The Most Disastrous Trades in Sports History

Are you a Giants fan wanting your team to trade away multiple draft picks to get Braylon Edwards? A Pacers fan who thinks they should do everything they can to get Blake Griffin to put you over the top? Think twice after looking at this list. High-profile athletes getting traded with high expectations don’t always work out…

10. Mike Piazza traded to the Marlins (1998), Rasheed Wallace traded to the Hawks (2004)

Two high-profile athletes at the top of their games. Piazza played for a week, Wallace for a game. Not quite what Florida and Atlanta fans were looking for when they first heard the trade announced.

9. Robert Traylor traded to the Bucks (1998)

Traylor was a monster in college, the unmovable object in the middle. This columnist thought that the Bucks finally got it right, saying that “After trading away No. 4 draft-pick Stephon Marbury last year, the Bucks get it right in ‘98 by stealing the marketable and talented Robert Traylor from the Mavs for an overhyped foreign prospect.” That overhyped foreign prospect? Dirk Nowitzki.

8. Shaq traded to the Suns (2008)

While the trade was criticized by many, the Suns believed that Shaq could put them over the top. “I think you’re wrong,” D’Antoni said. “He is not going to come to Phoenix and lay an egg. He is focused and ready to roll. He wants to show the pundits that this was a great trade.” So says the guy who got fired at the end of the season…

7. Allen Iverson traded to the Pistons (2008)

The Pistons finally got the scorer they have been missing all these years! Apparently, seven straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals weren’t enough. AI even vowed to do “whatever it takes” including practicing. This was, of course, before missing a practice in the first month he was with the team and later refusing to come off the bench. Now, the Pistons are just looking to avoid being swept in the first round of this year’s playoffs.

6. Mark Teixeira traded to the Braves (2007)

The thought was that Teixeira would come to Atlanta, be successful for half of a year, and sign to a long-term deal. He went to Atlanta, at least. He had a reasonably successful end of the year, but signing him to a long-term deal was a chore. He ended up signing an arbitration-threatened deal and was traded to the Angels before the 2008 Trade Deadline.

5. Scottie Pippen traded to the Rockets (1998)

The Rockets seemed like a perfect fit. People questioning Pippen’s ability to be “the man” were taken care of by Pippen being added to the duo of Olajuwon and Barkley. Unfortunately, Barkley and Pippen did not play well together, and the experiment was nothing short of disastrous.

4. Mark Mulder traded to the Cardinals (2005)

Had the Cardinals not won a World Series in Mulder’s first year, Mulder would be even higher on the list. Mulder had a good 2005 but has won 6 games since, all in 2006. The good news for Mulder? He’s the second-most successful member of the formerly famous Athletics pitching trio in his post-Oakland career.

3. Ricky Williams traded to the Saints (1999)

Mike Ditka thought so much of Ricky Williams that he decided to literally trade his entire draft away to get him. Unfortunately for Ditka, Williams spent only three years with the Saints, only once averaging more than 80 yards per game. Saints fans did get to see Ricky in a wedding dress, at least.

2. Herschel Walker traded to the Vikings (1989)

The Vikings thought so much of Herschel Walker that they traded away 5 players and 8 draft picks to get him. Walker spent three seasons with the Vikings and was never fully utilized, perhaps because all of the people who were supposed to block for him were on the Cowboys.

1. Grant Hill traded to the Magic (2000)

A co-Rookie of the Year and 5-time All Star participant in Detroit, Grant Hill was at the top of the NBA. He was in the prime of his career, and looked like a lock for the Hall of Fame. He was this writer’s favorite athlete growing up. And, the Pistons virtually gave him away for two unknowns (Ben Wallace and Chucky Atkins). In his first three years in Orlando, Hill played a combined 47 out of a possible 246 games.

The Massacre

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