Five NBA Teams That Destroyed Their Future by Trading Away a Star Too Early

by Jeremy Block - 11/11/2025

NBA teams that ruined their future by trading away a star too early James Harden OKC Thunder

It happens all the time in the NBA: a team trades away a star, thinking they’re making the right call, only to watch that player shine in a new city and jersey. Whether it’s a future MVP, a franchise player in the making, or a rising star, some teams don’t realize what they’ve got until it’s long gone.

From the mid-90s to the 2000s, here are five NBA trades that haunted franchises for years - each one becoming a harsh reminder of what can go wrong when a team pulls the trigger a little too soon.

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Oklahoma City Thunder 2012 – The James Harden Trade

Sometimes you don’t realize what you’ve got until it’s gone—and that’s exactly what happened to the Thunder in 2012. James Harden was part of a young core that made it all the way to the Finals, but when it came time to pay him, OKC wasn’t so quick to break out the checkbook. So, instead of locking down a future MVP, they shipped him off to the Rockets in exchange for Jeremy Lamb, Kevin Martin, and a few draft picks. In short: huge mistake.

Within weeks, Harden became the heart and soul of the Rockets, quickly turning into their centerpiece player. By his second season, he was averaging career high 11.2 assists per game, and scoring? Well, let’s just say Harden was untouchable. After winning MVP and averaging 30.4 points per game, many thought the former Thunder guard had hit his peak. But nope. That was just the beginning. Harden would go on to win multiple scoring titles and, in 2018, average 36.1 points per game.

All the Thunder had to do was add a couple more zeros to his check, and who knows? Maybe they could’ve won a title. Instead, they’re left wondering what might’ve been.

Boston Celtics 2007 – The Ray Allen Trade

Now, even though Ray Allen was technically passed his prime when the Sonics decided to cut ties with the Hall of Famer, they still made a big mistake. In 2007, the then-Seattle SuperSonics (now the Thunder) thought they were pulling off a solid rebuild when they sent Ray Allen to the Celtics in exchange for Jeff Green and a couple of draft picks. At the time, it seemed like a move to get younger and build for the future. But in hindsight? What a steal for Boston.

Allen immediately turned into a key piece of Boston’s Big 3, helping them win the 2008 NBA title and putting up solid numbers, including a career-high 44% from 3-point land, while adding 16 points per game. As for the Sonics? They never recovered. Jeff Green and those draft picks never materialized into anything close to a star, and Seattle's rebuilding plans fell flat pretty quickly. In the end, the Celtics got their title, and the Sonics got a whole lot of nothing.

Chicago Bulls 2001 – The Elton Brand Trade

If there's a team that might take the cake for trading away a star too early, it’s got to be the Chicago Bulls, and no, we’re not talking about Derrick Rose. Who remembers Elton Brand? Back in 2001, he was barely out of his rookie contract when the Bulls traded him to the Los Angeles Clippers for Brian Skinner and the trade rights to Tyson Chandler. At the time, Chicago decided to reshape their roster, but Brand wasn’t part of the plan.

Now, let’s not forget: in his first season with the Bulls, Brand was already putting up over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was literally a walking double-double in his first year, and yet the Bulls decided to move on.

Fast forward to his time in L.A., and Brand turned into a two-time All-Star and one of the most consistent power forwards of the early 2000s, hitting career highs in nearly every stat category, including 24 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Chicago? They kept spinning their wheels. The trade didn’t bring back anything they hoped for, and missed out on a player who could’ve been the future of their franchise.

Charlotte Hornets 1995 – The Alonzo Mourning Trade

The Charlotte Hornets made a massive mistake in 1995 when they traded Alonzo Mourning to the Miami Heat. At the time, Mourning was already a dominant force on both ends of the floor, averaging 21.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game in just his second season. But instead of locking him down and extending his contract, Charlotte decided to ship him off for Glen Rice, Matt Geiger, Khalid Reeves, and a first-round draft pick in 1996. In other words: outside of Rice, they ended up with a bunch of role players and picks that weren’t much help.

Mourning, on the other hand, arrived in Miami and instantly took his game to another level. In his first season with the Heat, he averaged a career-high 23.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per night. But that was just the start. Over the next decade, Mourning became Miami’s defensive anchor, winning two Defensive Player of the Year awards, making six All-Star teams, and leading the Heat to their first-ever NBA Championship in 2006.

Philadelphia 76ers 1992 – The Charles Barkley Trade

To finish it off the list, let's talk about the Charles Barkley trade. Sometimes a team trades away their franchise player for a few "pieces," not realizing just how much they’re giving up. That’s exactly what happened in 1992 when the Philadelphia 76ers sent Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns for Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry, and Andrew Lang. Not to mention, at the time, Barkley was coming off a 23.0 points and 11.1 rebounds per game season, and was by far the face of the Sixers’ franchise.

Long story short: the Suns hit the jackpot. Barkley went on to average 25 points and 12 rebounds in just his first season with Phoenix, won the MVP in 1992 and led the Suns to the NBA Finals that same year. The 76ers? Yeah, they got some role players, but none of them ever came close to replacing Barkley’s impact. This trade was the moment the 76ers gave up their best shot at a championship run for a completely underwhelming return.

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Start:	November 15, 2025 @ 12:00 PM
Expert:	Scott Spreitzer
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Five NBA Teams That Destroyed Their Future by Trading Away a Star Too Early

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