The 5 best NBA Draft Night Trades of All-Time
By Jim James
Apologies for the 2 day break – needed a rest
The pressure of the NBA draft is on. Just 2 days left until the big event, and I can barely wait. After a series of Draft related posts, you’d think I’d stop. No is the answer to that question. I know this is a common topic, but it’s so interesting to write about. The what-ifs, the what could’ve beens, and just generally trades that shaped the future of franchises.
Criteria: These trades must have happened on draft night, and to rank highly (or at all) on my list, they must have involved players who would go on to become all-nba & hall of farmers (or who are on track to do so) and forever changed the path of franchises. Without any more delay, let’s begin!
Honorable Mentions/Snubs:
Chris Webber/Penny Hardaway trade
Ray Allen/Wally Szczerbiak trade
Scottie Pippen/Olden Polynice trade
Dirk Nowitzki/Tractor Traylor trade
The actual list
#5: The Boston Celtics trade the #1 pick in the 1980 draft (Joe Barry Carroll) to the Warriors for the #3 pick (Kevin McHale) and Robert Parish
One trade that made the Celtics’ 80s Championship run possible. 2 of the big 3 for barely anything, or should I say, Barely Carroll. While we know McHale & Parish went on to become hall of farmers and win multiple rings with Boston, especially vs the Lakers, Joe Barry Carroll is a mysterious player for me. He had talent, but he was so unpredictable. He didn’t really focus on ball either, and you can tell that when a player has nicknames like Joe Barely Cares and Just Barely Carroll that he should’ve been more. He averages 20 in his first 4 seasons then plays in Italy for 1 year, it’s like if Jayson Tatum spent a year there, and then he goes plays for Golden State for 2 more years, resumes where he left off. He could’ve been All-NBA if he wanted. Instead, One lonely All-Star game.
#4: The Indiana Pacers trade the 15th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft (Kawhi Leonard), the 42nd pick in the 2011 Draft (Davis Bertans), and Erazim Lorbek to the San Antonio Spurs for George Hill
A trade that affected probably more franchises than two and that if it didn’t happen, San Antonio would probably not get the 2014 championship, he probably wouldn’t get fed up with San Antonio, therefore not moving to Toronto, they wouldn’t get their ring, and for Indiana, they might have gotten past Lebron in at least one of their conference finals matchups, and who knows, might have won vs OKC, San Antonio, or the Clippers, even.
#3: The Charlotte Hornets trade the #13 pick in the 1996 NBA Draft (Kobe Bryant) to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vlade Divac
Jeez, when the Hornets pulled this off they must have felt they finessed the Lakers so much it felt like a David Beckham free kick. That is, until they realized who they traded. Kobe never wanted to play in Charlotte, so they traded him to L.A. for an already established Power Forward in Vlade Divac. A modern day equivalent is the Mavs trading Kristaps Porzingis for a shot at James Bouknight. Needless to say, the risk paid off.
#2: The Atlanta Hawks trade the #3 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft (Luka Doncic) to the Dallas Mavericks for the #5 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft (Trae Young) & a 2019 First round pick (Cam Reddish)
One of the best examples of a Win-Win deal, this was a huge trade that has defined the history of both teams. The Hawks have been more successful so far, with a Conference Finals appearance to the Mavs’ 2 first round exits, but we can’t muse on the what-ifs yet, but stay tuned!
#1: The Boston Celtics trade Ed Macauley & Cliff Hagan to the St.Louis Hawks for the 2nd pick in the 1956 NBA draft (Bill Russell)
This was a trade that altered both of the futures of the franchises forever, and especially Boston. This was, no question, the best draft night they had ever had, with as well as Bill Russell, they selected Tom Heinsohn with a territorial pick, a concept I will explain in a later post, and K.C. Jones in the 2nd round, which also happened to be the 13th pick. Just an amazing trade.
There you go. You will probably disagree with me with something, so feel free to comment your top 5, see you Wednesday!