40+ of the Biggest Trades in NBA History, Ranked

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While some NBA teams rely on their scouts’ abilities as they scoop up the best rising stars at the annual draft, others prefer tapping into their big budgets to lure well-established players to their teams with lucrative contract offers that seem too good to pass up. Let’s look at some of the biggest trades in NBA history that shaped the fates of players and teams alike.

Established in 2004, the Charlotte Bobcats looked to get their life in the NBA off to the right start by making a move for Okafor — then the number two overall draft pick who had been selected by the Los Angeles Clippers.

While Charlotte may have ended the season in 15th place in the Eastern Conference rankings, Okafor proved to be one of the team’s few positive talking points. Averaging 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks, Okafor won 2004’s NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Established in 2002 following the Charlotte Hornets’ relocation, New Orleans has not been known for big-money moves. Still, this doesn’t mean that they haven’t acquired their fair share of talent over the years, starting with Tyson Chandler.

By sending P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith to the Bulls, the Hornets got a talented young center in return. In his first two seasons in New Orleans, Chandler led the league in offensive rebounds. More importantly, he led the Hornets to the Southwest Division title, the new franchise’s first trophy.

Sometimes, it’s better to admit your mistakes and make a change than allow disaster to unfold to keep your pride intact. The Clippers did just that when they traded second-overall draft pick, Danny Ferry, for five-season Cavs veteran Ron Harper.

Harper proved to be the guard the Clippers desperately needed, as he got the constantly-struggling Clippers to qualify for the playoffs after 15 years of trying. To top it all off, he got them a second playoff berth a year later, a seemingly-impossible feat.

As a team in financial disarray, the Charlotte Hornets’ need to offload players was understandable. Still, the fact that the Warriors acquired the two-time NBA All-Star Davis without even conceding a draft pick seemed like a deal of a lifetime. This preconception would soon be proven correct.

The face of the Warriors’ “We Believe” era, Davis helped to reenergize a defeated fanbase and instill hope in the franchise once again. It was this belief that enabled the Warriors to build towards four future NBA Titles.

After missing the playoffs for a second straight season, the Philadelphia 76ers decided that the time had come to part ways with an aging Allen Iverson. The Nuggets, on the other hand, were enthusiastic about pairing Iverson with star player Carmelo Anthony to see what the duo could deliver.

Ultimately, the Nuggets’ leap of faith paid off, as Iverson and Anthony helped the team to clinch the sixth spot in the Western Conference rankings, thereby granting Denver their first-ever spot in the playoffs.

With three and a half years of experience in the NBA, Alex English had established himself as a promising up-and-comer. Still, not everyone was sure if the Nuggets’ decision to trade George McGinnis for the youngster would pay off.

Soon enough, English would prove his doubters wrong. Over his decade with the Nuggets, English would become the NBA’s top scorer on two occasions while helping the team to two Division titles, thereby becoming the face of the franchise and helping the Nuggets build toward the future.

The third pick in the 2001 draft, Gasol became an immediate target of the Grizzlies. This fairly new team was desperate to make an impact on the league, choosing to trade Shareef Abdur-Rahim to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for his drafting rights.

Gasol made an instant impact in Memphis, becoming the first foreign player to win the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. Arguably even more important was his contribution to the team in successive seasons, as he helped the Grizzlies to their first-ever playoff berth in 2003.

For the Nets, 2001 marked a period of rebirth. For over two years, they had little success with Stephon Marbury as their starting point guard as they kept falling short of a playoff berth. Together with Johnny Newman and Soumaila Samake, Marbury was traded to the Suns in for Jason Kidd and Chris Dudley.

Kidd instantly gelled with his new team, becoming the face of the franchise over the next six years. Kidd most notably took the Nets to two NBA Finals; the greatest achievement in franchise history.

When Robertson was traded by the Cincinnatti Royals to the Bucks, the basketball world at large was stunned, with many wondering what prompted Royals coach Bob Cousy to part way with their biggest star. “I think he was wrong and I will never forget it,” Robertson said. Ultimately, he was right.

