1-Sided Trades in Retrospect

[bdrr]

Was reading a retrospective on the Pistons 2004 title team. It talked about how Detroit had traded Grant Hill to Orlando for Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins. Media at the time called the trade 1-sided, and it most certainly was to everybody at the time. Hill had forced Detroit's hand, and two starting quality players was probably the best they could hope for. It's ironic that in retrospect, we can look at this trade and concluded that it was 1-sided - in Detroit's favor. Orlando got a expensive superstar coming off a horrific injury which would lead him to play a whole 57 games over his first four seasons with the team, and just 200 over six while never being anything more than a shadow of his former self. Detroit got one of the best defensive players of all time, who would be a key figure in one title and a half decade of franchise dominance. Hill may ride his name to Springfield, but Wallace will have earned it with sweat and determination.

What other "one-sided trade" can you think of which turned out to be one-sided in the other direction? Trades involving baseball prospects are too easy, so let's avoid that.

[AbraCalabro]

I want to say the 3 way trade that sent Kemp to Cleveland, Baker to Seattle and Brandon to Milwaukee, but it was disastrous for everyone involved.

[realreodeal]

Divac for Kobe on draft day.

[drobfan8]

Man, at the time moving Hill was massive. But what a get for Detroit.

Ben Wallace was a beast defensively and so intimidating.

People forget the year CLE beat them they had let BW walk because they didn't want to pay him. DET were never the same again.

The Hill injuries were such a shame, especially at that price.

[drobfan8]

Other one sided trades.

SA trade George Hill
Ind trade the 15th pick which SA select Kawhi Leonard.

I love G. Hill but man SA got away with murder.

Well played.

[drobfan8]

Oh and Scottie Pippen for Olden Polynice.

[connor77977]

Are you talking trades that were seen as 1 sided when they occurred and then switched after to one sided for the other team? Cant really think of any off the top of my head, but if you are talking 1 sided trades in general id look at pretty much every trade the Celtics have made since the brooklyn robbery

[AbraCalabro]

Oh and Scottie Pippen for Olden Polynice.

Yeah this one was a really one sided trade for sure.

[dvstringz]

Bucks trading away the draft rights of Dirk Nowitzki for Robert Traylor.

I believe the Bucks had no intentions of drafting Dirk so they made this trade.

[the27guy]

The best that I know of is JBC for McHale and Parrish. One joker for not one but two HOFers.

[BostonNut]

Whoever the Celts gave the Suns for IT....

[thenwhatjk]

How has gasol for gasol not been mentioned?

[Pierce09]

Other one sided trades.

SA trade George Hill
Ind trade the 15th pick which SA select Kawhi Leonard.

I love G. Hill but man SA got away with murder.

Well played.

Don't forget the rights to David Bertans for the Spurs as well.

[Wolves4Life]

How has gasol for gasol not been mentioned?

How was that 1 sided?
Gasol helped Kobe win 2 titles

M. Gasol is probably 4th best Center in the league behind Davis, Cousins, Towns. Isn't that win win? Plus Pau is still playing good til his injury. Not like he fell off the face of the earth.

[Ottomatic]

The Nets trading all of those picks for a very old Garnett/Pierce duo. Terrible.

[the27guy]

The Nets trading all of those picks for a very old Garnett/Pierce duo. Terrible.

This is pretty high on the all time list. I think the JBC trade beats it... but can't imagine that many more do.

[drobfan8]

How was that 1 sided?
Gasol helped Kobe win 2 titles

M. Gasol is probably 4th best Center in the league behind Davis, Cousins, Towns. Isn't that win win? Plus Pau is still playing good til his injury. Not like he fell off the face of the earth.

Agreed.

At the time it seemed more of a P. Gasol for Kwame Brown and the unknown fat brother.

But it was totally win/win.

[WaiverWire]

can't believe no one has mentioned the Harden trade yet.

[asujbl]

How have we gone this long without talking about Kyrie Irving?

Dude was basically free. Sorry Mo Williams.

Now there was a lot of luck in that trade but still.

