NBA Trade News: Top 20 Players Ever Dealt Within an NBA Season
The NBA Trade Deadline is just less than a day away, but we have already seen two huge names change jerseys with Carmelo Anthony heading to the New York Knicks and Deron Williams moving to the New Jersey Nets.
While we could see a few more marquee names on the move within the next 24 hours, history tell us that it is nothing new to see star players dealt within a season.
Not all of these players changed teams at the last minute, but they were all big names at the time they were traded. Some of the moves paid off with immediate dividends, while others never had the impact that their new team would have expected.
So in preparation of tomorrow's deadline, here is a look back at the top 20 players who were traded during the NBA season. Keep in mind that it is the top 20 players; not the top 20 trades.
20. Kevin Johnson: Traded From the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Phoenix Suns
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KJ was a rookie in Cleveland, but he was stuck behind Mark Price. The Cavs knew that they simply had no room for him, so they decided to send him to Phoenix.
The Suns went on to watch Johnson become a three-time All-Star and lead the team to the 1993 NBA Finals (where they would lose to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls).
The Cavaliers also did fairly well, acquiring Larry Nance, yet were unable to ever reach the NBA Finals.
19. Chris Webber: Traded From the Golden St. Warriors to the Washington Bullets
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C-Webb wasn't long for Golden State. Shortly after winning the NBA Rookie of the Year, he was sent packing the following season. A problem with his contract and disagreements with head coach Don Nelson pretty much made this trade happen.
Webber became a member of the Bullets, but probably went on to have his most success as a member of the Sacramento Kings years later.
In this trade, however, the Warriors received Tom Gugliotta and three first round draft picks.
18. Tim Hardaway: Traded From the Golden State Warriors to the Miami Heat
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Hardaway was sent to the Miami Heat in a move that helped turn the franchise around. The Heat went on to win their first division title that same season in 1996.
Golden State was still in the process of breaking up what could have been a dynamic team along with Chris Webber, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin.
But this didn't work out well for them, as they sent Hardaway and Chris Gatling to Miami for Kevin Willis and Bimbo Coles.
Hardaway is still involved with Miami in an executive capacity.
17. Vince Carter: Traded From the Toronto Raptors to the New Jersey Nets
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Vinsanity was traded a few times in the midst of a season, but this first one was the biggest.
It just wasn't working out up north, so Carter was finally sent to a contender in New Jersey that saw him have some of his greatest seasons.
He was later traded by New Jersey to the Orlando Magic in the offseason, and just a few months back was sent from Orlando to the Phoenix Suns.
Who knows if it will be the last time he receives a call from his general manager. I wouldn't get too comfortable in the desert if I were him.
16. Stephon Marbury: Traded From the Minnesota T-Wolves to the New Jersey Nets
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Starbury was another player who would change uniforms a handful of times throughout his career, but the blockbuster came when he was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves to the New Jersey Nets in 1999.
Believe it or not, Minnesota was a great team around this time. With Kevin Garnett still in his prime, the Wolves were a contender in the late 1990's. This would be the first step to change all of that.
This was a three team deal that also saw Sam Cassel head to the Milwaukee Bucks. He is another man who would be dealt quite a few times in his career.
But although Marbury was dealt to the Nets, his goal was always to play for the New York Knicks. It was actually the Phoenix Suns who finally made that wish become possible in 2004, but that did not end well at all.
Are you listening, 'Melo?
15. Rasheed Wallace: Traded From The Portland Trailblazers To Detroit Pistons
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Actually, there was more to this trade.
Wallace was actually traded from the Portland Trailblazers to the Atlanta Hawks. That lasted for one day. Obviously that was always the plan, because it generally took longer for teams to get sick of Wallace than just one day.
The Pistons, however, would not tire of Wallace for quite some time. They won a championship that same season with him in the mix.
14. Gary Payton: Traded From The Seattle SuperSonics to The Milwaukee Bucks
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Payton had been the heart and soul of the Sonics for almost a decade before they sent him to the Bucks. This was a big deal for both, as he was traded for another elite guard - Ray Allen.
Payton wouldn't spend much time with Milwaukee, as he would join the Los Angeles Lakers. He gave up a huge contract from the Portland Trailblazers to sign for the mid-level exemption with the Lakers, along with Karl Malone.
They still never won a championship while playing in Los Angeles.
13. Baron Davis: Traded From The New Orleans Hornets to The Golden St. Warriors
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Davis was a key part of the Hornets both in Charlotte and New Orleans. He continuously led them to the playoffs, but injuries often forced him to miss extended periods of time.
He was sent to Golden State in 2005, but it never worked out well for the Warriors, even though it gave them an explosive backcourt along with Jason Richardson.
