NBA Trades in the 2000s That Changed Everything with One Move

by Jeremy Block - 10/25/2024

In the fast-paced world of the NBA, trades can make or break a franchise in the blink of an eye. Some deals spark a team’s championship dreams, while others leave fans scratching their heads, wondering what went wrong.

Let’s be real: amidst the countless blockbuster trades we’ve seen over the years, there’s always one team that ends up crashing and burning on either side of the deal. So, let’s dive into some NBA trades that changed everything for a franchise—sometimes for the better, and sometimes not so much.

7. Suns Trade PG Rajon Rondo to Celtics

People tend to forget that Rajon Rondo didn’t start his career with the Celtics; he actually began with the Phoenix Suns. Drafted in the 2006 NBA Draft, the Suns didn’t think he’d be productive enough and quickly traded his rights to Boston—a move that turned out to be a massive mistake.

Rondo blossomed into a pivotal player for the Celtics during his 8 1⁄2 seasons there, helping lead Boston to an NBA title while racking up several assist titles and earning the steals championship in 2009-2010. He even made the All-Rookie team!

Meanwhile, the Suns struggled to put together a playoff team during Rondo’s rise, definitely ending up on the wrong side of that deal.

6. Hornets Trade PG Chris Paul to Clippers

This trade still sparks plenty of conversation, leaving countless NBA fans scratching their heads about why the New Orleans Hornets (at the time) would ever consider trading away their franchise player. Drafted fourth overall out of Wake Forest, Chris Paul was a slam dunk for the Hornets, and it quickly became clear they had struck gold. Over six seasons, Paul led the team to a few playoff appearances, proving he was the real deal.

But let’s be honest: it was never Paul who was the problem. With averages of 18.7 points and 9.9 assists per game, he clearly needed some help, and New Orleans never delivered. Eventually, they traded him to the Clippers, who were just beginning to make waves as ‘Lob City.’ Joining forces with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in Los Angeles, Paul found the perfect fit.

In his time with the Clippers, Paul maintained impressive averages of 18.8 points and 9.8 assists per game, leading the team to a few Conference Semifinals and Conference Finals. It’s safe to say that Charlotte really messed this one up—big time.

5. Grizzlies Trade PF Pau Gasol to Lakers

Still considered one of the biggest steals in trade history—especially in the 2000s—Pau Gasol kicked off his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies. From his rookie season, it was clear he was a force to be reckoned with, averaging 17.6 points, 2.1 blocks, and 8.9 rebounds per game. And it only got better from there!

After eight seasons in Memphis, the franchise made a head-scratching decision to pull the plug on their ‘Gasol project.’ They traded him to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and a couple of draft picks. Spoiler alert: that deal was nowhere near fair.

Gasol thrived in Los Angeles, teaming up with Kobe Bryant to win two NBA championships and rack up multiple All-Star selections. To this day, Memphis has struggled to find a player as impactful as Gasol. Talk about a colossal misstep!

4. Raptors Trade SG Vince Carter to Nets

While it wasn’t exactly a championship situation for the Raptors, the trade that sent their most notable player away left fans scratching their heads for quite a while.

In the early 2000s, the Toronto Raptors had a solid team with stars Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, along with veteran Hakeem Olajuwon. At one point, they looked like they could make a deep playoff run. But everything changed when new general manager Rob Babcock decided to blow things up, leading to Carter being traded to the Nets for Alonzo Mourning, Aaron Williams, and two first-round picks. Talk about a steal!

Carter didn’t just find a new home in New Jersey; he absolutely thrived there. During the 2004-2005 season, he averaged a career-high 27 points per game, plus, making several playoff appearances, proving that the Raptors definitely missed out on what could have been a legendary partnership.

3. 76ers Trade PG Allen Iverson to Nuggets

Much like Toronto's saga with Vince Carter, but arguably with more severe consequences, the 76ers made the head-scratching decision to part ways with their franchise player—Allen Iverson. And we’re talking about more than just a player here; Iverson was a cultural icon who transformed the game and was the main reason fans filled those seats at Wells Fargo Center.

Drafted by Philadelphia in 1996, Iverson hit the hardwood running, averaging 23.5 points per game in his rookie season alone. Over the next 11 seasons, he continued to light it up, reaching career highs of 33 points and 7.9 assists per game. But for some reason, the Sixers' management decided it was time for a change and shipped him off to the Nuggets. And what did they get in return? Well, let’s just say "lopsided" doesn’t even begin to cover it—Philly received Andre Miller, Joe Smith, and two first-round picks in 2007.

After that, the 76ers were in for a rough ride, struggling to find their footing as a below-average team. Meanwhile, Iverson joined a stacked Nuggets squad featuring Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and veteran Kenyon Martin.

Together, they made several playoff appearances and even reached the 2008-2009 Western Conference Finals. So yeah, let’s just say the Sixers definitely had some regrets after that one.

2. Timberwolves Trade PF Kevin Garnett to Celtics

Easily one of the top trades of the 2000s was Minnesota's decision to part ways with their prized possession, Kevin Garnett. Drafted in the 1996-97 NBA Draft, 'The Big Ticket' was the face of the franchise for 12 seasons. He dominated the court, racking up career highs of 24.2 points and 13.9 rebounds per game.

But despite his elite performances, the Timberwolves could never seem to build a championship team around him. So, what did they do? They decided to trade Garnett ahead of the 2007-2008 season to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, and a couple of first-round draft picks. Let’s be real: Minnesota got completely ripped off. You could see the impact the moment he left.

As for Garnett? He didn’t just find a new team; he found a winning one. With Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce by his side, the Celtics went on to win the NBA Finals that year, averaging 18.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

1. Lakers Trade C Shaquille O’Neal to Heat

Another unforgettable trade that still sparks conversation is when the Lakers parted ways with arguably one of the most dominant players in NBA history—Shaquille O’Neal. Despite winning three championships with the Lakers, they were unwilling to meet the hefty contract demands O’Neal had in negotiations. Add in the constant speculation about the relationship between him and Kobe Bryant, and it was clear things were rocky.

So, when the Miami Heat came knocking in 2004, O’Neal did what any of us would do: he packed his bags for a team that valued him and was ready to write a big check.

But what did the Lakers get in return? Nothing close to making up for losing the most dominant presence in the league at that time—Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant (who?), and a first-round pick.

In his first year with Miami, Shaquille O’Neal teamed up with Dwyane Wade and led the Heat to the NBA Finals, where they fell short against the Detroit Pistons. The following year, however, they bounced back, making another Finals appearance and this time defeating the Dallas Mavericks in six games, securing Shaq’s fourth championship.

While the Lakers went on to snag a few more titles not long after, it’s impossible not to ponder the 'what ifs.' If Shaq had stayed in Los Angeles with Kobe, who knows how many more rings they could have racked up together?

Start:	November 23, 2024 @ 2:30 PM
Expert:	Tony George
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