Few days loom larger on the basketball calendar than than the NBA Draft. It’s obviously a life-changing moment for the sixty or so men who are selected to the Association, but for the franchises themselves, it represents the opportunity to make or break their future fortunes. Selecting the right player can set a club up for success for a decade or more, while making the wrong move can prove devastating. And because NBA team’s often make trades during the draft itself, the possibility for either feast or famine is only exaggerated.
Some of the transactions and swaps on draft day go relatively unnoticed, or may not really make a big difference in the long-run. At the same time, however, some of the game’s best players were actually traded during the draft. Lucky or shrewd teams may be able to grab the prospect of their dreams or otherwise reel in an established talent by striking the right deal.
Let’s look at some of the biggest trades made during the NBA Draft in history.