Here are reviews of 10 of the NBA’s biggest trades in the past five years, with ratings for each of the teams involved.
Russ, CP3 swap places (July 2019)
| In Houston Rockets | In Oklahoma City Thunder |
|---|---|
| Russell Westbrook | Chris Paul |
| Choice of first round 2024 protected | |
| Choice of first round 2026 protected | |
| Right to trade first-round picks in 2021 | |
| Right to trade 1st round picks in 2025 |
The Rockets paid a fortune to trade Paul for Westbrook, but it’s fair to say that they haven’t improved much, if at all. Before the current hiatus, the Rockets were 40-24. In their first 64 games last year with Paul, Houston was 39-25 years old.
Oklahoma City, on the other hand, has proven to be better than anyone expected. So far, Paul has contributed to the success of the team as a mentor and leader. Remember, the Thunder was to rebuild after the deal. Right now, they’re tied for fifth in the West … with Houston.
Grades:
PG returns home to L.A. (July 2019)
| In Los Angeles Clippers | In Oklahoma City Thunder |
|---|---|
| Paul George | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| Danilo Gallinari | |
| 1st round choice 2021 (via Heat) | |
| 1st round pick in 2022 | |
| 1st round choice 2023 (via Heat) | |
| 1st round pick 2024 | |
| 1st round pick 2026 | |
| Right to trade 1st round picks in 2023 | |
| Right to trade 1st round picks in 2025 |
Landing George to help secure Kawhi Leonard’s signature immediately turned the Clippers into serious contenders. But their “preferential treatment” would have rubbed some in the locker room the wrong way. In addition, the Clippers’ calendar is tight thanks to George and Leonard having player options in 2021.
Meanwhile, putting this deal in a chart shows you how amazing the Thunder’s transportation was and how they took advantage of the situation to maximize their return. Gilgeous-Alexander is already a certified star in the making and the delicacy of first round choices opens up several avenues for general manager Sam Presti.
Grades:
AD travels to Hollywood (July 2019)
| To the Los Angeles Lakers | To the pelicans of New Orleans | Washington Wizards |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Davis | Brandon ingram | Isaac Bonga |
| Lonzo ball | Moritz Wagner | |
| Josh Hart | Jemerrio Jones | |
| 2019 first round pick (via Lakers) | 2nd round pick in 2022 (via the Lakers) | |
| Two future 1st round choices (via Lakers) | ||
| Future swap rights in the first round with the Lakers | ||
| Cash Considerations |
With Davis on board, the Lakers have clinched their first playoff spot since 2013. The seven-time All-Star has formed a devastating duo with LeBron James while anchoring the league’s second defense. If Davis signs again with L.A. in this offseason, the pair are expected to compete for several rings in the future.
Meanwhile, New Orleans has recovered two potential foundational pieces in Ingram and Ball, and returned De’Andre Hunter – the Lakers’ first-round selection in 2019 – for a set of assets, including Jaxson Hayes. Ingram’s 3-point development elevated him to one of the Association’s top scorers, while Ball quickly gelled with Zion Williamson.
Washington obtained three young workers and a choice for the fresh price of $ 1.1 million. Although Jones was released after the preseason, Wagner became an intriguing five-minute option and Bonga started 41 games during the 2019-20 campaign.
Grades:
- Lakers: A
- Pelicans: A-
- Assistants: A-
Knicks punt on Porzingis for the cap (January 2019)
| In Dallas Mavericks | In New York Knicks |
|---|---|
| Kristaps Porzingis | ByAndre Jordan |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | Dennis Smith Jr. |
| Trey burke | Wesley Matthews |
| Courtney lee | 1st round pick in 2021 |
| Protected 2023 first round pick |
Porzingis looks rejuvenated and is locked up until 2022-2023. The 7-foot-3 Latvian and teammate Luka Doncic had the Mavs’ pace to be the most effective offense ever before the League shutdown. Meanwhile, Hardaway has been anything but wage dumping, averaging 15.8 points and 40.7% long-range shooting this season.
New York treated its franchise player for ceiling space and sniffed on brand free agents. Although Smith initially showed promise, he had a disastrous campaign and is not the Knicks’ long-term solution at the moment. The first rounds will not have much value if Porzingis and Doncic remain healthy.
Grades:
Raptors blow up Kawhi from Spurs (July 2018)
| At Toronto Raptors | In San Antonio Spurs |
|---|---|
| Kawhi leonard | DeMar DeRozan |
| Danny Green | Jakob Poeltl |
| Protected 1st round choice 2019 |
Some Toronto fans were shocked to trade a franchise icon for someone with major health concerns. It didn’t take Leonard long to win them. Green, supposed to be a touchstone, has only made life easier for Raptor fans. Postman in the eventual championship and Toronto trades 10 times out of 10.
