Biggest Franchise-Altering Moment of Every NBA Team Since 2000

Remember that one time, when your favorite NBA team made that one move or did that one thing, that may or may not have altered the entire franchise for better or worse?

Hey, me too.

Since the dawn of the new millennium, the NBA has seen more than its fair share of organizational uprisings, heartbreaks, lunacy and downright brainlessness.

Every so often, a team drastically shifts gears, altering its blueprint for success, or in some cases, self-destruction. That's why the study of history is so important— because it's bound to repeat itself.

And for more than a handful of franchises, that's not necessarily a good thing.

Atlanta Hawks

The Moment: Hawks draft, and then trade, Pau Gasol to Grizzlies (2001)

Oh what could have been.

After selecting Gasol with the third overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft, Atlanta shipped him off to the then Vancouver-based Grizzlies, landing Shareef Abdur-Rahim in return.

Stop, I know what you're thinking—the Hawks were stupid—but they were able to justify the trade because Abdur-Rahim gave them a player who would make them "the best we could be over the next five-plus years."

What's that? Atlanta flipped Abdur-Rahim just three years later without making the playoffs once on their way to nearly a decade's worth of postseason absences while Gasol went on to become a superstar, you say?

Whoops.

Boston Celtics

The Moment: Birth of the Boston Three Party (2007)

It was a sweltering summer's day in 2007 when the course of the Celtics' future changed forever.

Romanticized enough? Good, because here's the skinny: Boston acquired Kevin Garnett from Minnesota just before August of 2007, after already having dealt for Ray Allen a month before.

The result? Five consecutive postseason berths, two finals appearance and one NBA championship. Not to shabby for a team who was on the brink of solidifying a future among the league's basement teams five years ago, eh?

So, while the Big Three era in Boston may have come to an end, the legacy they built together will never cease to exist.

Brooklyn Nets

The Moment: Goodbye Stephon Marbury, hello Jason Kidd (2001)

If you want to get technical, the biggest franchise-altering moment in Brooklyn Nets history is, well, their move to Brooklyn.

However, considering Brooklyn has housed the Nets for less time than it takes Dwight Howard to change his mind, I'm not one for technicalities here.

In 2001, somehow, someway, the Nets were able to pawn the poisonous persona of Marbury off on the Suns in exchange for Kidd.

As if to add insult to injury—the injury of Phoenix, that is—Kidd led the then New Jersey-based Nets to six straight playoff berths and two NBA Finals appearances; the Nets were a powerhouse, for a change.

Hats off to Rod Thorn on this one.

Charlotte Bobcats

The Moment: Michael Jordan becomes omnipresent (2010)

The Bobcats are a young team with a grumpy, borderline incompetent owner.

Since Jordan purchased a majority share of the Charlotte franchise, the Bobcats have become the epitome of irrelevancy.

In fact, Jordan's greatest accomplishment as majority owner has been assembling a team worthy of securing the NBA's all-time worst winning percentage only last season. Someone pat the man on the back.

As a player, Jordan was the absolute greatest, but as the face of a front office, he's not-so-slowly running his own team into the ground.

Chicago Bulls

The Moment: The miracle of Derrick Rose (2008)

Lady luck was certainly on Chicago's side in May 2008.

With a mere 1.7 percent chance of winning the draft lottery, the near-impossible happened, and the Bulls earned the right to the select Rose with the first overall pick.

Since Michael Jordan's second retirement nearly ten years before, Chicago was a franchise in flux. It managed a handful of consecutive playoff berths, but never put together a convincing run of contention.

Enter Rose.

Despite a slew of injuries, the former league MVP has restored not only honor, but a sense of dominance to a franchise that was struggling to establish an identity.

Sometimes—torn ACL aside—things just work out.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Moment: Wrong side of "The Decision" (2010)

Cleveland was a franchise in turmoil when it drafted LeBron James in 2003, but was reduced to a franchise in shambles when he left in 2010.

Though James' presence instilled an immediate sense of relevancy, it took some time—though not much—before the Cavaliers were bona fide contenders. But it was overnight that the team was relegated to the NBA's doldrums.

So, while Kyrie Irving has brought hope back to all of Cleveland, that NBA record-setting 26-game losing streak in the post-James era is anything but forgotten.

