From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Wilt Chamberlain to Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA’s best and most famous players have all been moved around at some point in their careers.
As the basketball world continues to wait for news of exciting and shattering trades involving some of the best in the game before the start of every season, wouldn’t it be great to reflect on some of the most high-profile moves of the past two decades and assess their merit?
This list will rank five of the most monumental NBA transfers of the last two decades, based on the value obtained by the team that gave up several of their own good players in exchange for these great players.
- James Harden to Brooklyn in 2021
One year after signing Irving and Durant in free agency, the Nets made NBA history by trading for Harden from Houston, Indiana, and Cleveland in exchange for a slew of draft picks and young players (including Allen and LeVert).
A little over a year later, after the trio had played in a grand total of 16 games together, before Harden was moved to Philadelphia, ending the experiment. Houston, meanwhile, made the trade anticipating quality future draft picks, starting with their 2022 draft selections, including LSU forward Tari Eason, Alper Sengun, Jalen Green, and the No. 3 overall pick Jabari Smith Jr.
- Anthony Davis to Los Angeles Lakers in 2019
The Lakers and Pelicans reached a deal before the 2019 draft after a public trade request and subsequent shutdown for the final weeks of the 2019 season. The trade came together when the Pelicans clinched the lottery and secured the right to choose Zion Williamson with the first overall draft, and the Lakers moved up to obtain the fourth overall pick.
Of course, in Davis’s first year with the franchise, the Lakers went on to win the 2020 title inside the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World Resort, but in the two years after, the team fell in the first round and missed the playoffs each time.
While Ball was dealt away from the Pelicans in the summer of 2017 as part of a sign-and-trade deal, both Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart have become All-Stars in the NBA. Williamson signed a five-year, $193 million deal in the offseason despite having played in just 85 games over his first three seasons due to injuries.
- Kevin Garnett goes to the Boston Celtics in 2007
The Boston Celtics could not seem to get themselves out of their NBA rut for a while. The franchise’s quality had gradually declined from superb to awful and then from average to bad.
On July 1, 2008, Celtics president Danny Ainge finally had enough of the team’s perennial mediocrity and made a radical change. He let go of two first-round picks in the 2009 NBA Draft, as well as Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Al Jefferson, and Sebastian Telfair, in exchange for Kevin Garnett.
Ainge sacrificed a lot, but in the end, he received an ROI that exceeded his investment. With Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen at the helm, the Celtics won the NBA championship for the first time since 1986. Since the trade, the Celtics have become one of the NBA’s most formidable opponents. The Boston Celtics became competitive again, largely thanks to the Kevin Garnett trade.
- Shaquille O’Neal Hits Miami Heats 2004
One of the most notable free agent signings in NBA history occurred in 1996 when Shaquille O’Neal joined the Los Angeles Lakers. Shaq’s Lakers era was one of the best for the team, and millions of new and old fans globally wanted to watch him in his element.
Since the ’90s, the sport has gained notoriety. Today, millions of avid bettors place their stakes on their favorite NBA teams in online casinos while taking advantage of offerings like PlayCroco Casino Bonuses.
The trade that sent Shaq to the Miami Heat almost eight years later sent shockwaves throughout the NBA. Two different teams were able to win the NBA Finals because of this transaction. Naturally, Shaquille O’Neal joined the Heat, and he and Dwyane Wade led the 2006 Miami Heat to the NBA championship.
- Cleveland Cavaliers Traded LeBron James to Miami Heat 2010
James’s decision to play in Miami is best remembered for his televised statement, which ESPN called “The Decision.” However, the deal was actually a trade, with James going to the Miami Heat in exchange for two first-round and two second-round draft picks for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron and stars Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade all came together in this contract, raising the bar extremely high. The pressure on the Heat has never been higher.
The only way they could get away with this and avoid becoming notorious was to win a championship or multiple championships. Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald is quoted saying that James elected to take less money, and instead of stealing the spotlight, he shared it with his teammates.
The strategy eventually paid off, although it took some time. The Heat were eliminated from the NBA Finals by the Dallas Mavericks in James’ first season with the team. But the Heat came back and won the next two titles.
Final thoughts
These five trades shaped the trajectory of most of these teams. Take the example of Kevin Garnett moving to the Boston Celtics, one of the biggest NBA teams today. Hopefully, you’ve learned a little more about the NBA.
