Episode 31: Russell Westbrook And The Most Depressing Trades in NBA History

We examined historical comparisons to the Westbrook for John Wall trade and some depressing trades in NBA history

Russell Westbrook is on the move for the second time since his MVP season. Only one other NBA MVP has ever been traded twice after winning MVP (Moses Malone) and none have ever been traded for as interesting of a return (John Wall and a mediocre first-round pick). Gabe and Alex get into historical comparisons to the Westbrook-Wall trade, the current state of the Houston Rockets and other depressing trades in NBA history. Gilbert Arenas-for-Rashard Lewis is obviously mentioned, as is the Iverson-Billups deal and Chris Paul's weird trade value.

Show Notes:

• Russell Westbrook Trade Comps 

  • First off, I feel confident saying a team that traded as much draft capital as Houston did for Russ has never traded the guy they got as quickly and for less than Houston did

    • John Wall may actually end up being a decent return, but it seems like there was no appetite for Russ

    • The first that Houston got is lotto protected in 2023, top 12 in 2024, top 10 in 2025, and top 8 in 2026 then turns into second rounders in 2027

  • Russ traded twice within 3 seasons of his MVP year

    • Only MVP to be traded twice after winning is Moses Malone

    • Chuck was traded in 1992, won the 93 mvp and was traded again in 96

  • Moses traded twice in the Russ age range

    • 1982, age 27, MVP and All-NBA 1st team: to Philly for Caldwell Jones and Cleveland's 83 first round pick (#3 in 1983 draft)

    • 1986, age 31, all-star: Traded by the Philadelphia 76ers with Terry Catledge, a 1986 1st round draft pick (#21 Anthony Jones) and a 1988 1st round draft pick (#12 Harvey Grant) to the Washington Bullets for Cliff Robinson and Jeff Ruland.

  • Chris Paul has had a similar fluctuation in trade value

    • 2011:  Clips sent Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman and a first rounder for Paul and a 2nd

    • 2017: Rockets sent Pat Bev, Sam Dekker, Montrezl Harrell, Lou Williams (and fillers) and a first rounder  for Paul

    • 2019: OKC GOT FOUR FIRST ROUND PICKS AND PAUL for Russ

    • 2020: Suns sent Ty Jerome, Kelly Oubre Jr, Ricky Rubio and a first for CP3

  • The Chauncey Billups-Allen Iverson trade is somewhat analogous

    • but Iverson had more value than Wall  (for reasons unknown) (probably because his leg hadn't exploded and caused him to miss 2 years)

    • Antonio McDyess traded along with Billups to Denver

• Gilbert Arenas for Rashard Lewis

Depressing NBA trades

• Patrick Ewing to Seattle in 2000

• Sacramento trades Garret Temple to Memphis for Ben Mclemore, Deyonta Davis and Cash (Mclemore immediately waived by Sacramento)

• Sacramento shipped Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, an unprotected future first-round pick—(what happened to this pick you ask!?)—and rights to swap first-round choices in 2016 and 2017 to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for draft rights to two international players. They gave up 3 picks to dump money to sign players.

  • However, the primary player Sacramento created cap space to chase in free agency—Wesley Matthews—chose the Dallas Mavericks anyway. The Kings settled for Rajon Rondo, Marco Belinelli and Kosta Koufos (the only free agent signing to finish his contract with the Kings since 2008)

  • Sixers did well though right? Well they never used those swaps, and that unprotected pick was used to trade up for Markelle Fultz! (yikes) and then didn't even end up being a good pick for Boston (14th-Romeo Langford)

• T-Mac to the Knicks (which I have 0 memory of)

  • Carl Landry's teeth are lodged in Dirk's arm

• Cavs trade Zydrunas Ilgauskas for Antawn Jameson to try to convince Lebron to stay after deciding JJ Hickson was too good to trade for Amare. This trade also resulted in a new rule because people were pissed after Ilgauskas got waived and went back to the Cavs. Which I think is depressing because who likes more rules?

• Kyrie to Boston for Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder both of which got rerouted in less than one season. No one won this trade😞

• The Milwaukee Bucks traded forward Miles Plumlee to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday for big men Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert.

  • The 6-foot-11 Plumlee signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Bucks during the summer but hasn't received steady playing time. He has played in just 32 games with 12 starts, averaging just 2.6 points. "We are excited to add Miles to our roster," The soon to be fired Rich Cho said