Worst NBA Trades

This post was written on SportFeen.

I was watching a show about the worst NBA trades of all time. This got me thinking about what I consider the worst trades of the past decade. This is my list of some of the worst NBA trades of the past 10 years.

1. Chris Webber for Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe
Terrible terrible trade. Webber was the centerpiece in transforming the Sacramento Kings into a championship contender. Webber and the Kings had some classic battles with the Lakers for the chance to go to the NBA Finals. Webber made four all star teams during his time with the Kings. He was a consistent 20 and 10 guy in Sacramento and one of the best passing big men in NBA history. The Wizards received a washed up Mitch Richmond and Otis Thorpe who were both well past their prime.

2. Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, Marc Gasol, pick. After trading Shaq, the Lakers had fallen on hard times and even failed to make the playoffs. Things were so bad that Kobe was looking to be traded. The Lakers fleeced the Grizzlies to get Gasol which resurrected the Lakers franchise. This was a terrible trade for Memphis. Were the Grizzlies trying to help rebuild the Lakers? Why would anyone give up their best player for a bunch of bums?

3. Richard Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse
The Wizards traded Richard Hamilton, Hubert Davis and Bobby Simmons for Jerry Stackhouse, Brian Cardinal and Ratko Vardo. I actually thought this was a good trade at the time. Boy was I wrong. Rip went on to help form the core of a championship Detroit Pistons team. Rip led the Pistons in scoring and to six straight Eastern conference finals. As for Stackhouse. He was marketed as the next Jordan. Never happened. Stackhouse never lived up to the hype from his Tar Heel days.

4. Ray Allen for Gary Payton
Ray Allen, Ronald Murray and Kevin Ollie were traded to the Sonics for Gary Payton, Desmond Mason and a pick. George Karl was trying to regain the success that he had in Seattle by bringing GaryPayton to the Bucks. Payton only played 28 games as a Buck before bolting back to the Western Conference. His days as an elite player were over and he was just a shell of his former self. Ray Allen went from a star playing in a small market to superstardom. He made 4 All Star teams in Seattle and became recognized as one of the best two guards in the NBA.

5. Steve Nash for Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells and Pat Garrity
Phoenix traded one of the best up and coming point guards in the NBA for a bunch of never will be's. In the Suns defense they did have Kevin Johnson and Jason Kidd running the point during Nash's time in Phoenix. It would be tough for any point guard to beat out those two guys. It took Phoenix 6 years to realize their mistake and get Nash back from the Mavericks.

Other bad deals:Elton Brand for Brian Skinner and draft rights to Tyson Chandler. Chicago's demise started with trading this All Star who quietly averaged 20 and 10.

LaMarcus Aldridge for Tyrus Thomas. Aldridge is on the verge of becoming an All Star and Thomas has never developed into the player that dominated during March Madness.

Baron Davis for Speedy Claxton and Dale Davis. One of the most underrated PG's in the league.

Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins for Kwame Brown and Laron Profit. This was highway robbery. Caron Butler is an All Star with his scoring ability, rebounding and defense. Kwame Brown and Laron Profit should have been playing in the CBA.

Brandon Roy for Randy Foye . Roy won the 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year and had made two all star game appearances in two years.