NOTABLE TRADES IN SPORTS HISTORY

Remember when Kobe Bryant was on the Charlotte Hornets? See other notable trades in sports history.

Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant … a Charlotte Hornet? It’s true, as the Hornets drafted Bryant with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. On the same evening, the Hornets traded Bryant’s rights to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Considering how Bryant’s career has developed, it could go down as one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.

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Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant … a Charlotte Hornet? It’s true, as the Hornets drafted Bryant with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft. On the same evening, the Hornets traded Bryant’s rights to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Considering how Bryant’s career has developed, it could go down as one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.

Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat - You knew it was only a matter of time before the Los Angeles Lakers split up the feuding Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. With Phil Jackson out the door, the Lakers decided to move O’Neal as well in 2004 to the Miami Heat for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a future first round draft pick. While Odom has been a crucial part of the Lakers since his arrival, Bryant missed Shaq more than he thought as the Lakers missed the playoffs the following season.

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Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat - You knew it was only a matter of time before the Los Angeles Lakers split up the feuding Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. With Phil Jackson out the door, the Lakers decided to move O’Neal as well in 2004 to the Miami Heat for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a future first round draft pick. While Odom has been a crucial part of the Lakers since his arrival, Bryant missed Shaq more than he thought as the Lakers missed the playoffs the following season.

Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees - What’s the one team that could take on the remainder of a 10-year, $252 million contract? The New York Yankees, of course. The Yankees traded for Rodriguez in 2004 for Alfonso Soriano. The Rangers agreed to pick up $67 million of the remaining $179 million on his contract. With Derek Jeter at shortstop, Rodriguez shifted to third base.

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Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees - What’s the one team that could take on the remainder of a 10-year, $252 million contract? The New York Yankees, of course. The Yankees traded for Rodriguez in 2004 for Alfonso Soriano. The Rangers agreed to pick up $67 million of the remaining $179 million on his contract. With Derek Jeter at shortstop, Rodriguez shifted to third base.

Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers - The Los Angeles Lakers, looking for a big man to complement forward Jerry West, traded for the biggest man in the NBA at the time - - Wilt Chamberlain. The Lakers acquired Chamberlain for Darrall Imhoff (who Chamberlain abused en route to his 100-point performance), Jerry Chambers and Archie Clark. Chamberlain helped lead the Lakers to a NBA Championship in 1972 before retiring the following season.

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Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers - The Los Angeles Lakers, looking for a big man to complement forward Jerry West, traded for the biggest man in the NBA at the time - - Wilt Chamberlain. The Lakers acquired Chamberlain for Darrall Imhoff (who Chamberlain abused en route to his 100-point performance), Jerry Chambers and Archie Clark. Chamberlain helped lead the Lakers to a NBA Championship in 1972 before retiring the following season.

Julius Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers - You often hear about teams not being able to afford a player. Well, the New Jersey Nets literally couldn’t afford Julius Erving following their transition from the ABA to the NBA. Philadelphia 76ers owner Fritz Eugene Dixon acquired Erving for $3 million. The Nets weren’t able to recover as the 76ers went on to be a power in the Eastern Conference for many years to come.

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Julius Erving to the Philadelphia 76ers - You often hear about teams not being able to afford a player. Well, the New Jersey Nets literally couldn’t afford Julius Erving following their transition from the ABA to the NBA. Philadelphia 76ers owner Fritz Eugene Dixon acquired Erving for $3 million. The Nets weren’t able to recover as the 76ers went on to be a power in the Eastern Conference for many years to come.

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McNabb Sorry For Not Winning Super Bowl - Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb apologized to his former hometown for not winning a Super Bowl. "I look back -- the things that I set out that I wanted to accomplish and bring back to Philadelphia I wasn't able to, and I apologize more than anything to the people of Philadelphia, not bringing that Super Bowl to them,” said McNabb.

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Donovan McNabb to the Washington Redskins - After 11 seasons in Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles finally parted ways on April 4. Instead of trading McNabb to the Oakland Raiders, where the quarterback had no interest in playing, the Eagles decided to ship the 33-year-old to their division rival, Washington Redskins, for a second-round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and a conditional pick in next year’s draft. Will the Eagles regret trying to do the nice thing by trading McNabb to Washington? Stay tuned.

Ricky Williams to the New Orleans Saints - How bad did Mike Ditka and the New Orleans Saints want running back Ricky Williams? Bad enough that they were willing to trade all of their draft picks in the 1999 NFL Draft and two picks in the 2000 Draft for the Heisman Trophy winner. It was the first time in NFL history where a team drafted only one player. The bold move and a 3-13 record the following season eventually got Ditka fired from his head-coaching job with the Saints.

