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NBA Trades That Were So Bad, They’re Hard to Believe

by Jeremy Block - 10/27/2025

Worst NBA trades Charles Barkley

Some trades are so bad, they make you question the sanity of everyone involved. I mean, sure, not every trade works out perfectly, but some NBA moves we’ve seen over time? It's almost like someone giving away a Rolls Royce for a bicycle—and not even a nice bicycle, but a rusty one with a squeaky wheel and a flat tire.

When a franchise gives up on a reliable role player or even a franchise player, it’s usually pretty obvious that it’s going to be a colossal mistake. But some trades were bad from the start, leaving fans shaking their heads and questioning their loyalty. And to make things worse, most of the time, these moves backfired so badly it led to decades of rebuilding and losing seasons. 

So, let’s break down a few NBA trades that were so bad, they’re practically legendary for all the wrong reasons.

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Los Angeles Lakers (1975)

You ever wonder what it feels like to give away one of the greatest basketball players of all time in exchange for a bag of peanuts and a slap in the face? Well, that’s exactly what the Milwaukee Bucks did when they traded Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Lakers in 1975. Sure, at the time, Abdul-Jabbar was a bit of a headcase. He wanted to play for a bigger market team, and Milwaukee wasn’t exactly the destination he had in mind long-term.

But what did the Bucks get in return for a future Hall of Famer? Elmore Smith, Brian Winters, Junior Bridgeman, and Dave Meyers—basically, a bundle of solid role players who were nowhere near Jabbar’s capabilities. Not a single one of them averaged over 16 points or 11 rebounds per game. 

To add insult to injury, that same season, the Lakers went on to win an NBA title, with Abdul-Jabbar taking home the MVP while averaging 27 points and 16 rebounds per game. Talk about a slap in the face, for free!

The 2013 Celtics-Nets Trade

If you’ve ever wondered how to absolutely tank a franchise for the next half-decade, just take a page from the 2013 Celtics-Nets trade playbook. Brooklyn was looking to make a big move, and Boston’s aging Big Three—Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry—seemed like the perfect final pieces for a championship push. 

What Brooklyn didn’t realize is that these aging stars were essentially giving their best days in exchange for a fat paycheck, and half the skill level they used to have in their primes. It’s like buying a used car with 200,000 miles on it and expecting to drive it like new. Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.

For the Celtics, it was a move that looked like a rebuild at the time but turned out to work in their favor. They walked away with three first-round picks and the Nets' future in their hands. As the years went on, those picks turned into players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who would help the Celtics rebuild and quickly become a championship contender. 

Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s trade gave them a brief window of playoff appearances, but quickly crumbled, leaving them in the dust. You could say it was a trade that sent Brooklyn into a never-ending rebuild, while the Celtics walked away with the keys to the kingdom.

Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets (2004)

If you're a fan of those ‘wait, they did what?’ moments, Vince Carter to the New Jersey Nets in 2004 is a trade you’ve gotta know about. This deal had all the ingredients for disaster: a superstar with insane athleticism and potential, shipped away for a handful of role players and a couple of draft picks. 

The Toronto Raptors were looking to move on from Carter, who had developed a complicated relationship with the team, to say the least. But even with all the drama surrounding him, this remains one of the dumbest trades of the early 2000s.

At his peak, Carter was a walking highlight reel—40-point games, jaw-dropping dunks, and a three-point shot that was lethal and clutch when needed. New Jersey absolutely stole him. But here’s the kicker for Toronto: in return, they got a washed-up Alonzo Mourning, Aaron Williams, and Eric Williams—role players who were solid but not exactly game-changers. So yeah, not exactly the trade you’d expect for someone of Carter’s caliber and potential at the time.

As for Carter? His move to New Jersey turned out to be one of the greatest ‘what could have been’ moments in NBA history. Had the Raptors kept him and built around him, they could’ve been a legitimate East contender for years. Instead, they chose to practically give away their future, and try to rebuild from the ground-up.

Charles Barkley to the Phoenix Suns (1992)

When Charles Barkley was traded from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Phoenix Suns in 1992, the Sixers made one of the most head-scratching moves in NBA history. Philly decided to ship off Barkley—coming off a 23 points and 11 rebounds per game season, to Phoenix in exchange for Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang, and Tim Perry.

On paper, it might’ve looked like the Sixers were getting a solid return for their star. But in reality? They were giving up a future MVP and one of the best forwards to ever play the game. In return, they got a few past-their-prime role players who were, at best, average.

Meanwhile, Phoenix got exactly what they wanted—a superstar who would lead them to the 1993 NBA Finals. While they didn’t win the championship, Barkley kept them competitive for several seasons, making this trade a massive win for the Suns. For Philly, though, the trade was a disaster. They gave up a generational talent and got next to nothing in return.
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