Sometimes, an NBA trade feels less like a transaction and more like daylight robbery. Across decades, teams have given away franchise legends, MVPs, or future Hall of Famers—sometimes for middling players with vague potential. These are the deals that still make fans facepalm decades later. Credit: X So your team finally reaches the Finals, and the guy leading the charge is 26, an MVP favorite, and not even in his prime. What do you do? Well, if you're Dallas, apparently, you trade him. Luka went to L.A., and Dallas got Anthony Davis (plus a pick swap), who arrived... injured. Credit: X In 1975, Milwaukee traded the best player in basketball for a committee of decent dudes. Kareem had three MVPs and a ring. In return, they got Junior Bridgeman, Brian Winters, Elmore Smith, and Dave Meyers. They were solid, sure, but not exactly Mount Rushmore material. Meanwhile, Kareem collected five more titles in L.A. Credit: Reddit The St. Louis Hawks drafted Russell in 1956, but didn't want a Black player in a segregated city. Boston swooped in by offering Hall of Famers and arranging for the Ice Capades to perform in Rochester if the Royals passed on Russell. Eleven championships later, the Celtics' end of the deal still echoes. Credit: Reddit Seattle drafted Pippen in 1987, then immediately sent him to Chicago for Polynice and future picks. Polynice had a decent career, but Scottie became a six-time champion, elite defender, and Michael Jordan's co-pilot on the NBA's most dominant airline. Seattle's return flight never quite landed. Credit: Reddit Milwaukee traded Dirk to Dallas on draft night in 1998 to move up three spots and select Traylor. The big man never lived up to his college hype, while Nowitzki became a 14-time All-Star, MVP, and Finals MVP. He led Dallas to its only title and played 21 seasons with the franchise. Credit: Reddit Back in '96, the Hornets drafted a skinny high school kid named Kobe Bryant, then traded him for Vlade Divac. The logic was to free up cap space. But it resulted in the Lakers building a dynasty with Kobe and Shaq. The Hornets got a footnote in NBA history. Yikes. Credit: Reddit In 1968, the Sixers sent Wilt to L.A. for Jerry Chambers, Archie Clark, and Darrall Imhoff. None were stars. Wilt was still grabbing 20 boards a night and won another ring. Philly entered a wilderness era that took decades to escape. Credit: Reddit To appease Kawhi Leonard in 2019, the Clippers traded SGA, Danilo Gallinari, and an avalanche of draft capital to Oklahoma City. George never got the Clippers past the Conference Finals, while SGA became a top-five MVP finisher and the face of a surging Thunder squad still stocked with future picks. Credit: Facebook Post-ABA merger, the Nets were broke. They sold Dr. J to the Sixers for $3 million to cover debts and avoid legal fights. He went on to win MVP and bring Philly a championship. The Nets spent the next 20 years looking for the receipt. Credit: Reddit In 1982, Houston let MVP Moses Malone walk—sort of. They agreed to a sign-and-trade with Philly, getting Caldwell Jones and a pick. Malone won another MVP that year and carried the Sixers to a title. Caldwell Jones, a solid but aging center, gave the Rockets minimal impact. Credit: Reddit The Lakers traded multiple rotation pieces for Westbrook in 2021, ignoring his ill-fitting style next to LeBron and AD. The result was dysfunction and missed playoffs. The Wizards gained two productive starters. L.A. eventually dumped Westbrook and reshaped the team. Years later, they're still correcting the course. Credit: X Cavs owner Ted Stepien was trading picks like baseball cards in 1980. One went to the Lakers, and it became the No. 1 pick in 1982. L.A. used it on James Worthy. He helped win three titles. The NBA responded by creating the "Stepien Rule," banning teams from trading consecutive future first-rounders. Yes, it was that bad. Credit: Reddit Minnesota shipped Garnett to Boston in 2007, finally relenting after years of wasted talent. Boston's return—Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green—never came close to Garnett's impact. KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce immediately won a title and stayed competitive. The Wolves drifted until drafting Karl-Anthony Towns years later. Credit: X In a genius pre-draft move in 1980, Boston traded down. As a payoff, they got Robert Parish and drafted Kevin McHale. Golden State picked Joe Barry Carroll, a center who could score but often looked bored doing it. Credit: Reddit In 1992, the Sixers shipped out Charles Barkley, a 29-year-old bulldozer with a jump shot, to Phoenix. The return was Jeff Hornacek (solid), Andrew Lang (meh), and Tim Perry (who?). Philly thought it was a fair shake. Meanwhile, Chuck hit the desert running, snagged the MVP, and dragged the Suns to the '93 Finals.