[DajuanWagner]

Was reading a retrospective on the Pistons 2004 title team. It talked about how Detroit had traded Grant Hill to Orlando for Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins. Media at the time called the trade 1-sided, and it most certainly was to everybody at the time. Hill had forced Detroit's hand, and two starting quality players was probably the best they could hope for. It's ironic that in retrospect, we can look at this trade and concluded that it was 1-sided - in Detroit's favor. Orlando got a expensive superstar coming off a horrific injury which would lead him to play a whole 57 games over his first four seasons with the team, and just 200 over six while never being anything more than a shadow of his former self. Detroit got one of the best defensive players of all time, who would be a key figure in one title and a half decade of franchise dominance. Hill may ride his name to Springfield, but Wallace will have earned it with sweat and determination.

What other "one-sided trade" can you think of which turned out to be one-sided in the other direction? Trades involving baseball prospects are too easy, so let's avoid that.




I thought you meant trading cards.....I can think of a couple times I have traded and it was pretty 1-sided.....

[hoopstaj]

one that's not a big headline deal but helped my team: Lakers trade Brian Cook and Maurice Evans for Trevor Ariza. I really liked Ariza and he brought that 3 and D to the Lakers championship

[andy88c]

Gasol trade wasn't one-sided in retrospect, but I think everyone and their mother thought that the Grizzlies had gotten ripped off, but it's pretty much an even win/win trade. Lakeshow won two titles with Pau, so they got a good deal. Grizzlies got a franchise player who loves small-market Memphis (went to HS there) and looks willing to stay for his entire career. I'm curious as to which side the poster who mentioned it thinks got ripped off.

Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round pick (Devin Ebanks)
for
Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, first round draft picks in 2008 (Donte Green) and 2010 (Greivis Vasquez) and the rights to Marc Gasol

[Cactuspies]

I don't know the history of the how the hawks fared with getting Hofers but would this go down as the Royals getting jobbed or just Red being Red? Part of the Celtic lore

http://www.celticsblog.com/2012/8/22/3259135/the-boston-celtics-best-trade-ever-ice-capades-edition

[thenwhatjk]

How was that 1 sided?
Gasol helped Kobe win 2 titles

M. Gasol is probably 4th best Center in the league behind Davis, Cousins, Towns. Isn't that win win? Plus Pau is still playing good til his injury. Not like he fell off the face of the earth.

Ah my bad misunderstood OP, gasol for gasol was seen as super one sided at the time and as time went it was not

[TWard]

The Lakers/Grizzlies Gasol-for-Gasol trade is the first one that springs to mind for me, especially as a Grizzlies fan. A lot of people here, including myself, viewed the trade as completely and totally lopsided in the Lakers' favor obviously. No one ever thought that Marc would become the player he is today. I'd say the trade worked out well for both teams but at the time, the trade looked to be in LA's favor.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jeslan89]

Ill just throw out the trade that did/didn't happen between the Lakers/Hornets/Rockets.

Who knows what would have been or could have been across the league.

[razorsharp]

Garnett to Boston.

[Rareairx23]

Garnett to Boston.

Ill agree to an extent, i know the wolves havent turned it around, but boston gave up soooooo much for him. Im not complaining though :D

[razorsharp]

Ill agree to an extent, i know the wolves havent turned it around, but boston gave up soooooo much for him. Im not complaining though :D

At the time it looked like they did. But as it turned out it was nothing but fluff. None of the players Minnesota received ever made an All Star team. Al Jefferson proved to be just a good stats bad team guy.

It was highway robbery when you look at the trade now.

[JMarchand1981]

I think the pierce/Garnett for brooklyns immediate future is a massive heist. The nets got two older vets that couldn't get the job done any longer for two firsts and the option to swap firsts in between. This is up there for the most one sided trade in any sport. Especially if the C's end up at #1 this year.

[401cards]

Rajon Rondo for Jae Crowder and a first rounder (since Yabusele) got a ton of flak at the time. Two years later, Jae is a starter on the #2 team in the East and Rondo is playing behind Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant on a different team.

[JMarchand1981]

Rajon Rondo for Jae Crowder and a first rounder (since Yabusele) got a ton of flak at the time. Two years later, Jae is a starter on the #2 team in the East and Rondo is playing behind Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant on a different team.

I forgot that was the rondo deal. Didn't the C's also get jammer Nelson here?

[DuncanHOF]

Definitely not 1-sided like many of these deals, but Detroit dealing Adrian Dantley for Mark Aguirre was a key factor in their two championship runs. At the time, Aguirre was hated by his Dallas teammates and Dallas was not playing well. After the trade, Detroit went on to 2 titles, whereas Dantley only played 1 1/2 decent seasons for the Mavs and retired a season after leaving Dallas.

Another one that comes to mind is the Wizards cashing their chips in early on Rip Hamilton in exchange for Jerry Stackhouse. Once again, it wasn't seen as a complete steal for Washington, but I remember many people thinking that Stack was clearly the better player of the two. He hung around a while, but soon dropped off from his 20 ppg seasons whereas Hamilton went on to become the Pistons' most effective and consistent scorer during their deep playoff runs.

[The Admiral]

Rodman for Perdue anyone?

[Chris P]

I'm noticing a lot of these trades don't fit the OP's criteria...it's not just one sided trades in general...it's one sided trades where the team that was supposed to be getting a steal ended up getting the worst part of the deal. The Tractor Traylor for Dirk trade always pops up in my mind first because my buddy is a hardcore Mavs fan since the early 90's so he had gone through so many lows and he was excited about Tractor Traylor then IRATE the Mavs traded him away for some "foreign dude who might not even come over this season"....I'd say as the years went by Dirk grew on him a lil bit lol

[asujbl]

I'm noticing a lot of these trades don't fit the OP's criteria...it's not just one sided trades in general...it's one sided trades where the team that was supposed to be getting a steal ended up getting the worst part of the deal. The Tractor Traylor for Dirk trade always pops up in my mind first because my buddy is a hardcore Mavs fan since the early 90's so he had gone through so many lows and he was excited about Tractor Traylor then IRATE the Mavs traded him away for some "foreign dude who might not even come over this season"....I'd say as the years went by Dirk grew on him a lil bit lol

Very true... I didn't read the entire original post... and mine wasn't relevant. Haha.

[Earvin32]

Hershal Walker to the Vikings for draft picks.
I would say the KG trade to the celtics got them a title and the wolves had to start over from scratch again.
Kobe for Vlade also stands out.

[tjforce]

Won't be the top trade on this list, but how about the Cavs burning 2 teams for key pieces to their title run:

Cavs get: JR Smith and Iman Shumpert

Thunder get: Dion Waiters

Knicks get: Alex Kirk, Lou Amundson and Lance Thomas.

Waiters was a bust in OKC, and the Cavs don't get a title without JR and Shrump.

[the27guy]

Here's another one that's forgotten....

The Jazz made a deal with Phoenix, who had barely acquired a future Knicks' pick as part of a deal sending Stephon Marbury to New York. The Jazz got Tom Gugliotta and his expiring contract along with three draft picks for Ben Handlogten and Keon Clark - basically PHO needed to clear apace and so they sent the picks as payment for taking on Googs terrible contract. The Knicks' pick was "protected" for several years until 2010, when they had to give it up. The Jazz used their second top 10 pick since 1983 to choose...


Gordon Hayward....


Thanks New York and Phoenix!

[bdrr]

Divac for Kobe on draft day.

I don't believe this counts, because the trade was pre-arranged. It was really just Divac for the 13th pick. Lakers told Charlotte who to draft.

[bdrr]

Are you talking trades that were seen as 1 sided when they occurred and then switched after to one sided for the other team? Cant really think of any off the top of my head, but if you are talking 1 sided trades in general id look at pretty much every trade the Celtics have made since the brooklyn robbery

Yes . . . this is the question.

As it . . . when it happens, Team A supposed got a 1 sided deal, but history proves that it was really Team B who got the 1 sided deal.

[bdrr]

Here's another one that's forgotten....

