The NBA draft, like doing business, is an important time to test the team and the draft players, and some teams take advantage of the prospects of young draft players to trade with other teams to get some chips that are conducive to the team's progress. But some teams made other teams a better superstar because of the wrong trade, and won the championship. So, let's take a look at the twelve greatest draft deals in NBA history.
12. Aldridge – 2006 NBA Draft
Bulls traded: Tyrus Thomas (draft pick), Victor Kayapah
Trail Blazers Trade Win: Aldridge
In 2006, the Chicago Bulls won the second overall pick in the first round with Aldridge and traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers. Averaging 19 points, eight rebounds and two assists per game in his career, Aldridge became one of the best stars in league history as a four-time All-Star player, and in 2021 he chose to retire due to physical problems. Tyrus Thomas averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game in his career, leaving the NBA at the age of 28 and spending his career more as a substitute for the team. Victor Kayapa averaged 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game in his career and left the NBA after two seasons with the Chicago Bulls after being traded, when he was only 25 years old.
11. Nash – 1998 NBA Draft
Suns traded to: Pat Garretti, Martin Mulsp, Bubawers, 1999 first-round draft pick (select marion)
Maverick Trade Gets: Nash
In 1998, the Dallas Mavericks sent a lot of players in order to get Nash, and later Nash also became a great point guard, Nash averaged 14 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists per game in his career, 8 All-Stars, and 2 regular season MVP. Unfortunately, Nash's partners Nowitzki and Finley failed to win the championship, and later Nash was also traded back to the Suns, creating a running boom era with D'Antoni, Xiaosi and Marion.
10. Chris Webb – 1993 NBA Draft
Magic trade: Anfenni Hardaway, three future first-round picks
Warriors trade win: Chris Webb
Chris Weber averaged 20 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists per game in his career, and Chris Weber was traded for a season with the Warriors, although he was a 5-time All-Star, but unfortunately failed to win a championship. The Magic later selected two outstanding players with three draft picks, but none of them were traded, giving the Warriors the picks in 1996 and 1998, the Warriors selecting Wenscat in 1998, the Magic selecting Mike Miller in 2000, and Mike Miller following the Heat Big Three to win two championships.
9. Tatum – 2017 NBA Draft
76ers Trade Win: Fultz
Celtics traded: Tatum, 2019 first-round draft pick (selected Romeo Langford)
Tatum has averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists per game in his career, and Tatum is already a 2-time all-star young star. Before the arrival of the draft night, the Celtics traded their No. 1 pick and the 76ers to get the No. 3 pick, and many rumors said that the Celtics knew his illness when they tried to train with Fultz, and now Fultz's season reimbursement at the Magic is also regrettable. If the 76ers hadn't traded with the Celtics, relying on Tatum, Embiid, Ben Simmons, the 76ers would have accomplished the feat of believing the process and won the championship.
8. Doncic - 2018 NBA Draft
Eagles traded to get: Trae Young
Maverick Trade Gets: Doncic
Doncic averaged 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists per game in his career, and Trae Young averaged 24 points, three rebounds and eight assists per game. Doncic is already in the top three of the young stars, leading the team to two playoffs. Trae Young is not bad, leading the Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021. The draft night deal looks like a win-win at the moment, as they both have the core players of the future that the team needs to rebuild and rise.
7. Ray Allen - 2007 NBA Draft
Supersonics traded: Jeff Green (draft pick), Derontwest, Wallis Zebiak, 2008 Second Round Draft (Trent Priest)
Celtics win: Ray Allen, Glen Davis (draft pick)
Ray Allen averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game in his career, and the Celtics traded with Ray Allen and Garnett, creating the Celtic Big Three, leading the team to the championship in 2008, which also allowed the league to start the rise of super teams. Ray Allen also joined the Heat to win the championship again after leaving the Celtics.
6. Nowitzki - 1998 NBA Draft
Bucks traded to get: Robert Treller
Mavericks traded: Deknovitsky, Pate Garretti
Nowitzki averaged 20 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game in his career, and Nowitzki won his first all-time title for the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, making nowitzki the greatest star in Dallas Mavericks history and one of the top ten forwards in league history. Unfortunately, Robert Treller only played 7 seasons in the league, only starting 73 games, and left the NBA at the age of 27.
5. Kevin McHale – 1980 NBA Draft
Warriors traded: Joe Barry Carroll, Ricky Brown
Celtic trades: Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish
Kevin McHale averaged 17 points, seven rebounds and one assist per game in his career, and Robert Parrish averaged 14 points, nine rebounds and one assist per game in his career. The reds used the deal to also have the two win three championships for Celtic, and Robert Parrish joined the Chicago Bulls in the final season of his career to win another championship. The Warriors were bloodied, just building an All-Star team that didn't want to win a championship like the Celtics.
4. Leonard – 2011 NBA Draft
Pacers Trade Get: George Hill
Spurs get: Leonard, Belstein, Eazem Lorbek
Leonard has averaged 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists per game in his career, two championships in his career, and two Finals MVP, Leonard is one of the best forward players in the active campaign and the most stable, and his leg injury in 2021 led to the reimbursement of the surgical season. If Leonard hadn't been traded, perhaps his partner Paul George would have brought a championship for the Pacers. George Hill is actually not bad, averaging 11 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game in his career, and he is also a good defender.
3. Pippen - 1987 NBA Draft
Supersonic trades won: Pornis Sr. , 1988 second-round pick (selected Sylvester Gray), option exchange rights 1988 or 1989 first-round first-round top three protected draft picks (selected B.J. Armstrong)
Bulls traded: Pippen (draft pick), 1989 first round draft (selected Jeff Sanders)
Pippen averaged 16 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists per game in his career, a great deal for the Chicago Bulls to rise. Because of Pippen's arrival, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won six championships, and we all know that without Pippen, the outstanding second boss, Michael Jordan and Chicago would not have won these six championships.
2. Bryant - 1996 NBA Draft
Hornet Trade Gets: Divac
Lakers trade win: Bryant
Bryant averaged 25 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game in his career, five championship trophies in his career, and 18 All-Stars, making Bryant the second most in league history to Michael Jordan. In fact, if the Hornets did not trade Kobe Bryant, it is difficult to say whether Kobe Bryant has a championship, but Kobe Bryant will still be one of the most fighting players in the league's era. Divac averaged 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game in his career, and he was a brilliant Serbian center who was selected as an All-Star once.
1. Bill Russell – 1956 NBA Draft
Eagles traded: Cliff Hegen, Ed McCauley
Celtic trade won: Bill Russell
Bill Russell averaged 15 points, 22 rebounds and four assists per game in his career, and Bill Russell won 11 championships in Celtics' 13 years, making the Celtics the NBA's traditional giants and team with the Lakers in terms of championship numbers. Ed McCauley averaged 17 points, six rebounds and three assists per game in his career, and Cliff Hegen averaged 18 points, six rebounds and three assists per game in his career, and the two teamed up to win a championship for the Hawks in 1957-1958.