Reading that Steph Curry was about to be a Phoenix Sun years back, I want to ask you guys what are some of the trades you can recall or have read about that could have changed the NBA landscape as we know it ....but never happened? I think no other almost-trade would have had a bigger impact than the Sampson for Portland's #2 pick in 1984 trade.
Chris Paul to LA in that Paul Gasol trade. That would have really changed things. I dont think Dwight would have left the Lakers if Paul was there. Just those two alone would have made Lakers a contender, even with Kobe on the sidelines.
Jordan to the Clippers for what could have been Rik Smits and Mitch Richmond would have been pretty earth shattering. This would have been pretty crazy as well. I think there was a Pippen for Kemp trade that never went down as well.
The Mighty Mouse almost trade really pissed me off. Stupid Portland came in at the last minute. Just imagine Dream, Chuck, Clyde and Damon on the same squad so close....
This trade would have made all three teams worse off IMO 1. Paul probably would have bolted from the Lakers after realizing what a wreck this team would be going forward. 2. Dwight Howard and James Harden wouldn't have been Rockets as Gasol (and the potential addition of Nene) would have taken up most of the cap room 3. New Orleans wouldn't have been bad enough to get all those ping pong balls for Anthony Davis
Yep. I thought that would have propelled us to the finals. Instead we were stuck with Maloney, Sedale Threatt, and a always hurt Brent Price. I really liked Price but he stayed hurt.
Basketball trade: Dwight to Brooklyn. If Lopez doesn't sign that extension, Dwight probably would have signed with Brooklyn in the offseason. I want to throw a football one in here... Terrell Owens to Baltimore. Fell through because T.O didn't want to play with Kyle Boller.
Cleveland getting cold feet on trading for Stoudemire because they wanted to keep JJ Hickson back in 2010 will probably go down as one of the Top 3 biggest mistakes in the city's sports history. 1. LeBron probably would have stayed 2. Amare still had two great years left in him 3. Miami wouldn't have won 2 more titles 4. Cleveland might have eeked out one title
Not a trade, but Tim Duncan was literally 12 hours away from signing with Orlando as a free agent back when Grant Hill did. It would have completely changed the last 15 years of NBA history.... The Spurs don't dominate like they have, Popovich may not have survived long term. Another trade that almost happened but didn't was Rodney McCray for Clyde Drexler... that would have possibly netted the Rockets another couple titles.... Gary Payton was almost traded after his first season in Seattle as well.
1984 Draft: Portland offered Houston the 1984 #2 pick + Clyde Drexler for Ralph Sampson Houston picked Hakeem with the #1, could have picked Michael Jordan with the #2 and could have acquired Clyde Drexler from the trade. What a dynasty that could have been!
It'd be Kyle Lowry and Pau Gasol running the show instead of Harden and Dwight Howard. Still be fun to watch imo.
