, Vince Carter to Raptors.
20. Ron Artest to the Pacers
Year: 2002
Teams: Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls
It’s natural that people remember Ron Artest’s time with the Pacers for the “Malice at the Palace,” but he was a valuable asset for Indiana. He became an All-Star and won a Defensive Player of the Year award. The Bulls wish they would have known that when they sent Artest, Brad Miller, Ron Mercer, and Kevin Ollie to Indiana for Jalen Rose, Travis Best, Norm Richardson, and a draft pick that turned into Lonny Baxter. Artest partnered with Jermaine O’Neal and Reggie Miller to help the Pacers to the NBA’s best record in 2004, though they fell in the Eastern Conference Finals to Deeeee-troit basketball. Jalen had a couple good years in Chicago, but it’s safe to say the Bulls would have much rather had Artest.
19. Joe Johnson to the Suns
Year: 2002
Teams: Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns
It’s easy to forget now, but the Celtics were Eastern Conference contenders a few years before they formed the Big Three. In 2002, Boston had a core of Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, and the Celtics looked like a real threat to make the Finals. They did, however, need some help in the frontcourt, so they went out and got veteran forward Rodney Rodgers as well as guard Tony Delk. The problem? To get them, the Celtics shipped off a promising young two guard named Joe Johnson (the Celtics also sent out Milt Palacio and Randy Brown). Boston fell in the Eastern Conference Finals, 4-2, to Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets, and Johnson went on to become a seven-time All-Star. Rodgers left Boston for New Jersey in the 2002 offseason. A year later, the Celtics traded Delk along with Antoine Walker to the Mavericks.
18. James Worthy to the Lakers
Year: 1980
Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers
Thirty-eight years before the Cavs and Lakers pulled off their huge 2018 trade-deadline deal, the teams executed a trade that didn’t generate nearly as much buzz. They swapped draft picks and a couple role players—Cleveland got Dan Ford and a 1980 first-round pick, while L.A. got Butch Lee and a 1982 first-rounder. When time came for the Lakers to make their 1982 pick, they scooped a promising young forward from North Carolina: James Worthy. Worthy had an incredible 12-year career that included three titles with the Lakers.
17. Vince Carter to the Nets
Year: 2004
Teams: Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets
Man, this one tore me up. I was a diehard Vince Carter fan. The Raptors’ core fell apart after the team missed the 2004 playoffs. That offseason, the GM and coaching staff were fired, and Tracy McGrady signed with the Orlando Magic. With the once-promising squad in shambles, Vinsanity’s relationship with Toronto crumbled. There was a lot of drama. He was accused of not playing hard and his numbers dropped off. Toronto was ready to be done with Carter, so the Raps sent him to the Nets for the pu-pu platter: Alonzo Mourning, Aaron Williams, Eric Williams, and two draft picks, which turned into Joey Graham and Renaldo Balkman. Toronto waived Mourning. Carter, meanwhile, played even better basketball in New Jersey than he had in his early Toronto years. He, Jason Kidd, and Richard Jefferson helped the Nets make three straight playoff runs from 2005-07.
16. Kyrie Irving to the Cavs
Year: 2011
Teams: Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers
The Clippers aimed to get younger and rebuild without Baron Davis in Feb. 2011, but they did it in the dumbest way possible. To get Davis off their hands, they included an unprotected first-round pick in the deal; in return, they received Mo Williams and Jamario Moon, both of whom were fine NBA players. The Cavs were cool with dealing Mo and Jamario because they had just lost LeBron and weren’t going to win soon anyway. The Clippers’ pick landed at No. 1, and Cleveland snagged Duke’s Kyrie Irving with that pick. Irving has made five All-Star Games and three NBA Finals in his six seasons.
15. Chris Webber to the Kings
Year: 1998
Teams: Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings
The Washington Wizards felt pretty good about their frontcourt. They had a young Ben Wallace as well as former Michigan teammates Juwan Howard and Chris Webber, so the Wizards thought they could afford to lose a guy. Foolishly, they sent Webber to the Sacramento Kings for an aging Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe. Richmond was an All-Star at the time, but he quickly fell off. Thorpe spent only one season in Washington. Webber turned into a future Hall of Famer with the Kings, who have retired his No. 4.
