The Biggest Gift Trades in Sports

While most player and draft-pick exchanges simultaneously benefit the goals of each team involved, there are those baffling times when one team seemingly stands tall.

Whether the team relinquishes a star for a throng of journeyman backups or gives up a high draft pick that turns out to be a steal for an aging veteran, one team's fanbase becomes ecstatic while the other loses faith. 

These trades have altered the futures of franchises and affected the careers of those in charge.

Here are the best gift trades in sports.

Enjoy.

10. Memphis Builds for the Future Without Pau Gasol

This was a case of the rich getting richer.

As a 7'0" star center on the ever-rebuilding Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol seemed ready to reside in the bottom of the NBA's Western Conference until he was sent to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster move that rattled the league.

Not only did the Lakers rid themselves of a $9 million expiring contract in draft bust Kwame Brown, but they received Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round draft pick in return.

While they also gave up Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, now-solid center (and younger brother of Pau) Marc Gasol and 2008 (Donte Greene, traded for Darrell Arthur) and 2010 (Greivis Vasquez) first-round draft picks, the Lakers clearly came out on top.

The Grizzlies have made strides, but the Lakers made three finals appearances since the trade, with two wins.

9. The Initial Big Three in Boston

Here was the first case of Boston having a Big Three.

In 1980, the Celtics traded the No. 1 pick in the draft and the No. 13 pick to Golden State for center Robert Parish and the No. 3 pick, which they used on forward Kevin McHale.

This young tandem joined franchise-star Larry Bird and lead the Celtics to three championship wins, reaching immortality in Boston.

The Warriors chose center Joe Barry Carroll first overall and Rickey Brown at No. 13, eventually making the playoffs only once with Carroll patrolling the paint. 

8. The Great Train Robbery

On paper, this was one of the most complex trades in history, but in reality it led to the start of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the 1990s.

The deal may have featured star running back Herschel Walker leaving Dallas, but it was the resulting draft picks that were received in exchange that changed the Cowboys forever.

Two of the picks Dallas received turned into Emmitt Smith and safety Darren Woodson, who both led the team to three Super Bowls in four seasons.

Walker never had a 1,000-yard season in his two years in Minnesota.

7. John Elway Runs for Denver

This trade may have been forced by the star involved, but it was still technically a gift.

After being drafted with the first-overall pick of the 1983 NFL Draft, former Stanford quarterback John Elway decided he wouldn't play for the Baltimore Colts.

The Colts eventually traded Elway to the Denver Broncos for signal caller Mark Hermann, offensive tackle Chris Hinton and a first rounder in 1984 (guard Ron Solt).

Elway eventually won 148 games (more than any quarterback in history), led the Broncos to five Super Bowls (two wins) and finished second in passing yards (51,475) and third in touchdowns (300).

The Colts received seven pro bowls from Hinton, but insignificance from the other two players involved.

6. Michael Jordan's Second in Command

Draft night in 1987 will continue to live in infamy with Sonics (now Thunder) fans. 

Seattle traded fifth-overall pick Scottie Pippen to Chicago for the eighth-overall pick Olden Polynice, a second-round pick and the option to switch first-round picks in 1989.

While Pippen helped Michael Jordan lead the Bulls to six championships and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010, Polynice played for five teams during his career and averaged 7.8 points per game.

5. An Amazin' Mistake

While he may have wanted out of New York, the deal that sent Hall-of-Fame fireballer Nolan Ryan to the California Angels will continue to haunt Mets fans.

After trading the 24-year-old and pitcher Don Rose, outfielder Leroy Stanton and catcher Francisco Estrada to the Angels for shortstop Jim Fregosi, the Mets watched their former 12th-round pick develop into a legend.

He pitched 22 more seasons after the trade, with 296 more wins and a record seven no-hitters (the Mets have none in their history).

Fregosi, on the other hand, dealt with a plethora of injuries and was eventually sold to the Texas Rangers in 1973.

4. Vote for Pedro

Known as one of the greatest pitchers of all time, the legend of Pedro Martinez started in Los Angeles... until one infamous day. 

Martinez was traded to the "memorable" Montreal Expos after going 10-5 as a rookie in 1993 for second baseman Delino DeShields. 

While DeShields played only three years for the Dodgers and hit an unspectacular .241, the fireball pitcher from the Dominican Republic won three Cy Young awards and went on to dominate the game of baseball for many years.

3. The Nets' Doctor Is out

Seemingly the Babe Ruth of basketball, Julius Erving was sold to the Sixers in 1976 for $3 million by beleaguered Nets owner Roy Boe.

Dr. J took Philadelphia to the NBA Finals four times (winning in 1983).

Philly benefited from his 11 All-Star appearances, 1981 MVP and exuberant play.

The Nets, however, eventually had to move from Long Island to New Jersey because of their financial problems.

2. Frank Robinson Gets Younger

Despite finishing the 1965 season with a .296 average, 33 homeruns and 113 RBI, star outfielder Frank Robinson was deemed an "old 30" by Reds General Manager Bill DeWitt, who eventually traded him to Baltimore for pitchers Milt Pappas and Jack Baldschun and outfielder Dick Simpson.

Not only did Robinson win the Triple Crown the following season, MVP of the ALCS and lead the Orioles to their first championship, but the team made it to four World Series during his tenure in Baltimore.

His impact was all that mattered.

1. The Infamous Curse

More than a sale than a trade, this exchange was the start of the notorious "Curse of the Bambino".

With Red Sox owner Harry Frazee searching for money to finance the musical "No, No, Nanette," he made arguably the boldest move in the history of sports.

After selling legend Babe Ruth (who led the Sox to their fifth World Series in 1918) to the Yankees for $100,000 (and a $300,000 loan) in 1920, Frazee would change history forever.

665 homeruns, seven World Series appearances and four titles later, both fanbases were still in awe.