12. Danny Manning: Traded From The Los Angeles Clippers to Teh Atlanta Hawks
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In one of the more controversial moves of all-time, Manning was sent away from the team who drafted him to the Hawks for Dominique Wilkins, the team who also drafted him. Atlanta was in the middle of their best season.
Manning did not help out like the Hawks thought. They not only traded away one of their most popular players in franchise history, but they were eliminated in the first round.
It was not a move that worked out well for either team, but it certainly involved two big names. Of course, how many moved do work out well for the Clippers?
11. Deron Williams: Traded From The Utah Jazz To The New Jersey Nets
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No need for a recap on this one, as it just happened hours ago. Williams is an elite point guard, but I will be interested to see just how well Derrick Favors turns out in Utah.
10. Dikembe Mutombo: Traded From The Atlanta Hawks To The Philadelphia 76ers
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This was expected to be the move that would help the 76ers finally capture another NBA title. It did not work.
The team did reach the NBA Finals, but even the finger-wagging Mutombo was not enough to get Philadelphia past the Los Angeles Lakers.
At least they didn't have to give up much more than Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc, who were both past their prime.
9. Pau Gasol: Traded From The Memphis Grizzlies to The Los Angeles Lakers
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This was a deal that Jerry west should have been under investigation for after what he did to his Grizzlies.
A former player and general manager for Los Angeles, West basically handed the last two NBA titles to the Lakers because of this deal.
West did acquire a couple of first round draft picks and some young players, but this one wreaked of a helping hand.
But this time, Kevin McHale was not involved.
8. Carmelo Anthony: Traded from the Denver Nuggets to the New York Knicks
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Anthony is not the first player to make public he wishes to only play for the Knicks, but will things work out better for him than some of the past stars who called Madison Square Garden their home.
Only time will tell, but I'm not hating the package that Denver received for Anthony.
7. Clyde Drexler: Traded From The Portland Trailblazers To The Houston Rockets
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This was one of those trade deadline deals that works how the team getting the star player expects.
The Rockets were already the defending champs, but Drexler helped them repeat.Even as the #6 seed in the west, Houston was able to reach the Finals and sweep the Orlando Magic.
6. Dominique Wilkins: Traded From The Atlanta Hawks to The Los Angeles Clippers
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This should have been the image that Hawks fans saw until Wilkins retired, but they blew this one big time.
5. Ray Allen: Traded From The Milwaukee Bucks To The Seattle SuperSonics
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Although pictured here with the Miami Heat, Gary Payton was traded for the new all-time leader in three pointers made, but it was when Payton was a member of the Sonics in 2003.
Of course, the bigger trade involving Allen took place when Seattle sent him to the Boston Celtics during the NBA Draft in 2007.
We all know how that one played out.
4. Jason Kidd: Traded From The Dallas Mavericks To The Phoenix Suns
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Kidd was involved in two big trades involving the Dallas Mavericks.
In 1996 he was sent to the Phoenix Suns, and then the New Jersey Nets sent him back to the Mavs a couple of seasons ago. Kidd was also traded by the Suns to the Nets in between.
Kidd is still chasing that elusive NBA title, where he has only reached the Finals once, way back in 2003.
3. Allen Iverson: Traded From The Philadelphia 76ers To The Denver Nuggets
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This one came as quite a shocker for A.I. as he was traded away from the only team he ever knew as a professional.
He was sen to Denver for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first round picks, but things never took off for him in the Mile High City.
Iverson would later get traded from the Nuggets to the Pistons, but that team was past their prime at that point.
Anyone know where he is now? Turkey didn't last long with his injury.
2. Shaquille O'Neal: Traded From The Miami Heat to The Phoenix Suns
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Shaq was changed uniforms many times throughout his Hall-of-Fame career, but most of them happened during the offseason.
But one, in particular, took place at the trade deadline.
O'Neal was sent to the Suns after winning a championship with the Heat. Phoenix was the best in the west at the time, but the Suns decided to gamble by adding Shaq and breaking up their core.
It didn't work.
1. Wilt Chamberlain: Traded From The Warriors to The Philadelphia 76ers.
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Chamberlain started his pro career in Philly, but it was the Warriors who called the City of Brotherly Love home at the time.
They later moved to San Francisco, but the franchise traded Wilt to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Amazing that a player who scored 100 points in a single game was ever traded, huh?
Will Anyone Else Join This List By Tomorrow's NBA Trade Deadline?
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Teams have until tomorrow afternoon to make any alterations to their teams this season, but I have a feeling that the two biggest names have already been traded.
Chris Paul will not be with the New Orleans Hornets past the 2011 season, but I see him and many of the other superstars staying put by the time the deadline rolls around tomorrow.
But then again...
