With the 2023-24 NBA trade deadline just three weeks away, fans and media members alike are scrambling for the next scoop and wondering which blockbuster deal will dominate the headlines this year, if any. This prompted us to have a look back into the last decade and revisit the biggest and most impactful deadline trades either on the day or in the days leading up to that cutoff for teams to improve their rosters.
- 1. Nets Trade Kevin Durant To The Phoenix Suns
- 2. Nets Trade James Harden To The 76ers
- 3. Nets Trade Kyrie Irving To The Dallas Mavericks
- 4. Kings And Pacers Swap Tyrese Haliburton And Domantas Sabonis
- 5. Timberwolves Trade Andrew Wiggins To The Warriors
- 6. Grizzlies Trade Marc Gasol To The Raptors
- 7. The Magic Trade Aaron Gordon To The Denver Nuggets
- 8. The Kings Trade Demarcus Cousins To The Pelicans
- 9. The Suns Trade Isaiah Thomas To The Celtics
- 10. The Magic Trade Nikola Vucevic To The Chicago Bulls
All 10 of the biggest trades since 2014-15 listed below occurred within a few days of the trade deadline, making them true deadline deals. For this reason, a trade such as James Harden to the Nets back in 2021 will not be included given that it happened three weeks before the deadline even though it was the biggest trade by far that season.
Some of the NBA’s biggest names and most talented stars have been moved at the trade deadline in the last 10 seasons. Let’s take a deeper look into these massive deals and their impact on the league as a whole.
1. Nets Trade Kevin Durant To The Phoenix Suns
Suns Receive: Kevin Durant, T.J. Warren
Nets Receive: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Juan Vaulet, 2023 First-Round Draft Pick, 2025 First-Round Draft Pick, 2027 First-Round Draft Pick, 2028 First-Round Draft Pick, 2029 First-Round Draft Pick, 2028 Second-Round Draft Pick, 2029 Second-Round Draft Pick
Pacers Receive: George Hill, Jordan Nwora, Serge Ibaka, 2023 Second-Round Draft Pick, 2024 Second-Round Draft Pick, 2025 Second-Round Draft Pick, Cash
Bucks Receive: Jae Crowder
When NBA fans went to bed on February 8, 2023, there was no indication that a deal of this magnitude was coming. New Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia would make his presence known right away with the franchise, diving right in and trading for superstar Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets. The move was immediately tabbed as the biggest blockbuster ever completed at the trade deadline and with good reason.
The move officially declared the Big 3 era dead in Brooklyn as the Nets had rid themselves of all three of Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden in the span of a year. Durant was the last to go, heading back west after spending two and a half seasons with the Nets on the East Coast. In Phoenix, the buzz was tremendous with the acquisition of Durant forming a “Big 4” with Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, and Chris Paul.
Since his arrival with the Suns, Durant has played a total of 41 games, averaging 28.4 points per game on 53/48/87 shooting splits. After failing to get out of the second round of the playoffs in 2023, the Suns hope a new Big 3 of Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal can take them further in 2024. Through 40 games, the Suns are 22-18 this season and eighth in the West, seven games out of first place.
2. Nets Trade James Harden To The 76ers
76ers Receive: James Harden, Paul Millsap
Nets Receive: Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, Ben Simmons, 2023 First-Round Draft Pick, 2027 First-Round Draft Pick
As the trade deadline loomed on February 10, 2022, all eyes were on the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers, and disgruntled Nets star James Harden. In the days leading up to the deadline, it was no secret that Harden had enough of Brooklyn and the 76ers were his preferred destination. The deal was made with just hours to spare as Philadelphia not only acquired Harden but rid themselves of their own disgruntled former No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons.
It was a new slate for everyone involved and the buzz about the pairing of Harden with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia even prompted comparisons to Shaq and Kobe with the Lakers. Well, only by Kendrick Perkins but you get the point. Harden would spend the next 79 games with the 76ers, winning an assists title in 2023 and watching his teammate Embiid win the MVP award as well. However, an epic collapse in the NBA playoffs and failed contract negotiations prompted yet another Harden trade request which led to his trade to the Clippers in the early going of 2023-24.
As for the Nets, they have watched their haul for Harden fizzle out in the last two seasons. Drummond and Curry have moved on elsewhere while Simmons has played just 48 games in a Nets uniform.
