Trades can be a risky affair. Sometimes they turn out to be very beneficial for one team, but send the other towards a cellar. The number of trades that have proven to be successful for both the teams are without doubt in the minority. In a basketball scoreboards feature, I have reviewed some of the most lopsided trades that took place in the history of NBA.
Charles Barkley
Barkley was traded to the Phoenix Suns by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992. Barkley had established himself as a great player with a great personality. The 76ers traded him for Tim Perry, Jeff Hornacek and Andrew Lang. Barkley fast became the key player for the Suns, and the basketball scoreboards showed that he led them to the finals of the 1993 NBA championship. On the other hand, the 76ers lost out big time from this trade, as Hornacek moved onto Utah Jazz and became a very important player for the them, whilst Perry and Lang failed to shine.
Scottie Pipen
In 1987, the Seattle Super Sonics traded Scottie Pippen and Jeff Sanders to the Chicago Bulls and received B.J Armstrong, Sylvester Gray and Olden Polynice in return. This trade proved to be successful for the Seattle as Polynice’s performances took off, and he became a huge influence for the team. At the time, Pippen, who was assumed to be the key player in this trade, became nothing more than Jordan’s sidekick.
Robert Parrish and Kevin McHale
Two future hall of famers where traded to the Boston Celtics by the Golden State Warriors in 1980. The Warriors received Joe Barry Carroll, a first round pick. He lasted 11 seasons in the NBA and had a decent career, however the two players he was traded for became the most important and honored players for the Celtics. This trade was truly a very big mistake for the Seattles.
Kobe Bryant
He was traded by the to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 and Charlotte received Vlade Divac in return. Divac wasn’t a bad player at all; he was a reliable center, an All-Star and averaged more than 14 points per game, but on the other hand Kobe achieved A LOT more. He is on the top of almost every list and he is regarded as one of the best players ever to have played in the league.
Pau Gasol
The Memphis Grizzlies traded Pau Gasol and Devin Ebanks to the Los Angeles Lakers and received Kwame Brown, Marc Gasol, Donte Greene, Greivis Vazquez and Javaris Crittenton in 2008. Out of the players the Gizzlies received, only Marc Gasol is emerging as a decent player. On the other side, Pau Gasol has helped the Lakers to reach the finals in each of his three seasons. The Lakers were clearly the winners in this trade!
For more information, go to:
http://www.nba.com/