Truth be told, James' departure uprooted the Cavaliers more than his presence ever did.

Dallas Mavericks

The Moment: The Mark Cuban Era Begins (2000)

Some guys are just willing to let their money do some of the talking, and Cuban is just one of those guys.

After 10 consecutive seasons without a postseason berth, the Mavericks were purchased by the mogul and almost immediately began their ascent into prominence.

Cuban was, and remains, unlike any other owner in the NBA. To this day, Dallas maintains a party-like atmosphere with an emphasis on winning colorfully.

And win colorfully Dallas has, having clinched playoff berths in each of the 12 years Cuban has owned the team, winning one title in the process.

Do your thing, Mark.

Denver Nuggets

The Moment: Nuggets take on Carmelo Anthony (2003)

Say what you will about 'Melo but he restored order to a reeling Denver franchise.

No seriously, he did.

In his rookie season, Anthony led the Nuggets to a postseason berth and into the record books, as they were the first team to clinch a playoff spot following a sub-20 win season.

Not even LeBron James led his team to the playoffs in his inaugural season (if it helps 'Bron, neither did Chris Bosh).

Anthony's arrival in Denver marked the beginning of seven-straight postseason appearances, and has continued on to reach nine in his absence.

So, as badly as this marriage ended and as dysfunctional as it may have been, it was worth it.

Too bad Kris Humphries can't say the same.

Detroit Pistons

The Moment: Pistons get in bed with team president version of Joe Dumars (2000)

Dumars didn't waste any time in transitioning to a front-office position after retiring.

Almost immediately upon retiring, Dumars became Detroit's vice president of player personnel. Not long after, he was named president, and the rest is history.

Dumars began by capitalizing off Grant Hill's departure, bringing in players like Chucky Atkins and Ben Wallace. Chauncey Billups, Tayshaun Prince and Richard Hamilton followed soon after, as the Pistons continue their path to an NBA title.

Sure, we can blame Darko Milicic on Dumars, but the fact is he assembled a team that was committed to winning, an assembly that culminated in a 2004 NBA title and succeeded in rendering Detroit a relevant franchise again.

I mean, the Pistons won a championship in spite of Darko, that has to count for something, right?

Golden State Warriors

The Moment: "We Believe" team ends playoff drought (2007)

To think, there was a time when Baron Davis and Jason Richardson were stars, Andris Biedrins wasn't considered incompetent and Monta Ellis was a shy-shooter.

In 2007, after 12 years of suffering, the Warriors ended an historic playoff drought, as the "we believe" team clawed their way to the Western Conference's eighth seed.

That team went on to upset the No. 1-seeded Mavericks and re-instilled the Golden State faithful's confidence in the franchise.

Though such sentiments lasted about a minute, this reality, however brief, was a positive turning point in Warriors history.

Unlike Joe Lacob's acquisition of the team in 2010.

Houston Rockets

The Moment: Yao Ming comes to America (2002)

Nothing like replacing one overwhelmingly dominant big man with another one, right?

A year after Hakeem Olajuwon's departure, the Rockets fell into Yao Ming, the 7'6" Chinese behemoth.

Though Houston never captured an elusive NBA title with Yao, his presence put the franchise on the map. The Rockets gained the type of worldly exposure that would render any sports organization envious.

And while Yao's career quickly became marked by a slew of injuries, his presence was always a sign of hope and he was always considered someone Houston could build around.

That's a tough act for even Jeremy Lin—the Rockets newest global icon—to follow.

Indiana Pacers

The Moment: Malice at the Palace (2004)

We all know the history behind November of 2004, but what some fail to realize is how much the brawl in question crippled the Pacers moving forward.

As a result of the suspensions that followed the horrific battle, the Pacers began their steady fall into borderline irrelevancy. Though they managed to claw their way to a postseason berth that season, and the next, they were never the same team.

After two years of living in the shadow of said brawl, Indiana essentially imploded. Multiple coaching changes and the departure of Donnie Walsh headlined a tumultuous era that saw the Pacers fail to make the playoffs four years in a row.

And it all started that night, with the demise of the team's image, Ron Artest's basketball abilities and Indiana's standing as a title contender.

