Draft Day is known for it's trades. If a team picks a player they don't necessarily need, or want, they can try to do business with the other franchises. Most of the time, it is mutually beneficial for both sides, but sometimes it can go horribly, horribly wrong.
5 - Kevin Love Grizzlies to Timberwolves
Kevin Love is one of my favourite players and in 2008, he was involved in a big eight-player trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Along with the main event of Love and O.J Mayo switching teams, Memphis traded Mike Miller, Jason Collins and Brian Cardinal. Making the opposite journey were Greg Buckner, Marko Jaric and Antonie Walker.
Since then Love has gone on to establish himself as one of the best big men in the game, showing Memphis what they missed out on. At the minute, we have to watch Love's talents being wasted on a below par T'Wolves, when we could have seen him teaming with Marc Gasol in the frontcourt.
4 - Scottie Pippen Sonics to Bulls
Before setting up one of the biggest "Big Threes" of all time, Scottie Pippen was a member of the now obsolete Seattle Supersonics.
The small forward was then moved out to Chicago, with the centre Olden Polynice going in the other direction. Polynice averaged 7.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in his playing days, a solid career, but nothing to write home about.
Pippen, on the other hand, formed a dynasty with Michael Jordan and Dennis Rodman, and went on to win 6 rings. Without Pippen, it's likely that Jordan wouldn't have won his titles, and wouldn't be considered as one of the greats. Funny how things work out, isn't it ?
3 - Dirk Nowitzki Bucks to Mavericks
The best Mavericks player of all time, Dirk Nowitzki, started his career as a Milwaukee Buck. However, he was soon switching conferences to join a Dallas side who were stuck in a rut.
Since then, he has lead the Mavs to 12 post-season campaigns, with one of them resulting in a ring, in 2011. Individually, he has won an MVP award, 12 All-Star Appearances and a place in the 50-40-90 club.
In the other direction went Robert Traylor, who was touted to be the best big man in the draft. However, he struggled with injury problems and obesity in his respectable, but not sparkling career.
2 - Kobe Bryant Hornets to Lakers
Kobe entered the draft in 1996, as a fresh-faced 17 year-old straight out of high school. He was selected 13th by the Charlotte Hornets. However, Bryant wanted to play for one team, and one team only.
The Los Angeles Lakers.
Amazingly, the Hornets managed to work out a trade for the unproven "kid" of the NBA to his dream side. Centre Vlade Divac was sacrificed from the Lakers roster, despite being a good player for them and being on the back of his best season ever.
Looking back, the Lakers did a very good bit of business. Divac played a couple of seasons in Charlotte before moving out to Sacramento to lead their play-off run.
As for Kobe ? Well, you know the rest...
1 - Bill Russell St.Louis Hawks to Celtics
One of basketball's biggest risks ended up being a brilliant move by the Celtics head coach, Red Auberbach.
In the 1956 draft, Bill Russell was selected second by the St.Louis Hawks. Auberbach was so keen on the 6'10" centre, he was prepared to trade away Ed McCauley, the team's best player.
Although his plan seemed radical at the time, it panned out to be one of the best trades of all time. As well as acquiring Russell, the Celtics drafted Tom Heinsohn and K.C Jones on that night, two more staple parts in the most successful dynasty of all time.
McCauley still had a very successful career, picking up numerous All-Star appearances, and even a ring in a Hall of Fame career. But his success was no match for Russell who went on to win 11 rings in 13 years, as well as 5 MVP championships and 12 All-Star games. He is now considered one of the greatest centres, if not players, of all time.
If Russell didn't trade teams on that night, we could be sat here talking about the dynasty of the St.Louis Hawks.
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