3. Nets Trade Kyrie Irving To The Dallas Mavericks
Nets Receive: Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, 2029 First-Round Draft Pick, 2029 Second-Round Draft Pick,
Mavericks Received: Kyrie Irving, Markieff Morris
Leading up to the trade deadline in 2023, it was clear that Kyrie Irving and Nets upper management were at an impasse about the star point guard’s future. The Nets had received consistent backlash due to Irving’s actions both on and off the court while Irving showed zero interest in remaining in Brooklyn.
Three days before the deadline, Brooklyn would move Irving to the Mavericks in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and two 2029 NBA Draft picks. Irving joined Luka Doncic in the backcourt for Dallas while Brooklyn kicked off their rebuild that promoted the Durant trade just days later.
Since arriving in Dallas, Irving has re-signed with the team through 2024-25 with a $43 million player option for 2025-26. After missing the playoffs in 2022-23, the duo of Irving and DOncic have gotten Dallas out to a solid 24-18 start in 2023-24. Although he battled a heel injury earlier this season, Irving is currently averaging 25.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game for Dallas as they head toward the NBA playoffs. Brooklyn is stumbling through 2023-24 so far with a 16-24 record.
4. Kings And Pacers Swap Tyrese Haliburton And Domantas Sabonis
Pacers Receive: Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, Tristan Thompson
Kings Receive: Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, Jeremy Lamb, 2023 Second-Round Draft Pick
When the Kings and Pacers announced they were swapping Tyrese Haliburton and Domantas Sabonis on deadline day back in 2022, fans of both franchises were equally as shocked. Haliburton was supposed to be the future of the Kings while Sabonis was the savvy veteran who had become a fan-favorite in Indiana. It turns out this deal worked out for the best for everyone involved.
Since coming over to Indiana, Tyrese Haliburton has taken his play to another level with elite playmaking and shooting taking center stage. In 2023, Haliburton would earn All-Star honors for the first time and has the Pacers poised for a playoff run in 2023-24 along with his first All-NBA Team selection within arms reach.
The Kings paired Sabonis with star guard De’Aaron Fox to break their 17-year playoff curse last season while Sabonis led the NBA in rebounds and earned All-Star and All-NBA team honors. Since joining the Kings, Sabonis has cemented himself as the third-best center in the NBA, averaging 19.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game. This deal may go down as the most even trade in NBA history when all is said and done.
5. Timberwolves Trade Andrew Wiggins To The Warriors
Warriors Receive: Andrew Wiggins, 2021 First-Round Draft Pick, 2021 Second-Round Draft Pick
Timberwolves Receive: D’Angelo Russell, Omari Spellman, Jacob Evans
When the Minnesota Timberwolves decided to part with Andrew Wiggins the day before the trade deadline in 2020, the move was seen as a push from an outside perspective. The Warriors received an athletic wing defender in Wiggins while the Timberwolves got their point guard in D’Angelo Russell.
The first two seasons were up-and-down but the Warriors would prove they won the deal come 2022. That season, Wiggins would earn a starting spot in the All-Star Game averaging 17.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. More importantly, Wiggins would be monumentally important to the Warriors’ championship run later that season providing elite defensive play in the Conference Finals and NBA Finals mixed with timely shots and all-around impactful play.
Fast forward 18 months after the championship and Wiggins looks like he may be on the move once again out of Golden State. Either way, the Warriors would make this deal in an instant if they had to do it all over knowing it led to a championship.
6. Grizzlies Trade Marc Gasol To The Raptors
Raptors Receive: Marc Gasol
Grizzlies Receive: Jonas Valanciunas, C.J. Miles, Delon Wright, 2024 Second-Round Draft Pick
When the 2019 Toronto Raptors made a deal for veteran center Marc Gasol at the trade deadline, Masai Ujiri pushed all of his remaining chips into the center of the table. Ujiri sent starting center Jonas Valanciunas along with two role players and a 2024 pick to Memphis, adding Gasol to a lineup that included Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet.
Little did anyone know that bringing Gasol in would be just what the Raptors needed to make their magical championship run later that season. Sure, Leonard was the leader and standout star during that run but without Gasol’s willingness to get physical and do the little things everyone forgets, they never become NBA champions.
In the playoffs, Gasol averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game to help Toronto capture the first NBA title in team history, and they needed every single minute of his play to get the job done.