Perhaps now it's a bit easier to understand why the Pacers threw so much money at Roy Hibbert, one of the players who helped the team escape its stretch of postseason-less exploits.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Moment: Chris Paul goes Hollywood (2011)

How many postseason appearances did the Clippers make with Blake Griffin, but without Paul?

None.

Sure, Griffin only essentially played a year's worth of basketball, but even now, as polarizing a presence as he is, he simply wasn't enough to fully resurrect a dying franchise. But Paul was.

Upon Paul's arrival, the Clippers immediately became an attractive destination for available players and subsequently, contenders for an NBA title; his presence instilled action—Donald Sterling opening his wallet anyone?—not just hope in the franchise.

Without Paul, the Clippers would take a backseat to the Lakers, and the rest of the league, while patiently waiting for Griffin to throw them the occasional highlight dunk over some mode of transportation.

Luckily for them, Paul has helped the franchise avoid such an unfulfilled reality.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Moment: The Shaq Bubble Bursts (2004)

Remember how well Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal got along during their time in Los Angeles together?

Yeah, me neither.

After losing to the Pistons in the 2004 NBA finals, the Lakers sent the latter half of a feuding Kobe and Shaq to Miami.

Such a move was unprecedented; merely weeks after a Finals appearance, Los Angles opted to break up the most formidable duo in the league, and essentially start over—with Bryant as the unquestioned pillar.

It's difficult to accept a breakup of this magnitude. While the Lakers went on to win back-to-back championships, it took them five years to do so. Who knows how far Los Angeles could have went if the team was held intact?

No one does, and no one ever will.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Moment: Pau Gasol leads Grizzlies into Memphis (2001)

Since 2000 we've watched the Grizzlies trade Kevin Love, and Gasol himself, as well as waste a draft pick on Hasheem Thabeet. But it's Gasol's acquisition—Pau's, to be clear—that stands out the most.

The Memphis bound Grizzlies acquired Gasol's services on draft night in 2001. He went on to win Rookie of the Year and helped lead the team to its first playoff berth in franchise history in 2004.

In a sense, Gasol put the franchise on the map. He gave the Grizzlies a cornerstone to build around—something Shareef Abdur-Rahim never truly was—and even in his departure, ensured the team's relevance moving forward (look at Marc now).

While in Vancouver, the Grizzlies were often the laughing stock of the NBA, but once they moved to Memphis, and acquired Gasol, everything changed.

For good.

Miami Heat

The Moment: The other side of "The Decision" (2010)

LeBron James departure may have crippled the Cavaliers, but it inspired the Heat.

Never before had a trio of this magnitude been formed; James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade were all arguably top-10 talents at the time, and their formation spelled doom for the rest of the NBA.

South Beach has—and never will never be—the same. The Heat's Big Three led them to a Finals appearance in just its first season of existence, and followed that up with an actually championship this past year.

Most notably, though, this assembly set a new precedent. Superstar powerhouses are now forming—or attempting to be formed—left and right.

In one swift and cutting decision, LeBron and company reinvented the accepted championship blueprint.

And it, much like the Heat franchise, will never be the same.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Moment: Anthony Mason ruins everything (2001)

Believe it or not, at one point, the Bucks were one of the NBA's teams to beat. I, of course, was only 12 and still attempting to understand the parameters behind a three-team trade, but yes, they were a powerhouse at one time.

And then came Anthony Mason.

Mason's acquisition in 2001 was supposed to push Milwaukee over the championship hump, but instead, it just pushed them to the brink of implosion.

Upon Mason's arrival, the Bucks' chemistry—both on and off the court—was destroyed. They entered a free-fall, ultimately missing the playoffs just one year after a Conference Finals appearance.

Then came the worst of Mason's acquisition, as Milwaukee began to dismantle everything it built. Two exceptionally strong pillars in Glenn Robinson and Ray Allen were traded, and the Bucks resumed their spot in the NBA's basement.

And more than 10 years later, their still fighting to return to a pre-Anthony Mason state.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Moment: Bon Voyage, Kevin Garnett (2007)

Remember when the Timberwolves were the Western Conference's team to beat?

By the summer of 2007, Garnett certainly didn't.

Minnesota last saw the light of the postseason in 2004, three years before the departure of Garnett. And that's when things got even worse.

