Black Friday: The 15 Biggest Bargain Trades in Sports History
Well, America, today is your day.
Feel free to trample your way into Target once those doors are open, ruthlessly brawl strangers for the last "Tickle Me Elmo" and spoil your kids rotten.
It's Black Friday!
In honor of this rich American tradition, let's take a look back at some of the most infamous rip-offs in sports history.
The Florida Panthers Trade Roberto Luongo to the Vancouver Canucks
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Florida Panthers Received: Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen, Alex Auld
Vancouver Canucks Received: Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek, Sixth Round Draft Pick
Todd Bertuzzi and Alex Auld no longer play for the Panthers, whose playoff drought is now approaching 12 years.
Meanwhile, Roberto Luongo has been voted into three All-Star games and won a gold medal, arguably establishing himself as the best goaltender in the NHL and the world.
Advantage Canucks.
The Vikings Trade Their Future for Herschel Walker
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Dallas Cowboys Received: Jesse Solomon, David Howard, Issiac Holt, Darrin Nelson, Alex Stewart, Minnesota's 1990 First Round Pick (Emmitt Smith), Minnesota's 1990 Second Round Pick (Alexander Wright), Minnesota's 1990 Sixth Round Pick (Traded to NO), Minnesota's 1991 First Round Pick (Alvin Harper), Minnesota's 1991 Second Round Picks (Dixon Edwards, Darren Woodson), Minnesota's 1992 Third Round Pick (Traded to NE), Minnesota's 1993 First Round Pick (traded to PHI).
Minnesota Vikings Received: Herschel Walker, Dallas' 1990 Third Round Pick (Mike Jones), San Diego's 1990 Fifth Round Pick (Reggie Thornton), Dallas' 1990 10th Round Pick (Pat Newman), Dallas' 1991 Third Round Pick (Jake Reed)
The sheer fact that this move became known as "The Trade" is enough to solidify its spot as arguably the biggest bargain trade in sports history.
Although Walker was one of the league's most dominant running backs at the time, the Vikings surrendered their entire future for him. Ultimately, Walker was a bust in Minnesota, and the Cowboys used this trade to kick-start their dynasty.
The Milwaukee Bucks Trade Dirk Nowitzki to the Mavericks
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Dallas Mavericks Receive: Dirk Nowitzki
Milwaukee Bucs Receive: Robert "Tractor" Traylor
In one of the most overlooked trades in sports history, the Milwaukee Bucks traded German prospect Dirk Nowitzki to the Dallas Mavericks for Robert Traylor.
Traylor, who was actually rated higher than Nowitzki headed into the draft, was a complete and total bust. Meanwhile, Nowitzki is a perennial All-Star and winner of the 2007 MVP.
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The Minnesota Timberwolves Trade Kevin Garnett to the Celtics
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Minnesota Timberwolves Received: Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Boston's 2009 First Round Pick (Ricky Rubio), Boston's 2009 First Round Pick Originally Belonging to Minnesota (Jonny Flynn)
Boston Celtics Received: Kevin Garnett
Although this trade now resonates as one of the most lopsided in NBA history, it sounded like a decent one at the time.
The 'Wolves owed Garnett the chance to play with a contender, and Boston was shipping a ton of youth to Minnesota. However, David Kahn and his team failed to make anything out of those two first round picks or the players they acquired.
The Red Sox Trade Jeff Bagwell to the Houston Astros
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Houston Astros Receive: Jeff Bagwell
Boston Red Sox Receive: Larry Andersen
At the 1990 trade deadline, the Boston Red Sox looked to shore up their bullpen by acquiring Houston Astros reliever Larry Andersen. In order to acquire the pitcher, they gave up first base prospect Jeff Bagwell.
Needless to say, the move did not pay off for the Sox, but Bagwell became one of the best players of this generation.
The Charlotte Hornets Trade Kobe Bryant to the Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kobe Bryant
Charlotte Hornets Receive: Vlade Divac
Ironically, Divac would later become an integral part of the Kings-Lakers rivalry in the early 2000s, but that does not erase the bargain the Lakers received.
It is difficult to blame the Hornets for trading Kobe considering he reportedly told the team that he would never play for them, but he has since established himself as arguably the greatest player of all time. Meanwhile, the Hornets have done, well, nothing.
The Boston Red Sox Trade Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees
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New York Yankees Received: Babe Ruth
Boston Red Sox Received: $125,000, one $300,000 mortgage on Fenway Park and three installments of $25,000 to be paid at six percent interest.
Um, yeah. You know the history. One curse and 86 years is all it took for Boston to rebound from this trade.
The Philadelphia Flyers Trade Peter Forsberg to the Quebec Nordiques
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Quebec Nordiques (Colorado Avalanche) Received: Peter Forsberg, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, the Flyers' 1993 First Round Pick (Jocelyn Thibault), and the Flyers 1994 First Round Pick (Traded to Toronto)
Philadelphia Flyers Received: Eric Lindros
The Nordiques selected Lindros with the first overall pick in the 1991 NHL Draft, but he refused to play for Quebec due to their isolated location amongst other reasons.