It didn’t work for San Antonio. DeRozan was far from a comparable replacement for Leonard and now appears when he leaves. Poeltl’s development has stagnated. Keldon Johnson, drafted with the Toronto pick, has only played nine games.
Grades:
Clippers ships Blake to Motor City (January 2018)
| In Detroit Pistons | In Los Angeles Clippers |
|---|---|
| Blake Griffin | Tobias Harris |
| Brice Johnson | Avery bradley |
| Willie reed | Boban Marjanovic |
| Protected 1st round choice 2018 | |
| 2019 2nd round pick |
The Pistons naturally had high hopes after the Griffin acquisition, but they have since been wiped out in part because of his injury problems. Despite their impending reconstruction, they are still grappling with the potential of $ 75 million or more remaining on his contract. Meanwhile, Reed made three appearances for Detroit and Johnson was knocked down for James Ennis a few days later.
Although neither Harris, Bradley nor Marjanovic are out of the Clippers, Harris had a solid 87 game stint before being dispatched to Philadelphia. The first round acquired for Griffin was then used to land Gilgeous-Alexander in a night trade with the Hornets.
Grades:
Celtics land Kyrie in 4-player blockbuster (August 2017)
| In Boston Celtics | At Cleveland Cavaliers |
|---|---|
| Kyrie Irving | Isaiah Thomas |
| Jae Crowder | |
| Ante Zizic | |
| Choice of 1st round 2018 (via Nets) | |
| 2nd round choice in 2020 (via Heat) |
Irving in love with Beantown with his words and play but was on the shelf as the Celtics lost a win before the 2018 NBA Finals. The All-Star greeted the following year, calling the youth of the team as he wrestled in a leadership role. After a playoff outing in the second round in 2019, Irving went into the net.
Cleveland fared slightly better, scoring the best current goalscorer Collin Sexton thanks to the Nets’ pick. Sexton averaged 20.8 points with 47.2% shots this season, but continued to fight defensively. Thomas was never the same after his hip injury and was fired on the 2018 deadline for Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson.
Grades:
OKC rolls the dice on PG (July 2017)
| In Oklahoma City Thunder | At Indiana Pacers |
|---|---|
| Paul George | Victor Oladipo |
| Domantas Sabonis |
Oklahoma City bet on itself to be able to keep George beyond 2017-18, and it worked; the star striker signed a long-term deal without making an appointment with his hometown Lakers.
George continued his first campaign in Thunder with a third place finish in the 2018-19 MVP vote, but the club suffered its third consecutive playoff outing in the first round. He would have requested an exchange that summer and the Thunder obtained the aforementioned massive transport.
Indiana improved its regular season record following George’s departure, posting consecutive campaigns of 48 wins. Oladipo and Sabonis became All-Stars, the latter being locked up until 2023-24.
Grades:
Clippers is retooling in a massive CP3 agreement (June 2017)
| In Houston Rockets | In Los Angeles Clippers |
|---|---|
| Chris Paul | Patrick Beverley |
| Lou Williams | |
| Show Harrell | |
| Sam Dekker | |
| Darrun Hilliard | |
| ByAndre Liggins | |
| Kyle Wiltjer | |
| Protected 1st round choice 2018 | |
| Cash Considerations |
Despite the team’s great success, the “unalterable” relationship between Paul and his co-star James Harden ultimately led to the former’s trade after two seasons. Injuries have also mired each of Paul’s campaigns in Houston. If he had been in good health for Games 6 and 7 of the 2018 Western Conference final, the Rockets would likely have eliminated the Cavs in the final.
The Clippers left with three important pieces for their current team, claiming the title. Beverley has been a defensive pest while Williams and Harrell have arguably formed the most powerful stroke in the league on the bench.
Grades:
Boogie in the Big Easy (February 2017)
| To the pelicans of New Orleans | At the Sacramento Kings |
|---|---|
| ByMarcus Cousins | Buddy Hield |
| Omri Casspi | Tyreke Evans |
| Langston Galloway | |
| 1st round pick 2017 | |
| 2017 2nd round choice (via 76ers) |
The area before Cousins-Davis seemed perfect. However, the results do not match. They thrived individually, but New Orleans lost 11-14 in the streak, missing the playoffs. In the middle of 2017-2018, Cousins tore his Achilles apart. He never played for the Pelicans again. Casspi, meanwhile, was removed after a match.
Evans and Galloway did not stay long, but Hield is now among the best players in Sacramento. The Kings used the first round pick to trade in the draft for two early Portland players, catching Justin Jackson – now with Dallas – and Harry Giles, who is moving to free will. The second round became Frank Mason III, who is now with Milwaukee.
Grades:
