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What Are the Worst Trades in NBA History?

Blake RobertsBy Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 21 August 2023
Blake Roberts Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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Los Angeles Lakers Logo Worst Trades in NBA History

Have you ever wondered about the worst trades in NBA history? Trades that left fans and experts alike shaking their heads in disbelief? Then you’re in the right place! Today, we’re going to be showing you some of the most controversial and worst NBA trades ever, looking at why they happened, who was involved, and why the NBA worst trades turned out to be such disastrous trades for the teams and players.

NBA Worst Trades: A Deep Dive

The NBA isn’t just about the thrill of the game. It’s also about the strategy behind each move, including the trades that can make or break a team. Some trades have gone down in history for their absolute brilliance, while others are infamous for being awful. That’s what we’re focusing on today – the worst NBA trades of all time that have caused controversy and dismay among fans.

Worst NBA Trades Ever: Unraveling the Missteps

Every sports fan knows that a single trade can dramatically change the prospects of an NBA franchise. But what makes a trade truly the worst? Is it the imbalance in the player talent swapped? Or perhaps it’s the future draft picks that were given away too easily, leaving a franchise unable to compete at the top level for years?

We believe it’s a mix of all these factors and more. Some trades are so imbalanced, they leave one team growing to new heights while the other becomes unable to retain the levels of quality they once enjoyed. Other times, it’s the potential of traded players, only truly recognized after the deal, that leaves fans shaking their heads in disbelief. Plus, let’s not forget those trades where teams spent well over the market price only to see little-to-no return on their investment.

While this page looks at the worst NBA trade ever, our website covers everything US-sports-related. For example, if you’re looking for information on betting on the NBA, be sure to check out our other pages. We also show you the best US-facing sportsbooks, all of which offer betting on NBA and more.

Kareem Abdul: The Worst NBA Trade Ever?

In 1975, the Milwaukee Bucks made one of the most unfortunate trades in NBA history when they sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the LA Lakers. Having won an NBA Championship, three MVP awards, and set numerous records with the Bucks, Kareem was undeniably one of the top players in the league. However, he was very vocal about disliking living life in Milwaukee and wanted to go to a marquee team, so he requested the trade himself.

In return for Kareem and Walt Wesley, the Bucks received Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Dave Meyers, and Junior Bridgeman. While these players were talented, they really couldn’t fill the space left by Kareem’s absence.

On the other hand, Abdul-Jabbar flourished in Los Angeles, becoming one of the team’s top players in history, securing five additional championships, three more MVP awards, and becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. This trade is a perfect example of the risks involved in NBA trades; the Bucks lost one of the greatest players in the game, and the Lakers enjoyed a huge win.

Bill Russell Goes to the Celtics

Bill Russell’s arrival at the Boston Celtics in 1956 wasn’t through a conventional trade, instead happening because of quite a unique move during the NBA draft. The St. Louis Hawks initially picked Russell as their second pick, but the Celtics’ Red Auerbach, recognizing Russell’s potential, decided to come up with a trade that sent Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to the Hawks in exchange for Russell.

The result of this trade is now legendary. Russell went on to revolutionize the game with his defensive abilities and fantastic rebounding skills, and he led the Celtics to an incredible 11 championships in his 13 seasons. His trade was perhaps the greatest steal in NBA history.

On the other side, although Macauley and Hagan had good careers with the Hawks, their impact was nowhere close to Russell’s. Boston’s gain was a massive loss for the Hawks, marking this move as one of the worst NBA trades ever.

Kobe Bryant: A Steal for the LA Lakers

In 1996, on draft day, the Charlotte Hornets selected Kobe Bryant, an 18-year-old high school prodigy with the 13th pick, then shockingly traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac. There’s no doubt Divac was a talented player, but his abilities on the court would end up paling in comparison to what Bryant would accomplish.

Bryant, mentored by Jerry West, developed into one of the greatest players in NBA history. Over a 20-year career, all with the Lakers, he won five NBA Championships, two Finals MVP awards, and one regular season MVP award. His impact also went far beyond the court, and he helped to influence an entire generation of players. His death was marked with global mourning, and he’ll be remembered for the rest of NBA history.

