The Orlando Magic’s acquisition of Desmond Bane shocked the basketball world with its large price ticket.
Orlando surrendered 4 first-round picks, one choose swap, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Cole Anthony for the sharpshooter.
The mega-trade sparked intense debate throughout the NBA group. Whereas Bane addresses Orlando’s determined want for perimeter capturing, many query whether or not a non-All-Star participant warrants such an infinite bundle.
The Bane deal isn’t unprecedented in at the moment’s draft pick-obsessed league. NBA historical past reveals a number of blockbuster trades the place groups mortgaged their future for gamers who weren’t thought-about superstars on the time.
Listed here are the 5 largest NBA trades involving first-round picks that preceded the Desmond Bane blockbuster, exhibiting how the market has advanced over current years.
This blockbuster helped Oklahoma Metropolis rebuild round SGA and accumulate large draft capital, finally main them to the NBA Finals and doubtlessly their first championship this season.
In the meantime, Paul George’s arrival in Los Angeles did not ship a title regardless of pairing him with Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers’ deepest playoff run reached solely the convention finals in 2021.
- New York Knicks acquired: Mikal Bridges, Keita Bates-Diop, 2026 second-rounder
- Brooklyn Nets acquired: 5 first-round picks, one choose swap, one second-round choose, Bojan Bogdanovic
Whereas Bridges supplied essential protection, capturing, and chemistry, the commerce created immense strain on New York’s championship window.
The deal launched the Knicks into win-now mode, although they fell quick within the Jap Convention Finals this season. Brooklyn used the lack of Bridges to enter full rebuild mode with substantial draft capital.
This commerce launched Utah’s rebuild period whereas ending the Gobert-Donovan Mitchell partnership that commonly reached the playoffs.
Minnesota demonstrated their dedication to supporting Anthony Edwards with confirmed expertise, but their playoff runs have persistently ended within the convention finals over the previous two seasons.
- Brooklyn Nets acquired: James Harden
- Houston Rockets acquired: Rodions Kurucs, Dante Exum, 4 first-round picks, 4 choose swaps
- Indiana Pacers acquired: Caris LeVert, two second-rounders
- Cleveland Cavaliers acquired: Jarrett Allen, Taurean Prince
The four-team blockbuster enabled Houston’s profitable rebuild, evident of their second-place common season end behind younger cornerstones Jalen Inexperienced, Alperen Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr.
Brooklyn’s try and create a super-team with Harden, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving crumbled on account of accidents, yielding no championships.
- Phoenix Suns acquired: Kevin Durant, TJ Warren
- Brooklyn Nets acquired: Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Juan Pablo Vaulet, 4 first-round picks, two second-round picks, one choose swap
- Milwaukee Bucks acquired: Jae Crowder
- Indiana Pacers acquired: George Hill, Serge Ibaka, Jordan Nwora, three second-round picks, money concerns
This mega-trade created one other super-team in Phoenix alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but they did not turn out to be playoff contenders and this yr might be the final yr they’re collectively.
For Brooklyn, this marked the tip of their super-team experiment and the start of their rebuild, with the acquired picks turning into much more precious after the next Bridges commerce to New York.
