In most exchanges, there is a winner and a loser, and there is occasionally a large loss. Let’s take a look at the top ten worst NBA moves of all time.
It’s hard to critique a trade, as hindsight is 20-20 when making a deal in sports. Some are a disaster from the start, but sometimes players will emerge out of nowhere after the fact and make it more lopsided. The following collection of trades is a combination of poor asset management, prospects turning into busts, and just subpar front-office minds. Let’s look at the 10 all-time worst trades in NBA history, ranked.
10. The Utah Jazz trade Magic Johnson without realizing it
In 1978, the Utah Jazz made a six-player trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. The Jazz sent Sam Worthen, Freemen Williams, and Kenny Carr to the Lakers for Gail Goodrich, Jack Givens, Essie Givens, and a first-round pick.
9. Boston Celtics trade aging core for draft picks
Possibly the most famous trade in recent NBA history, the Celtics sent an aging core of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and Kris Joseph to the Brooklyn Nets. In return, the Celtics received role players, unprotected first-round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018, and the ability to swap first-rounders in 2017.
8. Milwaukee Bucks trade Dirk Nowitzki
Dirk Nowitzki was a top international player when the Bucks drafted him ninth overall. Robert Traylor was selected sixth overall by the Dallas Mavericks. The Bucks had interest in Traylor as he averaged a double-double with Michigan in his final year of college. Traylor struggled with the Bucks, averaging 4.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game while starting in just 73
7. Seattle Supersonics trade Scottie Pippen
What would the Chicago Bulls have been without Michael Jordan’s sidekick Scottie Pippen? We almost found out as the Seattle Supersonics drafted the relatively unknown Pippen fifth overall in the 1987 draft. They then shipped Pippen to the Bulls in exchange for help at the center position.
6. Philadelphia 76ers trade Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley was only 28 and one of the best players in the league when the Philadelphia 76ers sent him out of town. He went to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Tim Perry, Andrew Kang, and Jeff Hornacek. Hornacek was a reigning all-star but couldn’t find his form in Philadelphia, and the other two were bench players.
5. Houston Rockets acquire Charles Barkley
The Rockets had won back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995. They did it on the strength of two top players of all time, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, and young depth pieces like Sam Cassell, Robert Horry, Chucky Brown, and Mark Bryant. Instead of trying to win three straight with the group, they traded the four depth pieces for an aging Charles Barkley.
4. Philadelphia 76ers trade Wilt Chamberlain
Let’s hope Philadelphia being on this list twice isn’t a sign of things to come in the city of brotherly love. The 76ers made a big splash when they sent Wilt to the Lakers in 1968. The Sixers received Darrell Imhoff, Archie Clark, and Jerry Chambers. At the time, Chamberlain was already among the best in the league. He was a four-time MVP and a nine-time All-Star and All-NBA. The NBA’s most famous stat padder had won seven straight scoring titles and was an NBA champion.
3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar requests a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks’ history of trading big men has not been kind to them. Fans should be thankful that Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t asked out yet because he would likely go on to even more success than he’s already achieved. Going into the 1974 season, Abdul-Jabbar informed the Milwaukee front office that he was ready to leave the team. He had won an NBA championship with the Bucks and had lost in Game 7 of the Finals the year prior. Eight months later.
2. St. Louis Hawks trade Bill Russell
The return that the St. Louis Hawks received for Bill Russell wasn’t terrible. The Hawks got Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan back from the Celtics, and both were Hall of Famers. The Hawks can even find solace in beating Russell and the Celtics to win an NBA title in 1958. However, Russell won 10 more than that in his career. Quite frankly, any return for Bill Russell in that era would have looked like a lopsided deal when you look at Russell’s impact on the Celtics.
1. Charlotte Hornets trade Kobe Bryant
The Charlotte Hornets took Kobe Bryant with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA draft. Lakers general manager Jerry West had interest in Bryant after seeing him at predraft workouts, but the Lakers had no lottery picks. The Lakers were also looking to move some money to fit Shaquille O’Neal under the salary cap. The Hornets eventually agreed to take on Vlade Divac’s contract in exchange for the rights to Bryant.
