NBA Deal Winners: Top Teams To Get Lucky After Trading Away A Star

A lot of trades seem completely lopsided. One team gets the huge All-Star, the other team ends up with a worn-out veteran, a draft pick, or a young player who "could" turn out to be a good player.

And sometimes, the teams on the bottom half of the deal get a big surprise.

These are the top teams to get a little lucky boost from a trade that looks really bad on paper.

Bucks - Traded away Richard Jefferson

In the offseason the Milwaukee Bucks traded away Richard Jefferson for Bruce Bowen, Kurt Thomas, and Amir Johnson. Collectively they had started two games since the trade. (Granted that only Thomas remains on the team.)

Still, with this bad trade and the Michael Redd injury, the Bucks are above .500.

Why?

The 10th overall pick in the draft is leading the team with incredible numbers. Brandon Jennings is averaging over 20 points and five assists per game.

I guess it was just the luck of the draw, or some really intelligent scouting. But I have to wonder what their record would be like had they kept Jefferson and Redd was healthy...

Denver - Traded away Allen Iverson

Last season the struggling Nuggets traded away their megastar Allen Iverson in what was called a lopsided deal for the Pistons, who gave up only Chauncey Billups in the end.

(Detroit also traded, but then re-acquired Antonio McDyess.)

Denver placed second in the conference that year.

And with the exception of the embarrassing home loss to the Timberwolves recently, the Nuggets are playing very well this season.

Chauncey turned out to be a fantastic leader of the squad at the point, and Carmelo proved he could do a lot more to score.

Iverson is just a mess at this point.

Hornets - Traded away Baron Davis

In 2005, the Hornets traded Baron Davis to the Warriors for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis. None of these players still play on their respective teams.

That year they drafted Chris Paul.

I bet New Orleans fans have forgot all about Davis at this point.

Not too long ago the Hornets were the second best team in the division lead by breakout low 2003 pick David West, and their extremely young All-Star, Chris Paul.

The Hornets have struggled this year with Emeka Okafor at center, but they are some good years away from the Davis era.

Nets - Traded away Jason Kidd

The New Jersey Nets traded arguably their best player in franchise history, Jason Kidd, to the Dallas Mavericks for Devin Harris, an unknown starting point guard.

The next year he becomes an All-Star and no one saw it coming.

Granted, the 0-17 Nets don't really consider themselves too lucky this season, but last year they proved to be a team that you had to look out for with a healthy Devin Harris leading the way.

76ers - Traded away Allen Iverson

It was disappointing to Philadelphia fans to see the Iverson era end when all they were receiving was Denver's untested point guard, Andre Miller.

And now, they may be missing him more than Iverson.

Miller was a huge factor for the 76ers in the playoffs the past few seasons, where they've had some impressive wins, just not many series wins.

The two Andres (Miller and Iguodala) were on fire down the stretch, and now Mr. Miller plays for the Trailblazers, and the 76ers are suffering because of it.

(Side note: The Sixers-Iverson reunion doesn't seem likely. The Sixers don't even want him anymore, even though he's just there for the taking.)

Suns - Traded away Shaq

The Suns gave up Shaq, their points, rebounds, and blocks leader, to the Cavs for current bench players on the Timberwolves and Pistons.

The Phoenix Suns currently have the best record in the NBA.

With Amare Stoudemire only missing around 30 games last season, why the drastic turnaround?

Part of the success must be due in part to the acquisition of Channing Frye, who has started all 16 games, and shot beautifully in all of them.

With Amare's improving success, and with Steve Nash playing like Steve Nash, they look like a whole new team.

They just aren't, really.