NBA Trade: 11 shocking NBA trades that almost happened
Every season, a team that did not manage to compete for a title but who have a star on their team has a big decision to make. They can either trade away their star for draft picks and start the rebuild, or they themselves can look for another marquee signing to complement their existing franchise player. In some cases, even teams that were competitive have chosen to dismantle their existing team and start a new chapter.
During the off-season, there are countless rumors surrounding almost every star in the NBA. Most of these rumors are quite farfetched and are never really given too much attention. There have also been cases where the unthinkable has occurred and deals that the media was totally unaware of have taken place and thus catching them and everyone else completely off guard.
Here are some of the biggest trades in the NBA that weren't just rumors, but looked set to happen. Had some of these trades had taken place, the complexion of the league would've been extremely different. For various reasons though, they never happened.
Honorable Mention: Tracy Mcgrady - Philadelphia 76ers
This has to be one of the biggest ever "What If's" in NBA history. In 1999 the Philadelphia 76ers had a deal in place to send Larry Hughes to Toronto and receive a twenty-year-old Tracy McGrady along with a first-round draft pick as well.
Looking back at it, this had to be one of the most lopsided trades in favour of the 76ers if it had taken place. At the time though, McGrady was still not an offensive force and Hughes was actually the better player. McGrady though always had way more upside.
The deal looked all but done. At the last second though, 76ers General Manager Billy King got cold feet and in the process robbed Philly as well as the rest of the world from witnessing what could have been the greatest offensive backcourt in the league's history (McGrady and Iverson).
With the 76ers reaching the finals in 2001, it is quite understandable for people to think that had McGrady also been a part of that side, Philadelphia would have gone on to win the title.
What makes things even worse is the fact that neither McGrady nor Iverson were never able to win an NBA title and both are considered some of the greatest players ever to not win a ring.