The 11 most lopsided NBA trades in recent history

Rockets received: James Harden, Cole Aldrich, Lazar Hayward, Daequan Cook

Thunder received: Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, 2013 first-round pick (Steven Adams), 2013 second-round pick (Alex Abrines), 2014 first-round pick (Mitch McGary)

How the trade looks now: Coming off an NBA Finals appearance, the Thunder broke up their promising young core of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden as Harden was due for an extension. The decision baffled many in the NBA at the time. It almost immediately backfired on the Thunder, as Harden became one of the league's elite scorers and ball-handlers and a perennial MVP candidate in Houston. Meanwhile, Martin, Lamb, and the picks that became Abrines and McGary contributed little in OKC in the following years, though the selection that became Steven Adams proved valuable.

Raptors received: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green

Spurs received: DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, 2019 first-round pick (Keldon Johnson)

How the trade looks now: The Raptors swung the 2018-19 championship race by landing Leonard (plus a solid 3&D wing in Danny Green), whose elite play in the postseason powered them to the championship over a battered Warriors squad. Sure, the Spurs got DeRozan, an All-Star scorer, but Leonard is entirely in another tier of player. DeRozan spent three seasons in San Antonio, making the playoffs once, before leaving in free agency last offseason. While Leonard left Toronto after one season, ask the Raptors (or its fans) if they regret their all-in move for one of the game's best players.

Suns received: Mikal Bridges

Sixers received: Zhaire Smith, 2021 first-round pick (Tre Mann)

How the trade looks now: Bridges was considered one of the most NBA-ready, 3&D prospects in the 2019 draft. He was drafted to his hometown team in Philadelphia, but on draft night, the Sixers flipped him to the Suns for the little-known but intriguing Zhaire Smith and a future first-round pick. Three years later, Bridges is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and a consistent offensive contributor. The Suns signed him to a $90 million extension last offseason. Meanwhile, Smith played just 13 games in two seasons with the Sixers, and the team traded the pick that became Tre Mann.

Bucks received: Khris Middleton, Brandon Knight, Viacheslav Kravtsov

Pistons received: Brandon Jennings

How the trade looks now: The Pistons probably didn't think much at the time of attaching Middleton, a 2012 second-round pick, in a sign-and-trade for Jennings – but they surely regretted it later. Middleton almost immediately took off in Milwaukee, first becoming a strong 3&D wing, then an All-Star, then a critical piece to a championship team. Jennings put up decent stats over 2.5 seasons in Detroit, but the Pistons were lottery-dwellers who went into a rebuild shortly after.

Nets received: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, D.J. White, 2017 first-round pick swap (Kyle Kuzma), 2017 second-round pick (Aleksandar Vezenkov)

Celtics received: Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans, 2014 first-round pick (James Young), 2016 first-round pick (Jaylen Brown), 2017 first-round pick (Markelle Fultz), 2018 first-round pick (Collin Sexton)

How the trade looks now: One of the most infamous trades in NBA history, the Nets went all-in to land star veterans around their core of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Brook Lopez. It didn't work. Pierce, Garnett, and Terry were past their primes and could not help the star-studded Nets get past the second round in back-to-back years. Boston made out like bandits for the draft compensation they received, which crippled the Nets for years. The deal ultimately paved the way for the Celtics to get Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, two All-Stars still with the team today.

Clippers received: Chris Paul, 2015 second-round pick (Arturas Gudaitis)

Hornets received: Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu, 2012 first-round pick (Austin Rivers)

How the trade looks now: Forever known as the deal that came after the NBA rejected a trade to send Paul to the Lakers, this one didn't end up being much better for New Orleans. At the time, Gordon looked like a young star, Aminu a promising two-way big, and Kaman was a one-time All-Star. However, none of them ever proved capable of taking New Orleans to the next level or helping them start a rebuild. Paul, meanwhile, made the next five All-Star games and ushered in the best era in Clippers history.

Suns received: Chris Paul, Abdel Nader

Thunder received: Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque, 2022 protected first-round pick

How the trade looks now: What's with teams undervaluing Chris Paul? The Thunder were looking to rebuild after just one season with CP3 (in which he led them to a surprise playoff appearance) and unloaded him to the Suns for very little in return. Rubio, Oubre, and Lecque never suited up for OKC (they were traded for draft assets), while Jerome has averaged 8 points per game for the Thunder. Paul has since led the Suns to the Finals and is still an All-Star-level player.

Raptors received: Kyle Lowry

Grizzlies received: Gary Forbes, 2013 first-round pick (Steven Adams)

How the trade looks now: Lowry was not yet an All-Star point guard at the time of this deal, but he was an above-average rotational guard. However, he reached new heights in Toronto, becoming a five-time All-Star and champion and best player in Raptors franchise history. Forbes never suited up for Houston (or in the NBA again), though the Rockets did flip the first-round pick they received to Oklahoma City in the Harden deal.

Warriors received: Andrew Bogut, Stephen Jackson

Bucks received: Monta Ellis, Kwame Brown, Ekpe Udoh

How the trade looks now: The Bogut trade was one of the first moves that set up the Warriors' dynasty. By 2012, Bogut and the Bucks had reached their endpoint, as the 2005 No. 1 pick was often injured, and his contract was winding down. Upon landing in Golden State, Bogut helped the Warriors become a defensive juggernaut, and he was one of the key pieces on the 2014-15 championship team. Though the trade cost the Warriors Ellis, a volume scoring guard, and fan-favorite, it also cleared the way for Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to become the team's starting backcourt. It's not hard to pick a winner in this deal.

Grizzlies received: Zach Randolph

Clippers received: Quentin Richardson

How the trade looks now: How low was Randolph's trade value when this deal was made? The Grizzlies only had to send Richardson, a then-29-year-old guard who had averaged 9 points per game the previous season, for Randolph, a 20-point-per-game scorer. Randolph restored his career in Memphis, becoming a fan-favorite and key member of the "Grit and Grind" Grizzlies, making two All-Star teams along the way. Randolph had his jersey retired in Memphis this past December.

Celtics received: Kyrie Irving

Cavaliers received: Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, 2018 first-round pick (Collin Sexton), 2020 second-round pick (Skylar Mays)

How the trade looks now: Irving's trade demand didn't leave the Cavs with many choices, as he also leveraged his upcoming free agency to sway suitors. Still, the Cavs didn't end up getting much in return for the star guard who helped them win a championship two years before. Thomas was not fully healthy and struggled in Cleveland. He and Crowder were both traded at that year's deadline. The Cavs did keep the pick that become Collin Sexton, who has been a good contributor on some bad Cavs teams since. The only solace for Cleveland may be that Irving's time in Boston didn't end well, either.