The Jazz made a deal with Phoenix, who had barely acquired a future Knicks' pick as part of a deal sending Stephon Marbury to New York. The Jazz got Tom Gugliotta and his expiring contract along with three draft picks for Ben Handlogten and Keon Clark - basically PHO needed to clear apace and so they sent the picks as payment for taking on Googs terrible contract. The Knicks' pick was "protected" for several years until 2010, when they had to give it up. The Jazz used their second top 10 pick since 1983 to choose...


Gordon Hayward....


Thanks New York and Phoenix!

There's a lot of stories like this.

But, let's share one that I'm sure is close to your heart. The Utah Jazz trade a future 1st round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in order to sign an end-of-his-career Gail Goodrich.

That pick - turned out #1 overall? Magic Johnson.

Lakers were the masters of those deals back in the day. They turned Don Ford into a future 1st rounder from Cleveland . . . and grabbed James Worthy at #1.

[the27guy]

There's a lot of stories like this.

But, let's share one that I'm sure is close to your heart. The Utah Jazz trade a future 1st round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers in order to sign an end-of-his-career Gail Goodrich.

That pick - turned out #1 overall? Magic Johnson.

Lakers were the masters of those deals back in the day. They turned Don Ford into a future 1st rounder from Cleveland . . . and grabbed James Worthy at #1.

I hate you....

The Jazz got the 27 overall 2013 pick from Denver for a pick in the 40s and cash.

They drafted Rudy Gobert.

I still think the JBC for Parish and McHale is the greatest one sided trade ever. Somebody validate me.

[bdrr]

I hate you....

The Jazz got the 27 overall 2013 pick from Denver for a pick in the 40s and cash.

They drafted Rudy Gobert.

I still think the JBC for Parish and McHale is the greatest one sided trade ever. Somebody validate me.

I personally don't like referring to picks as the player, as it still required the team to draft that player. Though I guess since it was a draft day trade it counts?

[the27guy]

I personally don't like referring to picks as the player, as it still required the team to draft that player. Though I guess since it was a draft day trade it counts?

Yeah.... that's how I understand it at least. Gotta think the C's knew they weren't getting JBC, and were okay getting McHale.

In any case, two HOFers in one trade for a significantly below average #1 is something people should know about.

[bdrr]

Yeah.... that's how I understand it at least. Gotta think the C's knew they weren't getting JBC, and were okay getting McHale.

In any case, two HOFers in one trade for a significantly below average #1 is something people should know about.

That's actually not true at all. JBC was considered a can't-miss #1 pick of the KAT type. And, indeed, he was a top 5 center the first five years of his career averaging about 20+/9+ a night. As good as he was, he just didn't give a rats ass effort wise, just coasted off of his natural talent. He was also a jackass, and somehow played one year in Italy due to a contract dispute.

Hence his nickname: "Joe Barely Cares"

[the27guy]

That's actually not true at all. JBC was considered a can't-miss #1 pick of the KAT type. And, indeed, he was a top 5 center the first five years of his career averaging about 20+/9+ a night. As good as he was, he just didn't give a rats ass effort wise, just coasted off of his natural talent. He was also a jackass, and somehow played one year in Italy due to a contract dispute.

Hence his nickname: "Joe Barely Cares"

I'm gonna push back on ya Bern. I think he is a below avg #1 pick. I know he was talented. I know the nickname. I know that he put up decent career averages, but he only led GS to one .500+ season and he didn't have good longevity.

If we put the #1 overall picks of every season together and rank their careers, he's certainly not the worst, but I'd argue that he's in the bottom half. Probably bottom quartile.


And the C's walked away with two of the NBA's greatest 50...

[bdrr]

I'm gonna push back on ya Bern. I think he is a below avg #1 pick. I know he was talented. I know the nickname. I know that he put up decent career averages, but he only led GS to one .500+ season and he didn't have good longevity.

If we put the #1 overall picks of every season together and rank their careers, he's certainly not the worst, but I'd argue that he's in the bottom half. Probably bottom quartile.


And the C's walked away with two of the NBA's greatest 50...

No, not even close. Besides, if we're talking about winning record then Anthony Davis is as a complete failure as JBC. Yeah. AD is in his 7th season. I think they might have a worse overall win % than JBC's Dubs. Don't get me wrong, it's a factor, but as the sole evidence is weak.