Paired with second-year Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Robertson lifted the Bucks to their first-ever NBA Championship in 1971. What’s more, Robertson added three more Division titles to the Bucks’ trophy cabinet along with a Conference Championship.

For the Cavaliers, 2014 appeared to be a promising year of growth following the return of LeBron James. Once Love arrived from the Minnesota Timberwolves, he, James, and Kyrie Irving banded together to make up the Cavs’ “Big Three.”

While Cleveland’s first season with the “Big Three” launched them to a first playoff spot in five seasons, it was in 2015 that the franchise would truly reach its potential. Cleveland finished the regular season in first place before winning its first-ever NBA Championship.

Following a fallout over Leonard’s injury status, the San Antonio Spurs agreed to part ways with Leonard as he made his way to the rising Raptors franchise. With Leonard at the helm, the Raptors rose to their first-ever NBA Championship.

Although Leonard only played one season in Toronto before his trade to the Clippers, Toronto has managed to build on Leonard’s legacy, winning another Division title and grabbing two playoff berths in three seasons since his departure. The Spurs, on the other hand, are undergoing a full rebuild.

When the Utah Jazz drafted Wilkins out of Georgia, it appears as if they had no idea about the level of talent that they had acquired seeing as they then traded him to the Hawks before the start of the season.

Upon arriving in Atlanta, Wilkins seemed to be in his natural element, becoming a fan favorite thanks to his tricks and flicks on the court. More importantly, he led the struggling Hawks to consistent playoff berths and two Division titles, becoming Atlanta’s greatest-ever player in the process.

Playing for the Houston Rockets not only caused Hayes great stress but also disrupted his sleeping patterns. “I was expected to make a winner out of a team which didn’t have the ability,” Hayes hopelessly recalled. Upon arriving in Washington, Hayes left all his anxiety behind.

Combining with the likes of Wes Unseld, Hayes took the Bullets to three NBA Finals. In 1978, Unseld and the Bullets finally lifted the NBA Championship; a moment that would go on to be the greatest in franchise history.

Having lost the 1977-78 NBA Finals, the SuperSonics were desperate to get their hands on a gamechanger that could put them over the top in 1979. When the Knicks obtained SuperSonics free agent Marvin Webster, the NBA compensated them with the Knicks’ 1979 first-round pick along with Lonnie Shelton.

Although he may not have been a household name, Shelton quickly proved his worth as a rotation player. The 6’8″ powerhouse was regularly depended upon throughout the 1979 season, as the SuperSonics went on to win their sole NBA Championship.

For decades, the Clippers had been living in the shadow of their local rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers. So, when the Lakers’ trade for Chris Paul was vetoed by the NBA commissioner for “basketball reasons,” the Clippers saw this as a golden opportunity to bring one of the greatest point guards in the game to their struggling franchise.

With “The Point God” at their disposal, the Clippers managed to make five consecutive playoffs. Most importantly, they won back-to-back Division titles; their first trophies in franchise history.

Following a lengthy dispute with the Bullets over repeated payment delays, Monroe fell out of love with Baltimore. “Don’t want a raise, don’t want Baltimore,” a fed-up Monroe told Bullets owner Abe Pollin as he handed in his trade request. It didn’t take the Knicks long to snap up this talented guard.

As the reigning NBA Champions, the Knicks were desperate to continue building on from their first title. With Monroe in their ranks, the Knicks did just that, winning the title again in 1973.

For Mavericks fans, the departure of Mark Aguirre to the Pistons received widespread approval, if not applause. “Today should be an all-day party because he’s gone,” one comment via Sports Illustrated read as Aguirre was traded for an equally frustrated Adrian Dantley.

Little did Dallas foresee Aguirre’s comeback. While no longer the headlining All-Star forward like he once was, Aguirre would play an instrumental role in leading the Pistons to the summit of the NBA. Aguirre and the Pistons won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990.

Over the past decade, the one-time NBA Champions Sacramento Kings had only made it to the playoffs on one occasion. At the same time, Chris Webber had fallen out of favor with the Washington Bullets despite having established himself as an accomplished power forward.