The Timberwolves were reeling with Garnett, but once they traded him to the Celtics, there wasn't any semblance of competence left in them; for the past half-decade, they've essentially set up shop in the NBA's basement.

With Garnett, there was hope. Without him, though, Minnesota essentially ceased to exist.

Here's to hoping Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love mark a turning point in the other direction.

New Orleans Hornets

The Moment: See ya, CP3 (2011)

The Hornets, dating back to the time they resided in Charlotte, are consistent. Consistently mediocre, that is.

Prior to Chris Paul, the Hornets were a team who scraped a postseason berth from time to time. And with him, they were essentially the same script, different cast.

That said, Paul's departure left the team near shambles, because suddenly, there was no one for New Orleans to lean on. For all the LeBron James' and Carmelo Anthony's, there was supposed to be a Paul, a loyal leader, hell-bent on leading his team to the promise land.

But in the blink of an eye, he was gone, and now the Hornets—while much improved—may have a target on their backs.

Eric Gordon is the latest New Orleans guard to attempt an escape, and Austin Rivers or not, you cannot help but wonder if Paul set the tone for even more contractual and loyalty problems down the road.

New York Knicks

The Moment: Jeff Van Gundy's premonition (2001)

Sorry 'Melo, Van Gundy's resignation upstages you here.

When the third most winningest coach in Knicks history resigned in December of 2001, it came as a complete and utter surprise.

While New York was struggling, it was one game over .500, and given the franchise's penchant for playoff-caliber basketball, there surely wasn't that much of a concern surrounding the slow start, was there?

For Van Gundy there was. Whether it was a deteriorating relationship with James Dolan or he truly couldn't "focus" anymore, the then Knicks head coach sensed trouble was brewing.

And so began the dark ages in New York, marked by Allan Houston's career-altering injury, a slew of bad trades, Isaiah Thomas'  sheer existence and most notably, a mere one playoff berth in nine years.

Van Gundy was just the first domino to fall.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Move: Gary Payton hits the road (2003)

Back when the Thunder were the Supersonics, they made some pretty gutsy decisions, like moving Seattle fan favorite Payton to Milwaukee.

Though Payton was 34 at the time and brought the Sonics Ray Allen in return, his departure marked the beginning of an era of struggle.

That very season, Seattle missed the playoffs, ending a streak of 11 consecutive postseason berths, setting the stage for the team's demise and eventual relocation.

Try as the Sonics might to rekindle the fire, there was no recapturing it. The team snagged a playoff berth in 2005 and drafted the likes of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in 2007 and 2008, respectively, but none of it was enough.

The Sonics lost more than a talented point guard when they dealt Payton; along with him went the remnants of a franchise at its peak, paving the way for the team to enter a lull they wouldn't escape until 2009.

And at that point, Seattle had become a locale of the past.

Orlando Magic

The Moment: Dwight Howard's arrival (2004)

Anyone else having trouble remembering when Howard was, in fact, a savior, as opposed to a team cancer?

Fresh off playing their way toward the NBA's worst record during the 2003-04 campaign, the Magic earned the right to select an immediate superstar in Howard.

The 2004 rookie standout averaged a double-double and started in all 82 games for Orlando, helping wean the franchise off the toxic Tracy McGrady era and into a more successful one. And the Magic have been borderline contenders ever since.

What a shame it is to see how far this pairing has come—or rather, fallen. 

Philadelphia 76ers

The Moment: Allen Iverson lets loose (2002)

Before the "Dwightmare," before "The Decision" and before narcissism became universally associated with NBA stars, there was Iverson.

Soon after the Sixers were ousted from the first round of the 2002 NBA playoffs, Iverson gave the sound bite to end all sound bites, verbally attacking then head coach Larry Brown and the shackled institution that was "practice."

And that proved to be the beginning of the end. 

Brown resigned a year later, Philadelphia never made it back to the Finals and Iverson's image was damaged beyond the pair.

Sometimes, things fall apart, and this was one of those times.

Phoenix Suns

The Moment: Steve Nash's return (2004)

Nash may now be a member of the Lakers, but he and the Suns never could seem to sever ties completely.

In the summer of 2004, Nash signed a lucrative five-year deal with Phoenix, the team that drafted him.

His presence was felt instantaneously, as he helped the Suns ties for the best record in the league, assisted in the creation of the athletic freak known as Amar'e Stoudemire and won his first of two consecutive league MVP awards.