The Hornets, on the other hand, didn’t get a great deal. While Divac had a few decent seasons, he couldn’t transform the Hornets into a championship contender. It’s considered to be one of the worst trades in NBA history – and for good reason.

Moses Malone and the Portland Trail Blazers

Moses Malone’s move to the Buffalo Braves in 1976 is another great example of one of the worst trades in NBA history. At the time of the trade, Malone was a rising talent in the ABA. However, he was picked up by the Blazers in the ABA-NBA merger. As soon as he was picked up, however, Portland decided to trade Malone to the Buffalo Braves for a draft pick, considering they already had Bill Walton as their star center.

This would prove to be a big mistake, and the Blazers clearly didn’t recognize Malone’s potential on the court. He’d go on to become one of the greatest centers in NBA history, with three MVP awards, an NBA Championship, and 12 All-Star appearances to his name.

Unfortunately, Portland’s acquired draft pick turned into no more than a role player, failing to make any significant impact on the team. Additionally, Walton’s injury issues meant the Blazers couldn’t capitalize on his talent fully, a situation Malone could have potentially alleviated.

Wilt Chamberlain Goes to the Lakers

In 1968, the Philadelphia 76ers made a move that remains one of the most controversial trades in NBA history: they traded Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers. Chamberlain, a native Philadelphian and arguably the most dominant player of his time, had led the 76ers to an NBA championship just two seasons prior.

What the 76ers received in return looks incredibly unbalanced; they received Darrall Imhoff, Jerry Chambers, and Archie Clark, who, combined, could hardly match Chamberlain’s abilities. Imhoff and Chambers played only briefly for the 76ers, while Clark had several productive seasons, but none could replicate Chamberlain’s impact.

In Los Angeles, Chamberlain continued to build upon his legacy, helping the Lakers secure an NBA championship in 1972. He remained a leader on both ends of the court, proving the 76ers had given up one of the best talents in the game for what would turn out to be a very mediocre return.

These are some of the worst trades in NBA history. To summarize, let’s recap the main player traded, and the impact of the trade in the table below:

Player Traded Impact of Trade
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Lost a franchise player, gained solid performers
Bill Russell Missed out on a player who became an NBA legend
Kobe Bryant Gave up a future NBA superstar for a decent player
Moses Malone Missed a potential star, gained an average player
Wilt Chamberlain Traded away a superstar, gained mediocre talent

Frequently Asked Questions

By now, you should have a much better idea about the worst NBA trades ever, why they occurred, and the lasting impact they had on the teams involved. To finish off, we're going to answer some frequently asked questions about the NBA worst trades we've mentioned.

Why did the Bucks trade Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar requested a trade from the Milwaukee Bucks because he wasn't happy living in Milwaukee and wanted to be able to play in bigger, more lucrative markets. To many people's surprise, the Bucks approved his request, trading him to the Los Angeles Lakers. Although they received several players in return, none could match Kareem's impact on the court, and it's widely considered to be the worst NBA trade in the league's history.

What prompted the Bill Russell trade to the Celtics?

The trade was made by Red Auerbach, the Boston Celtics' GM. Auerbach was able to see Bill Russell's potential and decided to send Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to the St. Louis Hawks in return for Russell. This turned out to be an incredibly good decision, as Russell became one of the leading players for the Celtics, proving himself to be an irreplaceable part of the franchise.

Why was Kobe Bryant traded to the LA Lakers?

The Charlotte Hornets traded Kobe Bryant to the LA Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac, a move aimed at improving their center position. This trade turned out to be terrible, as Bryant became one of the greatest players in NBA history while the Hornets saw almost no benefit from the player they received in return.

Why did Portland trade Moses Malone?

Portland traded Moses Malone to the Buffalo Braves because they already had a star center in Bill Walton, and they couldn't see Malone's potential. However, Malone went on to become one of the greatest centers in NBA history, and Portland would regret this trade for the duration of Malone's time in the league.

What led to the trade of Wilt Chamberlain to the Lakers?

The Philadelphia 76ers traded Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers due to Chamberlain's deteriorating relationship with the 76ers management and his desire for a change. The return for Chamberlain was poor, and the 76ers never quite recovered from the loss of their dominant player.
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