NBA Trade Deadline Deals That Changed History
While the NBA trade deadline often passes with less excitement than anticipated, that isn't always the case.
In fact, some deals have proven to be nothing short of historical. For others, it remains to be seen just how momentous they'll be when all is said and done. Will Deron Williams even stay in New Jersey? Will Carmelo take the Knicks to the next level?
We'll all find out—sooner or later.
For now, here are the deadline deals that have shaped NBA history for better and worse.
Utah Jazz Get Jeff Hornacek: 1994
1 of 8The Utah Jazz of the 1990s are most remembered for the dynamic inside-outside duo of Karl Malone and John Stockton. But when the eventual Hall of Famers weren't running the pick-and-roll to perfection, Jeff Hornacek was quietly making his name as one of the game's best spot-up perimeter shooters.
After the Jazz acquired the shooting guard in 1994 (for Jeff Malone and a draft pick), Hornacek went on to average more than 14 points in five of his seven seasons in Utah.
The Jazz made it to the NBA Finals twice thanks in part to Hornacek's contributions. Beyond his shooting accuracy, Hornacek averaged 4.9 assists for his career and made teams think twice about double-teaming The Mailman in the post.
Celtics Jettison Chauncey Billups: 1997
2 of 8This deal can't help but make you wonder: What could have been?
The trade to the Raptors kicked off a series of deals that ultimately landed Billups on eight different rosters.
Of course, the Celtics eventually found their path thanks to later deals for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, but if Billups had remained with Boston, the NBA would have looked radically different for the next decade.
Aside from imagining the possibilities for the Celtics in this parallel universe, the Pistons may have never made it to the NBA Finals twice, robbing Motor City of one of the decade's best teams.
Indiana Pacers Reacquire Mark Jackson: 1997
3 of 8Indiana acquired Jackson (who played with the Pacers from 1994-1996) after just 52 games with the Denver Nuggets.
Jackson never averaged fewer than 7.9 assists during his next four seasons with the Pacers and played a crucial 27 minutes per game with the 2000 squad that took the Lakers six games into the NBA Finals. Though somewhat past his prime, Jackson brought the same veteran leadership that's translated into an early head-coaching gig for the former pass-first point guard.
Jackson may have had his best seasons early in his career with the Knicks, but he will be remembered by Pacers fans as a glue-guy that kept their team competitive night in and night out.
Detroit Pistons Acquire Rasheed Wallace: 2004
4 of 8The Pistons acquired Wallace at the trade deadline in 2004 in a deal that would help put Detroit over the top.
Wallace went on to average 13.7 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Pistons that season and helped Detroit beat the Lakers in the NBA Finals. He went on to have five more productive seasons with the Pistons, who remained relevant in the Eastern Conference and made it to the Finals again in 2005.
The deal didn't cost Detroit any significant pieces and helped round out a core of Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton.
Golden State Warriors Get Baron Davis: 2005
5 of 8Baron Davis didn't exactly define a dynasty in Golden State, but two years after the Warriors acquired him, the always-entertaining point guard brought some postseason hope to a long-starved fan base.
In the first round of the 2007 playoffs, Davis led the eighth-seeded Warriors over the dominant Dallas Mavericks in the West. Golden State would ultimately come down to earth in the second round, but Davis averaged 25.3 points, 6.5 assists and 2.9 steals over the course of the postseason.
Baron's four seasons with Golden State were arguably the best of his career and helped establish him as a household name.
Los Angeles Lakers Switch Gasols: 2008
6 of 8Technically, this deal went down a couple of weeks before the deadline, but it so drastically altered the balance of power in the NBA that it deserves mention.
A season after coming up short against the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles maneuvered to strengthen a frontcourt otherwise led by an oft-injured and still developing Andrew Bynum. The rest, of course, is history: the Lakers took each of the next two NBA championships and evened the score with Boston in 2010.
While less historical thus far, the deal also sent Pau's brother Marc Gasol to the Memphis Grizzlies. Though viewed as a lopsided deal at the time, Marc has gone on to anchor Memphis' post and earned a selection to his first All-Star Game this year.
Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams Go to the Eastern Conference: 2011
7 of 8History has yet to pass judgement on the two deals that rocked the NBA at last year's trade deadline.
The Knicks acquired Carmelo Anthony, satisfying the superstar's wishes to land in a larger market while simultaneously reloading Denver's roster with a slew of young talent including Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov and Raymond Felton.
Meanwhile, New Jersey acquired Williams to be the Nets' star of the future while sending back Devin Harris and rookie up-and-comer Derrick Favors.
A year later, both teams are in various states of disarray. The Nets are struggling to improve their roster to keep Williams around, while the Knicks proved unable to reconcile Anthony's skills with now ex-coach Mike D'Antoni's game plan.
It's too soon to declare these deals failures, but it's also too soon to confirm their historical significance.
Clippers Lose a No. 1 Pick, and Not Just Any No. 1 Pick: 2011
8 of 8With just three hours to go before the NBA trade deadline, the Los Angeles Clippers decided that losing their first-round pick was worth it if it meant ridding themselves of Baron Davis' contract.
Little did they know that pick would turn into the first overall selection in the 2011 draft. Los Angeles eventually landed Chris Paul and Mo Williams (acquired in exchange for Davis), but the Cavaliers absolutely cashed in with Kyrie Irving.
We can only begin speculating about this deal's eventual significance for Cleveland. Irving was the premier talent of last year's draft and is on pace for a no-brainer selection as Rookie of the Year. Irving has become the first step in a long rebuilding process for the Cavaliers, but that's one heck of a first step.