Nash's season-long heroics became a staple in Phoenix for almost a decade. And it all began in 2004, when he inked a contract that rendered him a mogul and ensured the Suns' return to prominence.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Moment: The end of the "Jail Blazers" era (2006)

Portland struck gold in the 2006 NBA draft, the kind of gold that couldn't be stolen by the countless lawbreakers their roster harnessed.

The Blazers managed to acquire the draft rights to both LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy in 2006, effectively ending a period that all of Portland would like to forget.

While the team didn't flourish immediately, the new core stayed on the court and out of the tabloids. Roy blossomed into a star, and Aldridge wasn't far behind.

Though only Aldridge remains, the shift in balance that he and Roy signified will never be forgotten; they essentially bailed the Blazers out of perpetual turmoil.

Pun intended.

Sacramento Kings

The Moment: Chris Webber goes down for the count (2003)

In a matter of seconds, the Kings went from "The Greatest Show On Court" to an act hardly anyone could bear to watch.

Webber suffered a postseason-ending—for both he and the Kings—knee injury in 2003, ruining any chance Sacramento had at winning a title. It also marked the end of an exciting era.

The following season, Sacramento continued it's string of impressive play, even without Webber, yet the team was hardly a title contender, and suffered yet another early postseason exit.

Then came the fireworks. The Kings lost Vlade Divac, and traded Doug Christie and Webber—all within months of each other—on their way to consecutive first round playoff exits.

And now, after more than six postseason-less years, Sacramento is still waiting to return to prominence.

San Antonio Spurs

The Moment: The Admiral inspires (2002)

San Antonio is a quiet franchise. So quiet, in fact, that even the most altering of moments can fly under the radar.

After the Spurs won their first NBA title in 1999, they went on to suffer three consecutive early postseason exits. Injuries played a factor, but the team, as a collective, seemed to lack that killer instinct from a few years before.

Then David Robinson announced he would retire at the of the 2002-03 season. 

Robinson's impending departure instilled new life into the cause, and San Antonio ultimately earned a second championship ring, ensuring that the Admiral was able to go out without bang.

And that's about as dramatic an ending you'll ever see the Spurs take part in.

Toronto Raptors

The Moment: Vince Carter suffers "jumper's knee" (2002)

Before there was Linsanity there was Vinsanity.

The Raptors lived and died by the accolades of Carter, which is why his infamous knee injury in 2002 was so detrimental to their future success.

Though Toronto managed to clinch a playoff berth without Carter to end the 2002-03 campaign, that would be the last time they'd reach the postseason until after his departure.

Carter still managed to compile impressive point totals upon his return the following season, but he suffered yet another knee injury.

From thereon, the Raptors seemed to lack motivation and dug themselves into a hole they couldn't get out of.

For three years.

Utah Jazz

The Moment: A premature goodbye to Deron Williams (2011)

Apparently, the Jazz were fearful that the Melodrama, which plagued the 2010-11 campaign, was contagious.

More than a year before Deron Williams was even eligible to become a free agent, Utah dealt him to the the Nets, in a move that shocked the basketball world.

Amidst the bevy of backlash Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James were receiving, the Jazz wanted to ensure they weren't smoked by their free agent to be.

The trade went against everything the NBA had been standing for; teams were supposed to cater to their stars not embrace the opportunity to continue on without them.

But not this team, no sir, not the Jazz. They bow down to no one, including Paul Millsap.

Washington Wizards

The Moment: Unwarranted re-signing of Gilbert Arenas (2008)

What's the only logical thing to do after watching a player appear in only 13 games all season?

Why, offer him nine-figure contract, of course.

After watching Arenas struggle to come back from a knee injury during the 2007-08 campaign, the Wizards deemed it pertinent to offer him a six-year deal, worth upwards of $127 million.

Arenas wound up accepting $16 million less—reducing the contract value to $111 million—to avoid "financially" binding the Washington organization. And here we thought chivalry was dead.

The fact remains, though, Arenas' contract showed the Wizards were committed to winning, they were just blind to the fact of how to do so. His knee never fully recovered, he's no longer a member of the team and they haven't clinched a playoff berth since that contract was signed.

Now that's what I call taking a turn for the worse.

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