The Greatest Trade Never Realized

[Ed Monix]

During the 1993 Draft, the Orlando Magic had the first pick. As most remember, the Magic (dramatically) traded the 1st pick (Chris Webber) to the Golden State Warriors for the 3rd pick (Penny Hardaway).

What many people (including myself) forgot was the Warriors also gave up three future first round picks to the Magic.

These picks became...

- 1996 11th pick (Kobe Bryant 13th)
- 1998 5th pick (Vince Carter)
- 2000 5th pick (Mike Miller)

The 1996 & 1998 picks were traded to the Bullets in the summer of 1994 (the trade involved 4 future draft picks and Scott Skiles, all so that Orlando could free up some cap space to sign Horace Grant).


Orlando Magic

PG Penny Hardaway
SG Kobe Bryant
SF Vince Carter
PF Dennis Scott
C  Shaquille O'Neal

6th Man: Mike Miller

[CelticsWhat35]

That’s a nice hypothetical, but since when is Dennis Scott a PF?

[Roy H.]

That’s a nice hypothetical, but since when is Dennis Scott a PF?

Is this team playing in the 2000s, or the modern era?

Back in the day PF:  Ben Wallace

Modern PF:  Corey Maggette

Both were gone the next season when they brought in Grant Hill and T-Mac.  Penny had also been seriously injured and never quite made it back by then.

[Donoghus]

As fun as Penny/Shaq was, I would've loved to have seen a mid-90s Magic with Webber & Shaq.

[Moranis]

Kobe wasn't going to go to Orlando. It was LA or bust for him. Charlotte found that out definitively when they drafted him and he refused to do anything.  Now maybe the idea of playing with Shaq would have gotten him to Orlando, but I doubt it.

[Surferdad]

Naw, the greatest trade never made was 5 1st round picks for Justice Winslow.   

[footey]

Porzingis for Brogdon.   

[Mike Pemulis]

Cp3 to Lakers

[johnnygreen]

There's a lot to unfold here.
1. Because Orlando traded those picks for Skiles and make room for Grant, that had an effect on the teams record and lottery seeding. However, point taken and we'll run with it.
2. If Orlando does make those picks, the team is considerably better and may have won a title. If the team did win a championship, odds are Shaq signs an extension and never goes to the Lakers. I wish I had a time machine.
3. I was always curious what a Shaq & Webber duo would have looked like.
4. What were the 4 picks in the Skiles trade to the Bullets?

[liam]

I'd pick the trade for the second pick of the 1986 draft by dealing Gerald Henderson to the Seattle SuperSonics back in 1984. That was not realized.

[Ed Monix]

That’s a nice hypothetical, but since when is Dennis Scott a PF?

Haha, since Horris Grant was their only good power forward and in this scenario he never signs with Orlando.

Dennis Scott is 6’8 though, but I understand your point.

[Ed Monix]

Kobe wasn't going to go to Orlando. It was LA or bust for him. Charlotte found that out definitively when they drafted him and he refused to do anything.  Now maybe the idea of playing with Shaq would have gotten him to Orlando, but I doubt it.

Kobe SAID he wasn’t going sign with the Charlotte Hornets.

He had a promise from Jerry West that the Lakers would draft Bryant, if they could get his rights. Bryant was never going to play in Europe instead of the NBA, it was a tactical ploy.

Like you said, playing in Florida with Shaq & Penny would have had Bryant elated.

[Ed Monix]

There's a lot to unfold here.

1. Because Orlando traded those picks for Skiles and make room for Grant, that had an effect on the teams record and lottery seeding. However, point taken and we'll run with it.

The picks were from the Warriors, changing the Magic’s roster would have no bearing on their future.

[Ed Monix]

That’s a nice hypothetical, but since when is Dennis Scott a PF?

Both were gone the next season when they brought in Grant Hill and T-Mac.  Penny had also been seriously injured and never quite made it back by then.

Penny’s major injuries all occurred after Shaq left. I would imagine a result from the increased workload.

[Roy H.]

That’s a nice hypothetical, but since when is Dennis Scott a PF?

Both were gone the next season when they brought in Grant Hill and T-Mac.  Penny had also been seriously injured and never quite made it back by then.

Penny’s major injuries all occurred after Shaq left. I would imagine a result from the increased workload.

I think the first major injury was in the 1996 playoffs.  Shaq then left that summer, and Penny got surgery.

It's probably a bit revisionist to envision a fully healthy Penny next to Shaq.