3 best NBA trade deadline deals of the 2000s: Baron Davis arrives at The Bay, Pistons make championship move, and more
The NBA trade deadline is less than a week away, with several teams expected to make some moves on or before Feb. 9. While the 1980s introduced the trade deadline, the 1990s had some significant trades.
Stephon Marbury was acquired by the New Jersey Nets in 1999 and became an instant star. The Miami Heat got Tim Hardaway from the Golden State Warriors in 1994, while the Indiana Pacers traded for Mark Jackson for a second time in two years.
The Utah Jazz also snapped up Jeff Hornacek in a trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1994. Hornacek helped the Jazz reach the NBA Finals twice, in 1997 and 1998.
Now that the 1990s is sorted, let's take a look at some of the best trades of the 2000s.
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Best NBA trade deadline deals of the 2000s
Honorable Mentions: Nazr Mohammed to the Spurs in 2005 and Thabo Sefalosha to the Thunder in 2009
The San Antonio Spurs traded Malik Rose, two first-round picks and cash to the New York Knicks for Nazr Mahommed and Jamison Brewer. While Brewer was waived immediately, Mohammed shared the center spot with Rasho Nesterovic during the Spurs' title run in 2005.
Meanwhile, the upstart OKC Thunder acquired Thabo Sefalosha from the Chicago Bulls for a first-round pick. Sefalosha was a vital part of the early Thunder squad that had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka.
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Here are the three best trade deadline deals of the 2000s:
#3 Baron Davis arrives at The Bay from New Orleans
Baron Davis played the first six seasons of his career with the Charlotte/New Orleans Hornets franchise. He was traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2005 for Dale Davis, Speedy Claxton and cash.
It might not have been an important move at the time, but Davis would help the Warriors qualify for the 2007 playoffs. He led the "We Believe" Warriors to one of the greatest upsets in history against the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round.
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#2 Sixers acquire Dikembe Mutombo in 2001
The Philadelphia 76ers were having an amazing season in 2001 led by Allen Iverson, who would win the MVP that year. Looking to prepare for a potential matchup against the likes of Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan in the NBA Finals, the Sixers traded for Dikembe Mutombo at the deadline.
Mutombo, alongside Iverson, helped the Sixers battle through the Eastern Conference to make the NBA Finals against the Lakers. After an amazing win in Game 1, the Sixers lost the next four games. Mutombo would spend one more season in Philly before getting traded to the New Jersey Nets.
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#1 Pistons add Rasheed Wallace for championship run
The Detroit Pistons knew that they were contenders in the 2004 season but needed to add more ahead of another deep playoff run. At the trade deadline, the Pistons acquired Rasheed Wallace from the Atlanta Hawks in a three-team deal involving the Boston Celtics.
Wallace proved to be the missing piece in the Pistons' championship run. He helped Detroit beat the heavily-favored LA Lakers team in the 2004 NBA Finals. Wallace would spend five more seasons in Detroit that resulted in another NBA Finals berth and four consecutive trips to the Eastern Conference finals.
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