Some of the biggest turning points in NBA history came from trades that went through. But plenty of proposed deals could have changed the league just as much.
Advait Jajodia details 10 major proposed NBA trades that never materialized but could have dramatically altered league history. Notable near-misses include the Detroit Pistons exploring sending Isiah Thomas to the New York Knicks in 1994, Boston rejecting an Indiana Pacers offer of Chuck Person and a top draft pick for Larry Bird in 1988, and Charles Barkley nearly heading to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1992 before joining Phoenix.
The retrospective highlights Golden State repeatedly almost trading Stephen Curry, including draft-day talks involving Amar'e Stoudemire in 2009, ankle concerns leading Milwaukee to favor Monta Ellis in 2012, and a proposed package for Chris Paul in 2011. It also recounts Kobe Bryant's 2007 trade saga involving Dallas, Chicago, and an inquiry regarding LeBron James, alongside the NBA's 2011 veto of Paul to the Lakers.
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