I think you're also glossing over the long and immaculate history of mediocre #1 picks.

Since 1990 -

Derrick Coleman - Worse
Larry Johnson - Equal
Shaq - Better
Webber - Better
Big Dog Robinson - Equal
Joe Smith - Worse
Iverson - Better
Duncan - Better
Olowokandi - lol
Brand - Slightly better
KMart - worse
Kwame - Makes Kandiman look like good pick
Yao - better
LBJ - better
Howard - better
Bogut - solid player, but worse
Bargnani - worse
Oden - makes Kwame look like good pick
Rose - Equal to slightly better
Blake - better
Wall - better
AD - better
Kyrie - better
Bennett - makes Oden look like good pick
Wiggins - probably better

So, I'm just going off the last 25 years of picks.

At minimum there were 9 #1 picks that were definitively worse ranging from horribad to solid careers but not great careers. There another 3-4 players that would be generally in the same range as JBC based on the numbers they put up and longevity. There were 13 that were definitively better.

So, yes - if we take the last 25 years as representative, he's in the bottom half, but in that small group of solid players towards the middle of the grouping at somewhat under average. Hardly bottom 25%.

[the27guy]

No, not even close. Besides, if we're talking about winning record then Anthony Davis is as a complete failure as JBC. Yeah. AD is in his 7th season. I think they might have a worse overall win % than JBC's Dubs. Don't get me wrong, it's a factor, but as the sole evidence is weak.

I think you're also glossing over the long and immaculate history of mediocre #1 picks.

Since 1990 -

Derrick Coleman - Worse
Larry Johnson - Equal
Shaq - Better
Webber - Better
Big Dog Robinson - Equal
Joe Smith - Worse
Iverson - Better
Duncan - Better
Olowokandi - lol
Brand - Slightly better
KMart - worse
Kwame - Makes Kandiman look like good pick
Yao - better
LBJ - better
Howard - better
Bogut - solid player, but worse
Bargnani - worse
Oden - makes Kwame look like good pick
Rose - Equal to slightly better
Blake - better
Wall - better
AD - better
Kyrie - better
Bennett - makes Oden look like good pick
Wiggins - probably better

So, I'm just going off the last 25 years of picks.

At minimum there were 9 #1 picks that were definitively worse ranging from horribad to solid careers but not great careers. There another 3-4 players that would be generally in the same range as JBC based on the numbers they put up and longevity. There were 13 that were definitively better.

So, yes - if we take the last 25 years as representative, he's in the bottom half, but in that small group of solid players towards the middle of the grouping at somewhat under average. Hardly bottom 25%.

You ran off those #1 overall picks from memory.... didn't you? Man after my own heart.

I laughed out loud at your commentary. And agree 100%.

I think I agree. Below avg? yes. Probably not bottom 25% though. The nickname. The leaving to play internationally.... he probably gets a bit of a bad wrap... though he wasn't a success.

[Chris P]

Here's a backfire "steal" trade. The Pistons trading Otis Thorpe to the Grizzlies for a future 1st round pick. That pick ends up being the 2nd overall in the loaded 03-04 class. With Melo, Bosh, Wade available the Pistons select.....DARKOOOOOOOO. It's insane they won the title anyways, but man that ended up being a terrible trade/pick in retrospect

[pigeonsbaseball]

As a Bullets/Wiz fan there are quite a few horrible trades that we have made. A couple bad trades with Detroit that I will have to pull up for the exact details.

One that I do remember was trading away Chris Webber. Webber for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe. Brutal.

[rttrffg2012]

As a Bullets/Wiz fan there are quite a few horrible trades that we have made. A couple bad trades with Detroit that I will have to pull up for the exact details.

One that I do remember was trading away Chris Webber. Webber for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe. Brutal.

Who remembers Eddie griffin?

Drafted by the nets, traded to the rockets for Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins.
Nice!

Griffin was a head case the didn't play much.
Jason Collins was a starter for a few years and Jefferson was all-rookie team