14. LaMarcus Aldridge to the Blazers
Year: 2006
Teams: Chicago Bulls and Portland Trailblazers
Draft night 2006 was an interesting one. The Toronto Raptors passed on Texas’ LaMarcus Aldridge to take Andrea Bargnani. Then, after the Bulls took Aldridge No. 2, they traded him to Portland for Tyrus Thomas (the No. 4 pick) and Viktor Khyrapa. Thomas had an average nine-year career, which ended in 2015, while the Russian Khyrapa was a non-factor. Aldridge, on the other hand, became exactly what Chicago needed after losing Eddy Curry: a dominant post presence. He’s made six All-Star teams and it doesn’t look like the 32-year-old is slowing down.
13. Ray Allen to the Sonics
Year: 2003
Teams: Seattle Supersonics and Milwaukee Bucks
Before the 2003 trade deadline, the Milwaukee Bucks sent promising young guard Ray Allen—along with Ronald Murray, Kevin Ollie, and a 2003 draft pick that turned into Luke Ridnour—to the Sonics for Desmond Mason and Gary Payton. Payton had played 13 great seasons for Seattle but he was heading downhill and playing on an expiring contract. Milwaukee wasn’t able to hold onto Payton, who joined Karl Malone and signed with the Los Angeles Lakers. Allen, who was 27 at the time, really hit his stride with Seattle, averaging 24.6 points per game during 4.5 seasons with the Sonics.
12. Isaiah Thomas to the Celtics
Year: 2015
Teams: Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and Detroit Pistons
The Isaiah-to-Cleveland deal narrowly missed this list, but his trade to Boston was an even bigger heist. The 2015 trade deadline was crazy, as everything happened at the last possible moment. The Suns had an embarrassment of riches in the backcourt, and for some reason they decided to get rid of both Goran Dragic and Isaiah Thomas at the deadline. The Celtics got I.T., Gigi Datome, and Jonas Jerebko (another valuable piece); the Pistons got Tayshaun Prince; and the Suns got Marcus Thornton and a pick that the Suns flipped to the Kings, who picked Skal Labissière. Thornton played only nine games for Phoenix. Isaiah, who was playing on a bargain-barrell contract, emerged as an MVP candidate in Boston.
11. Wilt Chamberlain to the Lakers
Year: 1968
Teams: Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers
Wilt “The Stilt” had already established himself as one of the greatest players in NBA history when the 76ers elected to trade him to the Lakers. Wilt was the reigning MVP, but they must have figured his glory days would soon end. L.A. sent Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark, and Darrall Imhoff to Philly. Clark made one All-Star team with Philly (1971), but it was undoubtedly a lopsided deal. Wilt spent five years in a Lakers uniform, put up monster stats, and helped the Lakers win the 1972 title. He was the Finals MVP.
10. Oscar Robertson to the Bucks
Year: 1970
Teams: Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks
The basketball world was shocked when the Royals traded Robertson, one of the league’s top players for the past decade, to Milwaukee. Some speculated that coach Bob Cousy was jealous of all the attention The Big O was receiving. Cincy got back Charlie Paulk and Flynn Robinson—guys you haven’t heard of with good reason. Oscar paired with a young Lew Alcindor as the two helped the Bucks cruise to a sweep in the 1971 NBA Finals.
9. Dirk Nowitzki to the Mavericks
Year: 1998
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks and Dallas Mavericks
Back in 1998, Dirk was just an intriguing German prospect. On draft night 1998, the Bucks scooped up Dirk, but later that night they flipped him, along with Pat Garrity (who was taken No. 19 in that draft), for Robert “Tractor” Traylor (who went No. 6). Traylor, who died in 2011, had a forgettable seven-year NBA career, averaging 4.8 points and 3.7 boards per game. Garrity had a 10-year career as a role player, and Dirk became one of the best forwards of all-time.
8. Charles Barkley to the Suns
Year: 1992
Teams: Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix Suns
Chuck was 28 years old at the time and had emerged as one of the league’s best fours with Philadelphia. This deal was a real head-scratcher. Philly received Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry, and Andrew Kang. Hornacek, now the Knicks’ coach, had just made an All-Star team, but the Sixers tried to move him to the point and the experiment failed. Perry and Kang were bench players. Barkley played four seasons for the Suns and made the All-Star Game each year. He won NBA MVP in 1993 and helped Phoenix qualify for the 1993 NBA Finals.
7. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets
Year: 2013
Teams: Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets
Where to start with this one? The effects of this abomination are still rippling through the NBA. The Celtics knew it was time to move from The Big Three on in 2013, as Ray Allen had already left for the Miami Heat and K.G. and Pierce were quickly aging. So on Draft Day 2013, Boston sent Pierce, Big Ticket, Jason Terry, and D.J. White to Brooklyn for Keith Bogans, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Kris Joseph, Gerald Wallace, a 2014 first-round pick (James Young), a 2016 first-round draft pick (Jaylen Brown), a pick swap for the 2017 season, and a 2018 first-rounder—which will likely be in the top seven, perhaps as high as No. 1. These assets have helped Danny Ainge wheel and deal and, without having to go through a prolonged rebuild, get the Celtics back among the East’s best teams.
6. James Harden to the Rockets
Year: 2012
Teams: Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets
If the NBA season were to end today, James Harden would be the MVP. He’s finished the runner-up for that award in each of the past two seasons. He is clearly one of the league’s most valuable assets. The Thunder, however, blew up a young core of Harden, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka by dealing him to the Rockets for Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, and three draft picks. Harden was the reigning Sixth Man of the Year with Oklahoma City, and he was clearly a somewhat coveted asset, but he has really found his stride as the primary option in Houston. It’s stunning to see how little OKC got in return for The Beard.
5. Scottie Pippen to the Bulls
Year: 1987
Teams: Seattle Supersonics and Chicago Bulls
The Seattle Supersonics got a promising small forward from Central Arkansas with the No. 5 pick in the 1987 draft: Scottie Pippen. They needed a big man, though, so they later sent Pippen to the Chicago Bulls for center Olden Polynice. Polynice played five years for Seattle and averaged 5.0 points and 4.5 boards. Pippen became perhaps the best second option in NBA history, partnering with Michael Jordan to lead the Bulls to six NBA titles. A seven-time All-Star, Pippen is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
4. Kobe Bryant to the Lakers
Year: 1996
Teams: Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers
This is another deal that happened shortly after the draft. In 1996, the Hornets took 18-year-old Kobe Bryant out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia. Contract negotiations with Kobe, however, did not immediately go well, so Charlotte sent Kobe to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac, who was already a seven-year NBA veteran. Divac was a reliable and useful big, but he left Charlotte in free agency two years after he arrived. And Kobe, well…he became Kobe.
3. Moses Malone to the Braves
Year: 1976
Teams: Portland Trailbazers and Buffalo Braves
After the NBA and ABA merged, the NBA held a dispersal draft. The Blazers snagged 21-year-old Malone No. 5 in that draft, but they elected to hold onto power forward Maurice Lucas, whom they believed would be better. Two months after picking him, the Blazers sent Malone to the Buffalo Braves for a first-round draft pick (Rick Robey) and some cash. The Braves quickly flipped Malone to the Rockets, where he was a dominant force for five seasons, posting averages of 26.1 points and 15.3 boards a game. Malone became a three-time MVP.
2. Bill Russell to the Celtics
Year: 1956
Teams: St. Louis Hawks and Boston Celtics
The greatest basketball champion ever did not begin his career with the Boston Celtics. Actually, it was the St. Louis Hawks who drafted him in 1956. Later that day, however, they decided to deal Russell to the Celtics for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley. Hagan and Macauley were both very good NBA players—they made a combined 12 All-Star teams—but Russell made 12 on his own. He won five MVPs and became one of the best players of all-time. Russell won a whopping 11 championships in his 13-year NBA career.
1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers
Year: 1975
Teams: Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers
As I mentioned above, Kareem emerged in the post with Milwaukee, where he played for six years. His final season with the Bucks, he put up 30 points, 14 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game. Kareem requested a trade, however, because he didn’t love the Midwest; Milwaukee elected to send him to Los Angeles. The Lakers sent back Junior Bridgeman, Dave Meyers, and Elmore Smith, none of whom became significant impact players. Kareem won five championships with the Lakers and became the NBA’s all-time scoring leader with 38,387 points. He also won a league-record six MVPs.