7. The Magic Trade Aaron Gordon To The Denver Nuggets
Nuggets Receive: Aaron Gordon, Gary Clark
Magic Receive: R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, 2025 First-Round Draft Pick
Other than his riveting performances in the NBA Slam Dunk Contests, Aaron Gordon was withering away with the Orlando Magic from 2015 through the 2021 NBA trade deadline. That is until the Magic decided to go into full rebuild mode and stock up for the future with assets and young talent galore. As a result, the Magic dealt the star forward to Denver in exchange for two promising young players, Gary Harris and R.J. Hampton.
Gordon hit the ground running in Denver as the team went 7-0 in his first seven appearances with the team. Although they battled injuries over the next two seasons, Gordon continued to thrive and find the perfect role with the Nuggets alongside MVP Nikola Jokic in Denver’s frontcourt.
It all culminated in 2023 when Gordon provided elite defensive play against the likes of LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, and Jimmy Butler en route to his and the Nuggets’ first-ever NBA championship. For the entirety of the playoffs, Gordon averaged 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game but his defensive play was the talk of the town as they became NBA champions.
8. The Kings Trade Demarcus Cousins To The Pelicans
Pelicans Receive: DeMarcus Cousins, Omri Casspi
Kings Receive: Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Buddy Hield, 2017 First-Round Draft Pick, 2017 Second-Round Draft Pick
One of the most highly sought-after players at the 2017 NBA trade deadline was Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins. While rumors swirled about his next stop, a sleeper team in the New Orleans Pelicans stepped up and won the sweepstakes by acquiring Cousins just as he was wrapping up his All-Star weekend festivities, literally.
The move sent shockwaves across the NBA, pairing Cousins with dominant big man Anthony Davis. With the newly-formed duo, the possibilities were endless including, but not limited to, a run at the NBA championship. Things went great for Cousins through his first 65 games with the team as he averaged 25.0 points, 12.7 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game and the Pelicans looked like serious contenders in a loaded Western Conference.
Unfortunately, 48 games into the 2018 season, Cousins tore his Achilles tendon which not only derailed New Orleans’ championship hopes but Cousins’ career as well. Cousins would have short stints in Golden State, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and Denver after the injury but never returned to his former dominant self.
9. The Suns Trade Isaiah Thomas To The Celtics
Celtics Receive: Isaiah Thomas, Jonas Jerebko, Gigi Datome
Suns Receive: Marcus Thornton, 2016 First-Round Draft Pick
Pistons Receive: Tayshaun Prince
When the Boston Celtics made an under-the-radar trade for point guard Isaiah Thomas at the 2015 NBA trade deadline, not much was made of it. Boston grabbed a 5’9’’ point guard with no major accomplishments while the Suns received Marcus Thornton and a first-round draft pick and Detroit was able to bring back Tayshaun Prince for some semblance of a farewell tour.
Over the next two seasons, it became apparent, like it had so many times before, that Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge was a genius. Thomas would erupt for back-to-back All-Star seasons in 2016 and 2017 as well as an All-NBA Team selection and top-five MVP finish in 2017. Thomas also guided Boston on a run to the 2017 Eastern Conference Finals battling a serious hip injury and navigating the loss of his sister with 23.3 points and 6.7 assists per game on 42.5% shooting.
Although the Celtics would do him dirty and trade him for Kyrie Irving the very next season, the 2016 and 2017 seasons were that much more exciting thanks to Thomas’ play in Boston during that time.
10. The Magic Trade Nikola Vucevic To The Chicago Bulls
Bulls Receive: Nikola Vucevic, Al Farouq-Aminu
Magic Receive: Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., 2021 First-Round Draft Pick, 2023 First-Round Draft Pick
The last deal on this list does not have championship implications or a lasting impact on the league like the other nine have had. However, the trade of Nikola Vucevic from the Orlando Magic to the Chicago Bulls represented the end of an era in Orlando and the start of their rebuild while Chicago was priming themselves for a roster build of their own.
After nine seasons and two All-Star selections in Orlando, Vucevic was heading to the Windy City, where he was seen as the offensive weapon and rebounding machine at center the franchise so desperately needed. In his three-and-a-half seasons in Chicago, he has averaged 18.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game but the Bulls have been nothing short of a disappointment during this time.
Highlighted more than anything with the Bulls has been Vucevic’s shortcomings as an interior defender. Despite the failure of the Bulls, the move sparked a new era in Orlando as they used one of the picks from the deal on core member Franz Wagner and received young, rising center Wendell Crater Jr. in the deal as well.
