Top 5 most infamous trade requests in NBA's last decade featuring Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and more
The NBA has experienced a ton of player turnover over the past decade with star players constantly switching teams. Sometimes this happens through free agency, but more often than not, it happens through trade requests.
Some of these trade requests can get quite messy and damage a player’s reputation. Others hurt the ability of small market teams to remain competitive. Regardless, the trade requests just keep coming as evidenced by Kyrie Irving’s recent surprise request to be traded out of Brooklyn.
So on that note, here are five of the most infamous trade requests from the past decade.
#5 Anthony Davis' trade request out of New Orleans
Anthony Davis played seven seasons for the New Orleans Pelicans after being drafted No. 1 in the 2012 NBA Draft. However, he quickly grew disenchanted with New Orleans following the franchise's lack of playoff success.
So, during the 2018-2019 season, Davis forced his way into a bigger market team right as he was entering his prime.
Rich Paul to ESPN on a preferred destination for Anthony Davis: "Anthony wants to be traded to a team that allows him the chance to win consistently and compete for a championship."
Davis’ trade request rubbed some the wrong way as he was supposed to be the superstar that led New Orleans to contention. Instead, he only won one playoff series over seven years with the Pelicans before being traded to the LA Lakers in the 2019 offseason. Davis won the title the following season in LA.
#4 James Harden's trade request out of Houston
James Harden has forced his way out of multiple organizations. However, it was his request to be traded out of the Houston Rockets that frustrated fans the most.
Harden played nine seasons for the team between 2012 and 2021. He was the face of the Rockets’ franchise and the organization catered to his demands by building their roster around him. It even seemed like he would finish his career in Houston.
However, in the 2020-2021 season, Harden gave up on the Rockets and caused drama in an effort to get traded. He had his sights set on teaming up with fellow stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn.
The Houston Chronicle: "But Harden wants to move on from the Rockets, the Chronicle has been informed, and is trying to force his way via trade to Brooklyn, allowing The Beard to form the NBA’s next superteam and rejoin forces with former Oklahoma City teammate Kevin Durant."
Harden’s frustrations culminated when he called out his entire team following a loss to the LA Lakers on Jan. 12, 2021.
"[We're] just not good enough … I love this city. I literally have done everything that I can. I mean, this situation is crazy. It’s something that I don’t think can be fixed," he said.
This is how James Harden walked off the podium tonight. It sounded like a farewell https://t.co/fnY2h6dnHP
Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets shortly after his comments, where he quickly became disgruntled once again. He later requested another trade and was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers midway through last season after just two seasons with the Nets.
#3 Kyrie Irving's trade request out of Brooklyn
Kyrie Irving has become one of the most controversial players in the entire NBA over the past few years. This has been due to a combination of his personal beliefs and his lack of satisfaction at every stop in his career.
Irving experienced immense success with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted him No. 1 in 2011, including winning the 2016 title. However, he still requested a trade in 2017 as he wanted to be the focal point of a team's offense. This led to him being traded to the Boston Celtics shortly after.
However, Irving was still not satisfied in Boston and later left the Celtics to sign with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. He and co-star Kevin Durant, who also signed with the team that year, were expected to lead Brooklyn to new heights.
Instead, Irving’s four-year run in Brooklyn was filled with controversy, most notably his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19. He also shared a link to an antisemitic film on Twitter earlier this season which resulted in him being suspended for eight games.
Then, just when it seemed like Irving was past all his controversies, he surprised everyone by requesting a trade from the Nets earlier this week. This came after he did not receive a contract extension from the organization.
Irving reportedly threatened to leave the team in free agency if he was not traded by the trade deadline, which was just one week away. This forced the Nets’ hand as they traded him to the Dallas Mavericks just a couple of days later.
In total, Brooklyn won just one playoff series over four seasons with Irving.
Breaking: Brooklyn Nets All-Star Kyrie Irving has requested a trade, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The franchise has been informed that Irving prefers to move on ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline – or will leave in free agency in July.
#2 Ben Simmons' trade request out of Philadelphia
After being drafted No. 1 in the 2016 NBA Draft, Philadelphia 76ers fans had big expectations for Ben Simmons. Many expected him to develop into a superstar-level point forward after winning Rookie of the Year in 2018.
Instead, Simmons’ career stagnated as he basically refused to develop his offensive game. His inability to hit perimeter shots continued to limit the Sixers’ success in the playoffs and held them back from making a conference finals appearance.
Simmons’ struggles culminated in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks. He passed up a wide-open shot late in a close game that Philadelphia went on to lose.
This led Sixers coach Doc Rivers to question whether Simmons could be the main ball handler on a title-contending team. Instead of working on his game to prove Rivers wrong, the Australian instead sat out the start of last season before requesting a trade.
Simmons was then traded to the Brooklyn Nets midway through last season. However, he continued to sit out, citing mental health issues and a back injury. This season, he has struggled to match the level of production the Nets need from him as they look to mount a challenge for the title.
All of this has led Simmons to become one of the most ridiculed players in the NBA.
Ben Simmons says "a bunch of things" "pilled up" over the years that caused him to request a trade from Philadelphia.
#1 Kawhi Leonard's trade request out of San Antonio
Perhaps the most surprising star player trade request in the past decade was Kawhi Leonard.
Leonard played seven seasons with the San Antonio Spurs from 2011 to 2018, winning one title in 2014. Given his calm and quiet demeanor, many thought he would be a Spur for life. However, in 2018, he requested a trade from the franchise following concerns that the Spurs were mismanaging his quad injury.
Leonard played just nine games during the 2017-2018 season due to right thigh tendinopathy. However, San Antonio's medical staff cleared him to play much earlier. Leonard did not feel ready to play, so he sought a second opinion and was advised to continue his rehab.
The disconnect between the Spurs' medical staff and his advisors then led to tension between Leonard and the team’s front office, coaches and players. In 2018, he then requested a trade out of San Antonio with a desire to be traded to his home state of California.
Leonard has grown uncomfortable with the Spurs and is ready for move, league sources tell Yahoo. twitter.com/ShamsCharania/…
However, the Toronto Raptors instead swung for the fences and acquired Leonard in the 2018 offseason. He went on to win a title with the Raptors in his lone season with the franchise before signing with the LA Clippers in 2019.