The 25 biggest offseason trades in NBA history

Kareem had a Hall of Fame career over just his first six seasons in Milwaukee: Three MVP trophies and a Finals MVP win. Even so, he publicly shared his desire to play elsewhere, and he ended up getting moved to the Lakers. He further solidified his legacy in Los Angeles, picking up three more MVPs and an additional Finals MVP, all on the way to becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer until LeBron James surpassed him decades later.

Saying bye to its era of contending with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics traded their two aging stars to the Nets for a package that included Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, a few other players, and a bunch of future draft picks and pick swaps. Brooklyn didn't get far with its new core. As for Boston, those picks eventually yielded stars Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum, who powered the Celtics to a title in 2024.

After winning three MVP awards in Philadelphia, Chamberlain moved to the Lakers in the summer of 1968. He continued his consistent production in LA, leading the NBA in rebounds per game in four of his five seasons there. At 35, he also won his second title and his first-ever Finals MVP trophy.

After landing Ray Allen to pair with Paul Pierce, the Celtics immediately made themselves contenders by adding Kevin Garnett. He wasn't cheap, costing Boston promising young big man Al Jefferson, the solid forward Ryan Gomes, and some other players and picks. It worked out, though, as the Celtics quickly became dominant and won a title immediately.

The 76ers landed Malone, fresh off an MVP season in Houston, before the start of the 1983 season. It worked out immediately: Thanks to Moses and Julius Erving, the team racked up 67 wins that season. Then, they lost just a single playoff game as they steamrolled their way to an easy championship, with Malone being named Finals MVP.

After years of tension between Kobe and Shaq, O'Neal found his way out of Los Angeles. It's tough to find a running mate as good as Kobe, but he got about as close as possible by pairing with Dwyane Wade in Miami. Though they played only three full seasons together, they found some success, winning a title in 2006.

Over eight seasons in Philadelphia, Barkley was already one of the league's biggest stars. His career peak, though, was his first season with Phoenix. After being named the NBA MVP, he led the Suns to the Finals, where they challenged Michael Jordan's Bulls in a six-game series.

When the Raptors traded for Leonard, there was no guarantee he'd stay after his contract expired at the end of the season. Indeed, he didn't, and he made his way to the Clippers. It was a phenomenal season, though, with the Raptors immediately becoming a force in the East and taking down the Warriors in the Finals.

It took a lot to get Durant from Phoenix to Houston: The deal was the first seven-team trade in NBA history. It's one of the most complex deals to ever go down in pro basketball. Though KD maintained his usual high standard of play in his first season with his new team, their postseason hopes were quickly dashed with a first-round loss.

The Clippers were set on landing George in 2019, so they acquired him in a deal that included Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and a bunch of draft picks and swaps. SGA was a promising young guard at the time, and that promise was quickly realized. He was an All-Star within just a few seasons, and not long after his first nod, he won his first two MVP trophies and an NBA championship.

Over 13 seasons in Milwaukee, Giannis became one of the NBA's biggest stars, winning a championship and multiple MVP awards. In the summer of 2026, though, the two parties decided to part ways, and Antetokounmpo was sent to Miami. This immediately reshaped the competitive landscape of the Eastern Conference.

On the night of the 1987 draft, the Bulls traded Olden Polynice and picks for Scottie Pippen, who was selected fifth overall, plus additional picks. That worked out, of course, as he was Michael Jordan's running mate in Chicago throughout the prosperous '90s. The same deal also gave the Bulls the draft pick that would eventually become B.J. Armstrong, who was an All-Star in Chicago and a key part of three championships.

Isaiah Thomas had become a beloved star in Boston, but the Celtics traded the injury-prone guard to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving. After requesting a trade, Irving found his new team, and it started out great. Eventually, the relationship soured, and he bolted for Brooklyn after just two seasons.

LeBron James and Davis were a formidable duo after the latter joined the former in Los Angeles in 2019. The results were immediate, as LA emerged from COVID-prompted "bubble" playoffs as the league champions. For much of his tenure, though, Davis dealt with injury issues and was eventually traded to the Mavericks for Luka Dončić.

There was a stretch in the 2000s where Kobe Bryant's Lakers were either middling or flat-out bad. Their fortunes changed in 2008 when they traded away some pieces to add Gasol. He and Bryant gelled and were a perfect duo, winning titles together in 2009 and 2010.

After years in Portland, Lillard got tired of waiting for the team to be consistently competitive. So, he found his way to Milwaukee and teamed up with Giannis Antetokounmpo, making the Bucks a championship favorite. This deal actually worked out better for the Celtics: The Bucks never won a title with Lillard, but Jrue Holiday was dealt to Portland and then quickly to Boston, where he helped the Celtics secure a title.

For much of the time Brown and Jayson Tatum suited up for the Celtics together, there were questions about how well their largely overlapping play styles fit together. It was enough to win a championship in 2024 and give them a few other good chances, too. But financial considerations forced Boston to move on from Brown in the 2026 offseason, swapping him for oft-traded veteran forward Paul George.

The Hornets agreed to send Paul to the Lakers in a trade, though the deal was infamously vetoed by the NBA, which owned the Hornets at the time. Days later, Paul still wound up in Los Angeles, albeit with the Clippers. There, he, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan spearheaded the exciting "Lob City" era.

The Cavaliers parted with Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton to bring Donovan Mitchell into the fold. Both sides fared pretty well with the trade. While Mitchell made the Cavs one of the more competitive teams in the East, Markkanen blossomed into an All-Star out in Utah.

After LeBron James' "Big Three" era in Miami, he returned to his hometown Cavaliers, where he was part of another star trio. Kyrie Irving was already there, and the team went out and got Love, who had averaged 26 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota the season prior. Love embraced a smaller role with his new team, and the result was a championship in 2016.

Over 11 seasons, Westbrook was a hero and league MVP in Oklahoma City. In 2019, though, the relationship ended when Westbrook reunited with former teammate James Harden in Houston. This renewed partnership was short-lived, as Russ left Houston after just one underwhelming season.

The Celtics had one of the best draft-night deals ever when they traded the first and thirteenth picks in that draft for Robert Parish and the third pick. With that third pick, Boston brought Kevin McHale on board. Both he and Parish were major parts of the team's prosperous '80s, winning three championships that decade.

In Orlando, Howard was one of the most imposing big men in the league. In a blockbuster deal, the Lakers parted with a lot of assets to bring him on board. Howard's first stint in LA was uneventful, brief, and disappointing, but he returned and helped win a championship in 2020.

Butler's impact on Minnesota was undeniable, as he brought them to the playoffs in his first season there alongside Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. There were chemistry issues, though, so this trio didn't last long. Quickly into the following season, the Timberwolves said farewell to Butler and traded him away.

Despite some injury issues, Amar'e was one of the NBA's most dominant and exciting bigs in Phoenix. He carried that momentum into New York during his first season with the team. Quickly, though, injuries caught up with him, and Stoudemire was severely limited in availability and impact.