Ironically, this trade sparked Quebec's move to Colorado, where Peter Forsberg would win the Hart Memorial Trophy and lead the team to a Stanley Cup victory.
Lindros, meanwhile, experienced some great success in the league, but his knack for concussions diminished his skill and prompted the bust label.
The Baltimore Orioles Trade Curt Schilling and Steve Finley to the Astros
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Baltimore Orioles Received: Glenn Davis
Houston Astros Received: Curt Schilling, Steve Finley and Pete Harnisch
Schilling, Finley and Harnisch all eventually became All-Stars, while Davis spent three unproductive years with the dreadful Orioles.
It is moves like this that have buried Baltimore into oblivion for so long.
The Chicago Blackhawks Trade Dominik Hasek to the Buffalo Sabres
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Chicago Blackhawks Received: Stephane Beauregard and a 1992 Fourth Round Draft Pick (Eric Daze)
Buffalo Sabres Received: Dominik Hasek
Before Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews arrived in Chicago, the Blackhawks were one of the most ill-fated franchises in sports.
The 'Hawks parted with Hasek after a loss in the 1992 Stanley Cup Finals, voting in favor of Ed Belfour. Hasek was shipped to Buffalo, where he won two Hart Memorial Trophies, four Vezina Trophies and three All-Star selections.
Neither Beauregard nor Daze had even relatively successful careers in the NHL, and Chicago suffered years of dreadful hockey.
The Atlanta Falcons Trade Brett Favre to the Green Bay Packers
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Green Bay Packers Received: Brett Favre
Atlanta Falcons Received: Green Bay's 1991 First Round Pick (Tony Smith)
Incumbent starting quarterback Chris Miller's 1991 Pro Bowl season made trading Brett Favre a sensible move for the Atlanta Falcons.
They had no plans to use their backup and jumped at the opportunity to obtain a first round pick for a player Falcons head coach Jerry Glanville never wanted to draft in the first place. The rest is history.
(Fun fact: This trade was almost nullified after Favre failed his physical.)
The Chicago White Sox Trade Sammy Sosa to the Cubbies
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Chicago Cubs Receive: Sammy Sosa and Ken Patterson
Chicago White Sox Receive: George Bell
According to Sosa's autobiography, he was traded after an incident with a team maid. Reportedly he walked into the clubhouse bathroom in his underwear while it was being cleaned, and somehow the White Sox used this as ammo for a trade.
Obviously, Sosa went on to enjoy an illustrious (possibly cork- and steroid-filled) career, while the White Sox struggled with mediocrity.
Although the Cubs won this battle, the White Sox won the war, winning a World Series in 2005.
The Memphis Grizzlies Trade Pau Gasol to the Lakers
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Los Angeles Lakers Received: Pau Gasol, Memphis' 2010 Second Round Pick (Devin Ebanks)
Memphis Grizzlies Received: Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol, the Lakers' 2008 First Round Pick (Traded to Sacramento) and the Lakers' 2010 First Round Pick (Greivis Vasquez)
Immediately after the trade, controversy surrounded the trade. Some reports claimed the deal was made in order to increase the value of the franchise to potential buyers.
Regardless, Pau Gasol was literally the only good thing the Grizzlies had going at the time, and he is arguably the best player in franchise history. The Lakers surrendered almost nothing and received a vital piece to two championship teams in return.
The Golden State Warriors Trade Robert Parish and Kevin McHale to the Celtics
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Golden State Warriors Received: The Boston Celtics' 1980 First Round Draft Pick (First Overall, Joe Barry Carroll)
Boston Celtics Received: Robert Parish, the Warriors' 1980 First Round Draft Pick (Third Overall, Kevin McHale)
Celtics president Red Auerbach's prowess was on its ultimate display in this 1980 trade. Joe Barry Carroll had an unremarkable career (to say the least), while McHale and Parish played vital roles in Boston's rise into a dynasty. Both Parish and McHale became Hall of Fame inductees.
The New York Mets Trade Nolan Ryan to the California Angels
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New York Mets Received: Jim Fregosi
California Angels Received: Nolan Ryan, Don Rose, Francisco Estrada and Leroy Stanton
Believing shortstop Jim Fregosi was the missing piece to a championship, the Mets shipped off disgruntled youngster Nolan Ryan to the California Angels.
Immediately after the trade, Nolan Ryan became Nolan Ryan. In his first year with the Angels, Ryan led MLB in strikeouts and went on to become the best pitcher in baseball history.
Had the Mets kept Ryan around and soothed his concerns, he and Tom Seaver could have given the Mets the best pitching rotation of all time.
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