The Most Lopsided Trades in NBA History

Yes, Kobe Bryant was a Hornet. And yes, Bill Russell was a Hawk.

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Complex Original

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Fantasy basketball owners can lie to themselves all day but there's no denying the fact that being an NBA executive is one of the toughest jobs in sports. You are managing a few of professional sports' biggest egos in one of the world's most visible leagues with media types waiting to pick you apart. You get paid a couple of million and get to wear suits for a reason. Plus, human error does exist.

That said, it's an absolute must that you put a lot of thought into every move because championships, national visibility, attendance, and credibility (not becoming a meme factory like the Cleveland Browns) are at stake. League higher-ups presumably know that yet they still find ways to screw up what should be obvious no-nos—like the basic Slam Dunk Contest format for instance. But we're focusing on trades here.

To be fair, the folks couldn't have predicted how badly they missed out on stars like Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen. But at the same time, this is Kobe Bryant and Scottie Pippen they missed out on. Other examples are just straight up robberies. Come shake your heads at The Most Lopsided Trades in NBA History.

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20. Pau Gasol to the Lakers

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19. LaMarcus Aldridge to the Blazers

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18. Jermaine O'Neal to the Pacers

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17. Vin Baker to the SuperSonics

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16. James Worthy to the Lakers

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15. Chris Webber to the Kings

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14. Vince Carter to the Nets

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13. Moses Malone to the Rockets

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12. Bill Russell to the Celtics

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11. Dirk Nowitzki to the Mavericks

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10. Julius Erving to 76ers

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9. Eddy Curry to the Knicks

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8. Wilt Chamberlain to the Lakers

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7. Oscar Robertson to the Bucks

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6. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers

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5. Robert Parish to Celtics

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4. Dominique Wilkins to the Hawks

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3. Scottie Pippen to the Bulls

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2. Charles Barkley to the Suns

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1. Kobe Bryant to the Lakers

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