The National Basketball Association (NBA) has seen its fair share of big trades over the years. Some of these trades have been hailed as genius moves by teams looking to bolster their rosters, while others have been derided as disasters. Regardless, each trade has had a lasting impact on the league and on the history of basketball itself. This article will look at some of the worst NBA trades in history, exploring why they were so bad and what their consequences were for the teams involved.
From blockbuster deals gone wrong to lopsided exchanges that set franchises back, this article will examine some of the most ill-advised trades ever made in the NBA. It will also discuss how these transactions impacted the future success of both teams involved, as well as how they affected the balance of power between conferences and divisions throughout professional basketball’s history.
Whether it be due to long-term salary cap issues or simply poor management decisions, some trades are too bad to forget. From superstars traded away for pennies on the dollar to draft picks swapped for one another without much thought, this article will explore some of the worst NBA trades of all time.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the worst NBA trades in history and examine just what went wrong with each one.
The Lakers Steal Kobe Bryant From The Hornets
The Kobe trade is one of the worst in NBA history. It was a lopsided move that set back the Hornets for years, and gave the Lakers one of their all-time greats. It’s easy to look back now and see how bad it was for Charlotte, but at the time, it made sense for both teams. The Hornets were trying to clear up cap space, while the Lakers were looking for an upgrade at guard and Kobe seemed like a risky proposition. In hindsight though, this deal ended up being a total disaster for the Hornets.
Milwaukee Bucks Deal Dirk Nowitzki to The Dallas Mavericks
It was a bad trade from the start, but the Bucks compounded their mistake by trading Nowitzki to a Western Conference team. The Mavericks went on to be perennial playoff contenders and even won an NBA championship in 2011 with Nowitzki as their leader. Meanwhile, the Bucks were stuck in mediocrity for years afterward.
The Milwaukee-Dallas trade could go down as one of the worst in history. In exchange for a future Hall of Famer and reliable role player, the Bucks received a bust who lasted just seven years in the league. They also sent both players to a Western Conference rival, setting up an almost decade-long rivalry between Dallas and Milwaukee.
The Trade of Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers
The 76ers’ trade of Wilt Chamberlain to the Lakers in 1968 was one of the worst trades ever. It ended Chamberlain’s dream of retiring with L.A., and Philly received a measly return package: Archie Clark, Darrall Imhoff, and Jerry Chambers. The Sixers didn’t get much out of these players; Clark remained an All-Star through 1971, but that was about it. Meanwhile, Chamberlain went on to average 17.7 points and 19.2 rebounds per game for the Lakers and won a championship with them in 1972.
Utah Jazz Trade Magic Johnson to The Lakers
In 1978, the Utah Jazz made a huge mistake that would haunt them for years. They sent Sam Worthen, Freemen Williams and Kenny Carr to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Gail Goodrich, Jack Givens and Essie Givens, plus their first-round pick in the 1979 draft. Little did they know that this trade would come back to bite them—the Jazz finished the season in last place, giving the Lakers the first overall selection in the 1979 Draft.
And with that pick, they landed Magic Johnson, who’ll go down as one of the greatest point guards ever. The Lakers won a championship with Magic in his first year! So while Utah didn’t directly give up Magic, if it weren’t for this lopsided trade, they might have had him on their team.
Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns
In 1992, the Philadelphia 76ers made a huge mistake when they traded Charles Barkley, then 28 and one of the best players in the league, to Phoenix for Tim Perry, Andrew Kang and Jeff Hornacek. While Hornacek was an All-Star at the time, his career went downhill while Kang and Perry rode the pine most of the time.
On the other hand, Barkley flourished in Phoenix; he made four All-Star appearances and even won MVP honors in 1993, leading the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals. It’s true that Barkley wasn’t happy in Philly and wanted out. But still, trading him away for such a low return was a real head-scratcher – especially considering what he would go on to do for Phoenix.
The Trade of Paul Gasol From Memphis Grizzlies to Los Angeles Lakers
He traded away one of the best players in the league for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittendon and two first-round picks. What’s worse? The Grizzlies didn’t even use those picks. To this day, it is widely considered one of the worst trades in NBA history. It completely changed the balance of power between conferences and divisions.
The Lakers had a great run with Gasol, but the Grizzlies suffered from poor management decisions. While Gasol was able to make three consecutive Finals appearances with LA, Memphis wallowed near the bottom of their conference standings due to lack of top-tier talent.
To sum it up in a nutshell, trading away Pau Gasol for spare parts was an absolute disaster for Memphis. It set them back significantly and sent shockwaves throughout professional basketball’s history.
Moses Malone Traded From The Trail Blazers to the Rockets
The ABA and NBA had just merged and as a result, the NBA held what was called a dispersal draft. With the fifth overall draft pick, the Trail Blazers selected Moses Malone. However, the Blazers decided to hold onto Maurice Lucas, believing that he would be a better player than Malone.
After just a couple of months, the Blazers parted ways with Malone and dealt him to the Buffalo Braves for a first-round pick and some pocket money. The Braves eventually dealt Malone to the Rockets. Malone is currently ninth on the NBA all-time scoring list and was a three-time MVP. Portland did end up winning the title the year after trading Malone but couldn’t find much success afterward. Malone, on the other hand, dominated for most of his 19-year career.
Conclusion
The worst NBA trades in history have had lasting impacts on the league and its teams. From blockbuster deals gone wrong to lopsided exchanges that set franchises back, these trades often resulted from poor management decisions or long-term salary cap issues.
While some of these trades may have resulted in a team’s brief success, they ultimately had huge implications for their future and the balance of power between conferences and divisions throughout professional basketball’s history. The consequences of such trades remind us that one bad decision can cost an entire franchise dearly, no matter how small the trade may seem at the time.
