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 perplexed, wondering what went wrong.

Let’s face it: Among the countless blockbuster trades we’ve seen over the years, there’s always a 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 started with the Phoenix Suns. Drafted in the 2006 NBA draft, the Suns didn’t think he would be productive enough and quickly traded his rights to Boston, a move that turned out to be a huge mistake.

Rondo became a key player for the Celtics during his 8 1/2 seasons there, helping Boston win an NBA title while racking up multiple assist titles and winning the steals championship in 2009-10. He even made the All-Rookie team!

Meanwhile, the Suns struggled to build a playoff team during Rondo’s rise, definitely finding themselves on the wrong side of that deal.

6. Hornets trade PG Chris Paul to the Clippers

This trade still sparks many conversations, leaving countless NBA fans wondering why the (at the time) New Orleans Hornets would ever consider trading their franchise player. Drafted fourth overall out of Wake Forest, Chris Paul was a slam dunk for the Hornets, and it quickly became clear that they had struck gold. Over the course of 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. Averaging 18.7 points and 9.9 assists per game, he clearly needed help, and New Orleans never delivered. Eventually, they traded him to the Clippers, who were just starting to make waves as “Lob City.” By teaming up with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan in Los Angeles, Paul found the perfect solution.

During his time with the Clippers, Paul averaged impressive 18.8 points and 9.8 assists per game, leading the team to a handful of conference semifinals and finals. It’s safe to say that Charlotte really blew it.

5. Grizzlies trade PF Pau Gasol to Lakers

Still considered one of the biggest steals in trade history, especially in the 2000s, Pau Gasol began his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies. By his rookie season, it was clear that 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 the life-changing decision to end its “Gasol Project.” They traded him to the Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and a few draft picks. Spoiler alert: this deal was far from fair.

Gasol thrived in Los Angeles, teaming with Kobe Bryant to win two NBA championships and rack up multiple All-Star selections. To date, 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 away their most notable player left fans scratching their heads for quite a while.

In the early 2000s, the Toronto Raptors had a solid team featuring stars Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter, as well as 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 theft!

Carter didn’t just find a new home in New Jersey; he absolutely thrived there. During the 2004–05 season, he averaged a career-high 27 points per game and appeared in 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 the Toronto saga with Vince Carter, but arguably with more serious consequences, the 76ers made the life-changing 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 is the main reason fans filled those seats at the Wells Fargo Center.

Drafted by Philadelphia in 1996, Iverson hit the hardwood, averaging 23.5 points per game in his rookie season alone. Over the next 11 seasons, he continued to light it up, averaging 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 sent him to the Nuggets. And what did they get in return? Well, let’s just say “unbalanced” doesn’t even begin to cover the problem: Philadelphia received Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first-round picks in 2007.

After that, the 76ers hit a rough patch, struggling to find their footing as a below-average team. Meanwhile, Iverson joined a stacked Nuggets team that included Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, JR 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 the Celtics

One of the biggest trades of the 2000s was Minnesota’s decision to part ways with their most 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 performance, the Timberwolves were never able to build a championship team around him. So what did they do? They decided to trade Garnett before the 2007-2008 season to the Celtics for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff and a few first round picks. Let’s be real: Minnesota was completely ripped off. You could see the impact from the moment he left.

As for Garnett? He didn’t just find a new team; he found a winner. With Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce alongside him, the Celtics won 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 conversations is when the Lakers parted ways with one of the most dominant players in NBA history: Shaquille O’Neal. Although they won three championships with the Lakers, they were unwilling to meet O’Neal’s onerous contract demands during negotiations. Add to that the constant speculation about the relationship between him and Kobe Bryant, and it was clear that things were rocky.

So when the Miami Heat arrived on his doorstep 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 make a big check.

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

During his first year in Miami, Shaquille O’Neal teamed 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 appearance in the Finals and this time defeating the Dallas Mavericks in six games, securing Shaq’s fourth championship.

As the Lakers won a few more titles soon after, it’s impossible not to think about the “what ifs.” If Shaq had stayed in Los Angeles with Kobe, who knows how many more rings they could have accumulated together?

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