Ranking the Best Trades in NBA History

These NBA Trades Shocked the World and Changed the Landscape of Basketball Forever

Historic Moves

It’s been a 75-plus-season history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Beginning as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946, merging with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949 to form the NBA. 

Over the course of all that time, there were countless transactions made with countless players (and other assets) rerouted along the way. Exactly how many names have been listed in the small-type agate is impossible to calculate. 

Broaching the subject of “best NBA trades” is also a tough task because “best” needs to be defined in the context of this story. 

Does it mean one-sided? Does it mean involving big names? Does it mean helping both teams?

Remember Bill Rusell was so coveted by the Boston Celtics that the Ice Capades were imported (to Rochester, N.Y.) as a lure (Google the whole episode back in 1956). 

Then, not quite 20 years down the road, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Milwaukee-to-Los Angeles trade changed the landscape of the league. 

There are any number of ways to look at transactions, but only one constant…trades aren’t able to be fully graded until the final outcome. What may seem to have favored Team “A” on paper turned out to help Team “B,”  or vice versa.

There isn’t a self-respecting general manager out there who wants to make a bad trade…unless his team is tanking. That doesn’t mean any number of trades have come back to bite teams in the posterior. 

In this current salary-cap era of the league, money can’t be ignored as player movements have to fit into certain slots. Some of these trades are so precise that often a third and fourth team is needed to make them work.

Here’s a look at some NBA trades that have made news while moving the needle…

What Big Trades Happened in the NBA in 2024-25?

It’s not NBA rumors, but a fact that many big names have changed teams during the first half of the (current) 2024-25 season. Start with Anthony Davis and Luka Doncic flipping teams (Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks) in a trade that actually involved three teams (Utah Jazz), six players, and three draft choices (one down the road in 2029).

Also, De’Aaron Fox and Zach Lavine changed jerseys in a three-team transaction (Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, and San Antonio Spurs).

Those weren’t the only players (and/or assets) to move prior to the NBA trade deadline (Feb. 6th), but the biggest as of this writing.  

Who Was Traded for a Printer in the NBA? 

We don’t think self-esteem is an issue with Kyle Korver, but one would forgive him if there was a time when he questioned his very worth. Back in 2003, the then-New Jersey Nets made the Creighton (Omaha, Neb.) sharpshooter the 51st overall selection in the draft.

Korver was then subsequently sold to the Philadelphia 76ers, with the Nets using that haul to fund a summer league team and, with what was left over, buying a copy machine. It wasn’t among the best NBA trades, but rather unique. 

Korver ended a well-traveled, 17-year NBA career in 2019-20 with 2,450 made 3-point field goals (eighth all-time as of this 2024-25 mid-season writing).    

Did BetUS Lakers/Mavs Championship Odds Change After Big Trade?

Indeed they did. Before the Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic (LA Lakers-Dallas Mavericks) trade, LA was. hovering around 40-1 (+4000) to be the NBA championship winner. It dropped to about 14-1 (+1400). Meanwhile, the Mavericks were about 20-1 (+2000) before the trade to approximately 30-1 (+3000). Bettors can’t ignore the fact that both Davis and Doncic are not healthy, both sidelined at the time of the trade.

Who Did the Lakers Get in the Trade? 

As was mentioned, the Anthony Davis-Luka Doncic trade involved not only the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks but the Utah Jazz as well. LA ended by obtaining Doncic, Max Klieber, and Markieff Morris. Regarding Luka Doncic’s stats, he is averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 points and 7.8 assists in 22 games during the 2024-25 season, He’s been sidelined since Christmas with an injured calf. Davis is averaging 25.7 points and 11.9 rebounds in ‘24-’25.   

Any Final Thoughts?

Player movement has always been a part of NBA news.  It’s not possible to assess any trade at its outset, especially with the current NBA where future draft choices are often in the mix.