Ultimately, the Bullets’ loss would be the Kings’ gain, as Webber would lift the team to the playoffs in his first season in Sacramento. What’s more, he became a franchise player, helping them to seven consecutive playoff berths and two Division Championships in the process.

Entering their seventh season, the Trail Blazers were yet to make the playoffs let alone win some titles. What’s more, locker room bust-ups and differences in belief systems hampered the franchise’s progress. It was only once the ABA-NBA merger had been completed that Portland would find the star they needed to take them forward.

Picking Maurice Lucas in the 1976 draft made all the difference, especially given the close relationship with star player Bill Walton. Lucas’s influence boosted the Trail Blazers to their first and only NBA Championship to date.

In 2011, the Knicks seemed to be way off the pace from their glory days in the 1970s. Not only had they gotten nowhere near another NBA Championship, but they also failed to make the playoff for six straight seasons. Clearly, something had to change.

From the moment Anthony arrived from Denver, he boosted the Knicks’ title hopes. While they never won that third NBA title, the Knicks did qualify for three straight playoffs, with Anthony being named the 2013 scoring champion.

Although the Celtics held the number one overall draft pick in 1980, they decided to hand this slot along with another first-round pick to the Golden State Warriors for center Robert Parish and the Warriors’ first-round pick. The Celtics then used this pick to select McHale.

Together with Parish, McHale formed a part of one of the Celtics’ strongest-ever lineups, which dominated the NBA during the early ’80s. Over a 13-year career, McHale helped the Celtics to three NBA Championships.

With the 1980 draft coming up, the Celtics decided to take the risk of giving up their number one overall pick and the 13th pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Robert Parish and the number three selection. Fortunately, this risk would pay off.

For their third pick, the Celtics selected Kevin McHale, who together with Parish would build the greatest frontcourt in NBA history. Together, Parish and McHale would the Celtics five NBA Finals, winning the NBA Championship on three occasions.

Having lost three NBA Finals in the past six years, the Sixers were desperate to find an answer to Lakers’ star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. While a star-studded team including Julius Erving, Bobby Jones, and Maurice Cheeks, Malone would provide them with the finishing touch that they needed.

With the Rockets unwilling to keep paying Malone’s salary, the Sixers were more than happy to give up a first-round pick and 32-year-old Caldwell Jones for the reigning NBA MVP. In return, Malone would guide the Sixers to that season’s NBA Championship.

After losing the NBA Playoffs semi-finals, the Lakers were desperate to back to their heights of seasons past. By luring then-five-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard to the franchise, the Lakers could finally have a shot of getting back to business.

While Howard’s season with the Lakers would result in an underwhelming 7th-place finish in the Western Conference and a first-round playoff exit, it built the foundation of a healthy relationship. In 2019-20, Howard would return to the Lakers, helping them to win their first NBA Championship in a decade.

Following three failed illicit substance tests at the University of Florida and the assault of a Spurs fan at a nightclub during his time in San Antonio, it’s fair to say that Maxwell had his fair share of disciplinary issues. When the Rockets purchased rights to the player for $50,000, many questioned their decision.

Save for several altercations, Houston not only kept Maxwell in check but also make him an integral part of their most successful roster. In 1994, Maxwell was Houston’s second-highest point-scorer, leading them to their maiden NBA Championship.

Spurs President Gregg Popovich knew the risk when he traded guard George Hill on draft night to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for the number 15 overall pick. Still, as he recalled, the team was in need of size, even if it meant parting ways with one of his favorite players.

That 15th pick turned out to be Kawhi Leonard, the powerful small forward who would go on to defend against LeBron James and become the NBA Finals MVP as the Rockets thumped Miami to win the 2015 NBA Championship.

Desperate to play for the Warriors, Nuggets star Iguodala even offered to take a pay cut if it meant fulfilling his dream. Still, the team was unable to scrape the finances together to edge out other competitive offers.

With the forward on the verge of joining the Spurs, Warriors GM Bob Myers sent a host of players to Utah in exchange for draft picks, thereby freeing up the cap space he needed. Upon completing the nailbiting deal, Iguodala would lead Golden State to three NBA Championships in four years.

Following years of speculation, Davis finally made his desire to leave New Orleans public when he formally requested a trade in January 2019. While the Celtics and the Lakers both looked to move in on the player, it was the Lakers who captured Davis’s attention.

Unable to make the playoffs for six seasons, the Lakers’ fortunes turned around once Davis arrived on the West Coast. Together with LeBron James, Davis returned the Lakers to their glory days, taking the team to their first NBA Championship in over a decade.

For four successive seasons, the Rockets had failed to secure a playoff spot. Desperately in need of firepower, the franchise turned its sights toward Tracy McGrady, the NBA scoring champion for the past two seasons.

With McGrady in its arsenal, the Rockets were able to embark on a franchise rebuild, ending a four-season playoff drought. Even more importantly, the team began to build sustainably to the future, making regular appearances in the playoffs and becoming future division winners on four occasions.

From 2000 to 2002, Shaq was at the summit of world basketball with the Lakers, having won three NBA Championships in a row. Still, the good times wouldn’t last forever, and a deteriorating partnership with Kobe Bryant as well as a dry spell meant that O’Neal’s time with the Lakers was near its end.

In search of a fresh start, Shaq moved to the fledgling team Miami Heat. Thanks to O’Neal’s big-game mentality and experience, the Heat were able to win their first-ever NBA Championship in 2006.

With the sixth overall pick in the 1998 Draft, the Mavericks opted for Robert “Tractor” Traylor out of Michigan. The Milwaukee Bucks used their ninth pick to acquire West German Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavericks then struck gold in a deadline-day trade that would change franchise history.

Nowitzki went on to enjoy an award-filled career in Dallas, becoming a 14-time NBA All-Star and helping the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA Championship. With Nowitzki, the Mavericks rose from outsiders to regular playoff contenders.

After falling down the Cavs’ pecking order, Bill Laimbeer became quite vocal about wanting to leave Cleveland. Still, the Cavs were well aware of the Detroit Pistons’ interest in their player and weren’t about to let him go easily.

Ultimately, it took Paul Mokeski, Phil Hubbard, one of Detroit’s three first-round picks in 1982, and their second-round pick to reel him in. While a seemingly one-sided deal, it was the Pistons who emerged as the real winners. This member of “The Bad Boys” won back-to-back NBA titles for the Pistons.

Yet to win NBA glory of their own, the Knicks began a rebuild in the 1960s centering around homegrown talents such as Willis Reed and Dave Stallworth. Still, this didn’t mean that they didn’t source top talent from elsewhere.

By trading Walt Bellamy and Howard Komvines to the Detroit Pistons, the Knicks were able to get their hands on forward Dave DeBusschere. He quickly became a top-four player for the Knicks, helping them to NBA titles in 1970 and 1973.

While LeBron James may have broken Cavs fans’ hearts with “The Decision” to leave for Miami, he returned to the struggling franchise four years later. This time, he would do all that was necessary and more to repair the Cavaliers’ heartbreak from four years back.

Along with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, James was an essential part of the star trio that would reignite the Cavaliers’ title hopes. In 2016, LeBron helped the Cavs to the NBA Championship, becoming Finals MVP in the process.

When Lakers veteran Gail Goodrich was picked up by the New Orleans Jazz, the Lakers received a 1979 first-round draft pick in return. In those days, the top overall pick was determined by a coin toss between the holders of the top two slots.

Probably the most important coin toss of all time enabled the Lakers to sign Magic Johnson out of Michigan. In 12 and a half seasons with the Lakers, Johnson would take the team to the NBA Finals on eight occasions; winning five championship rings in the process.

Over his 12 seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Garnett had grown into a franchise player, ultimately helping the struggling Timberwolves to become division champions and make their first playoff berth in history. Naturally, this saw Garnett named NBA MVP in 2004.

Once his no-trade clause finally lapsed, the Celtics pounced on the opportunity to bring Garnett to Boston. With Garnett in their ranks, the Celtics were finally able to put over two decades of frustration behind them, winning the 2008 NBA Championship.

As a three-time NBA MVP, it was understandable that the Philadelphia 76ers wanted to hold onto Wilt Chamberlain as long as possible. Unfortunately, Chamberlain had felt that he had outgrown the 76ers and began to look westward, where he would rub shoulders with other A-list celebrities.

While the ABA’s Los Angeles Stars offered to make him a part-owner if he signed for them, Chamberlain only had eyes for the Lakers. In 1972, he would lift the Lakers to their first NBA Title in almost two decades.

For the Celtics, the pain of getting swept by the Bucks in the 1983 Eastern Conference semifinals proved all too painful. So much so, that Rick Robey admitted that his trade to the Phoenix Suns that summer was the best moment of his career.

Little did he realize how much of a game-changer his replacement in Boston would be. Johnson would go on to boost the Celtics to two NBA Championships in 1984 and 1986, forming part of one of the greatest-ever Celtics dynasties in the process.

After the retirement of Wilt Chamberlain, the Lakers were desperate for a new icon to take the franchise forward. At the same time, Milwaukee Bucks star and NBA Championship winner Abdul-Jabbar had been growing tired of life with the Bucks. The Lakers sprung to acquire Abdul-Jabbar, offloading four players in the process.

Abdul-Jabbar proved to be the talisman that the Lakers needed, taking the team to five NBA titles during his 14 years in Los Angeles. What’s more, Abdul-Jabbar went on to become the leading NBA scorer of all time.

For three years, Rodman was a member of a frustrated San Antonio Spurs team that couldn’t make their way past the Conference Finals. Following a loss to the Houston Rockets, San Antonio traded Rodman to the Bulls, who seemed to be doing a rebuild of their own.

A controversial figure, to say the least, Rodman was one of the league’s top defenders. Despite skepticism around his arrival, the Bulls were propelled to three more NBA Titles with Rodman making the most league rebounds on each occasion.

Aptly known as The Decision, LeBron’s choice to move to leave his hometown of Cleveland for Miami as a free agent was so shocking that it was even made into a TV special.

While many fanbases and pundits treated James and the Heat as villains, he and his teammates overcame this scrutiny, instead transforming their fury into impactful performances on the court. James’ approach to the situation proved correct, as he would go on to be named NBA MVP while leading the Heat to back-to-back NBA Championships.

At just 17 years old, Kobe Bryant was already on the Lakers’ radar. While deals for high school ball players were largely viewed with skepticism, the Lakers decided to take the leap of faith by drafting Bryant as the 13th overall pick in 1996.

Byrant was well aware of his critics, admitting, “I’m sure people will question me because of my age. That’s the big mystery for most people.” Still, he instantly gelled with the Lakers, pairing with Shaquille O’Neal to win three consecutive NBA Championships at the turn of the century.

Selected by the Seattle SuperSonics as the fifth overall pick in the 1987 draft, the Bulls also expressed a keen interest in Pippen given his impressive college career. So much so, that they were willing to part ways with Olden Polynice and two draft picks to bring Pippen to Chicago.

This proved to be a fantastic decision, given the six NBA Championships that Pippen would bring to Chicago over an illustrious 11-year tenure. Alongside Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman, Pippen established the greatest NBA dynasty of all time.

When the St. Louis Hawks drafted Russell as the second overall pick in 1956, Russell was unwilling to play for a segregated team. So, the Hawks decided to trade Russell to the Celtics in return for St. Louis native Ed Macauley. The Hawks would soon regret this decision.

Although the Hawks would win the 1958 NBA Championship, this was nothing in comparison to what Russell would achieve in Boston. The talented center would take his team to 11 NBA Championships in 13 seasons, becoming an all-time great.

Following the 1965 All-Star Game, the Warriors and the Sixers got together to discuss the trade of Wilt Chamberlain. The league’s top scorer for five seasons running, the Warriors saw no point in paying his salary seeing as they remained in last place.

Naturally, the Sixers were happy to help the cash-strapped Warriors out. In addition to being the leading scorer for another two seasons, Chamberlain became a crucial component of the Sixers’ success, leading them to the 1968 NBA Title.