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Ricky Williams to the New Orleans Saints - How bad did Mike Ditka and the New Orleans Saints want running back Ricky Williams? Bad enough that they were willing to trade all of their draft picks in the 1999 NFL Draft and two picks in the 2000 Draft for the Heisman Trophy winner. It was the first time in NFL history where a team drafted only one player. The bold move and a 3-13 record the following season eventually got Ditka fired from his head-coaching job with the Saints.

Randy Moss to the New England Patriots - Randy Moss’ time with the Oakland Raiders didn’t pan out as expected, so owner Al Davis was trying to move the wide receiver prior to the 2007 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots, after working out a way to get Moss under their salary cap, traded a fourth-round pick to the Raiders. Quarterback Tom Brady and Moss went on to connect for 23 touchdowns his first season with the Patriots.

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Randy Moss to the New England Patriots - Randy Moss’ time with the Oakland Raiders didn’t pan out as expected, so owner Al Davis was trying to move the wide receiver prior to the 2007 NFL Draft. The New England Patriots, after working out a way to get Moss under their salary cap, traded a fourth-round pick to the Raiders. Quarterback Tom Brady and Moss went on to connect for 23 touchdowns his first season with the Patriots.

Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets - From the moment Allen Iverson stepped on the court as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, it appeared the guard would spend his entire career with the organization. But after a series of incidents with coaches and management, the 76ers traded Iverson to the Denver Nuggets for Andre Smith, Joe Smith and two first round draft picks. Iverson’s stay in Denver was short-lived as he was traded to the Detroit Pistons two seasons later.

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Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets - From the moment Allen Iverson stepped on the court as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, it appeared the guard would spend his entire career with the organization. But after a series of incidents with coaches and management, the 76ers traded Iverson to the Denver Nuggets for Andre Smith, Joe Smith and two first round draft picks. Iverson’s stay in Denver was short-lived as he was traded to the Detroit Pistons two seasons later.

Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics - The Boston Celtics instantly became contenders for the NBA Championship after acquiring Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2007. The Celtics shipped five players including Al Jefferson and two draft picks for Garnett. It was the largest number of players traded for any single player in NBA history. Boston locked up Garnett, signing the forward to a 3-year, $60 million extension on the day of the trade.

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Kevin Garnett to the Boston Celtics - The Boston Celtics instantly became contenders for the NBA Championship after acquiring Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2007. The Celtics shipped five players including Al Jefferson and two draft picks for Garnett. It was the largest number of players traded for any single player in NBA history. Boston locked up Garnett, signing the forward to a 3-year, $60 million extension on the day of the trade.

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Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets - The Pittsburgh Steelers, looking to dump troubled wide receiver Santonio Holmes, traded the former Super Bowl MVP to the New York Jets for a fifth-round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. While it’s a low risk for the Jets, Holmes will miss the first four games of the season due to a league suspension.

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Santonio Holmes to the New York Jets - The Pittsburgh Steelers, looking to dump troubled wide receiver Santonio Holmes, traded the former Super Bowl MVP to the New York Jets for a fifth-round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. While it’s a low risk for the Jets, Holmes will miss the first four games of the season due to a league suspension.

Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings - The largest trade in NFL history helped create the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the 1990s and left many to wonder what exactly the Minnesota Vikings were thinking. The Cowboys traded Herschel Walker and four draft picks to the Vikings for five players and a whopping eight draft picks - - including three first round selections. With the draft picks, the Cowboys drafted the likes of Emmitt Smith, Alvin Harper, and Darren Woodson, who were key parts of their Super Bowl teams.

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Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings - The largest trade in NFL history helped create the Dallas Cowboys dynasty of the 1990s and left many to wonder what exactly the Minnesota Vikings were thinking. The Cowboys traded Herschel Walker and four draft picks to the Vikings for five players and a whopping eight draft picks - - including three first round selections. With the draft picks, the Cowboys drafted the likes of Emmitt Smith, Alvin Harper, and Darren Woodson, who were key parts of their Super Bowl teams.

Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers - With Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers lacking an inside presence and the Memphis Grizzlies looking to move Pau Gasol, it was no surprise the two sides worked out a deal. The shocker though was how little the Lakers had to give up in order to get Gasol, trading Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, the rights to Marc Gasol and two first round draft picks. While on paper the trade appears to be one-sided for the Lakers, Marc has developed into one of the better young centers in the league.

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Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers - With Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers lacking an inside presence and the Memphis Grizzlies looking to move Pau Gasol, it was no surprise the two sides worked out a deal. The shocker though was how little the Lakers had to give up in order to get Gasol, trading Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, the rights to Marc Gasol and two first round draft picks. While on paper the trade appears to be one-sided for the Lakers, Marc has developed into one of the better young centers in the league.