Who are the best players ever traded that weren’t looking to be traded?

[bdm860]

I think a lot all of these LeBron and DWade trade posts are ridiculous (actually I think they’re all ridiculous).  NBA superstars aren’t traded without wanting to be traded first (or unless contract negotiations have failed or something like that).  So it got me thinking, who are some of the best players ever who were traded that that weren’t looking to be traded?

Not talking about a player asking for a trade.

Not talking about a player who couldn’t settle contract negotiations with a team.

Not really talking about aging veterans who were traded away on the tail end of their career (Garnett, Ewing, Hakeem), but if that's the best you can come up with it will work.

Not really talking about aging veterans on bad teams (but I think they ask to be traded behind closed doors and the team obliges), so maybe not Jason Kidd from the Nets to Mavs, but maybe Jason Kidd from the Suns to Nets.

What I’m talking about, when they player first heard they were being shopped or got the news that they were traded, were basically surprised.

So who you got?


Some of the guys I'm thinking of are (but if I'm missing some important fact like they demanded a trade, feel free to let me know):

Jason Kidd (Suns to Nets).  Kidd was All NBA and All Defensive first team, and the Suns still traded him.  I know he had a domestic abuse thing, but still, you're trading away the best point guard in the game?  Can't think of anybody better in the recent past.

Ray Allen (Bucks to Sonics)

Allen Iverson (Sixers to Nuggets), although after 10 years in Philly and the teams getting worse and worse, he probably saw it coming, maybe even asked for it.

Allen Iverson (Nuggets to Pistons)
Chauncey Billups (Pistons to Nuggets).  Both players were on the decline, and with no success in Denver and lack of a meshing style with Carmelo, probably not so much of a surprise for Iverson, but Billups I think wasn't expecting it.

[pearljammer10]

Hmmm, nice thread topic. This might take me a while and a lot of brain rattling to think of my answer however. Off the top of my head I cant even think of a superstar who didnt ask to be traded...Sad times.

[Who]

Pau Gasol -- he didn't ask to be traded did he? Can't remember.

[wdleehi]

Webber from DC to the Kings


Mitch Richmond from the Warriors to the kings


Drexler to the Rockets


Gerald Green to the T-wolves.

[BballTim]

  Kobe for Divac.

[BballTim]

  Parish to the Celts?

[wdleehi]

  Kobe for Divac.

Well, if we are talking draft picks and stuff



The trade the brought Parish and Mchale.

[Chris]

Pau Gasol -- he didn't ask to be traded did he? Can't remember.

Well, I think he said he didn't want to sign an extension.  So, not exactly asking to be traded, but close.

[Redz]

Add draft day deals to the list of caveats

Ray Allen from Milwaukee to Seattle definitely comes to mind.

Eddie House to the Knicks 

Steve Smith?  Did he want out of Atlanta?

[Roy H.]

  Kobe for Divac.

Well, if we are talking draft picks and stuff



The trade the brought Parish and Mchale.

If we're talking draft picks, I'm going with Bill Russell.

[Roy H.]

I know we're talking recent history, and I don't know the circumstances of each deal, but the best non-draft picks to ever be traded have to include:

Wilt
Oscar Robertson
Kareem
Moses Malone

All won titles after they were traded, I believe.

[xmuscularghandix]

  Parish to the Celts?

I think Parish and The Warriors had a mutual disinterest in continuing their relationship.

[indeedproceed]

Pau Gasol -- he didn't ask to be traded did he? Can't remember.

There was a lot of speculation on where he was going before LA landed him. I think he asked.

[bdm860]

Some good ones.

I'm under the impression Pau Gasol wasn't because of failed contract negotiations (but I could be wrong) so he's a good one.  

wdleehi with several good ones from the 90's.


One more I just thought of, Dominique Wilkins to the Clippers.  He had fully recovere from his achilles injury, was putting up good numbers, and the Hawks were winning. Per wikipedia:

Wilkins showed no signs of fading in his 12th NBA campaign, even after a tumultuous midseason trade. After 11½ years with the Atlanta Hawks, during which he became one of the city's most beloved athletes, Wilkins was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers on February 24 in exchange for Danny Manning. Prior to the trade Wilkins averaged 24.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists for Atlanta, leading the club to a 36-16 record. At midseason he appeared in his eighth NBA All-Star Game. However, Hawks management and new coach Lenny Wilkens felt Manning and his multidimensional skills might help the team more during the stretch run. As it turned out, the top-seeded Hawks lost in the conference semifinals to the Indiana Pacers.

[Fan from VT]

antoine?