2018 NBA Trades

On December 17, 2018, the Phoenix Suns acquired Kelly Oubre Jr.; Austin Rivers from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Trevor Ariza.

Cleveland obtained Matthew Dellavedova, John Henson and draft compensation in a December 2018 three-team trade. Milwaukee acquired George Hill and Washington acquired Sam Dekker and a second-round right. Cleveland secured future flexibility, including selections associated with MarJon Beauchamp, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Bryce McGowens, although those later players followed separate rights paths. The inherited Cavaliers Win grades Cleveland A-, Milwaukee C and Washington C.

Cleveland acquired Alec Burks, 2020 second round pick (#51-Justinian Jessup) and 2021 second round pick (#43-Greg Brown III) for Kyle Korver, producing a clear Cavaliers win on realized player, draft and roster value.

Minnesota sent Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton to Philadelphia for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick. Butler gave the 76ers a credible championship-level closer and a near-conference-finals run, while Minnesota recovered two starters and later converted both into additional assets.

New Orleans acquired Wesley Johnson from the Clippers on October 15, 2018, for Alexis Ajinça. Los Angeles immediately waived Ajinça without a regular-season appearance, but saved about $850,000 in salary relative to Johnson's contract. Johnson appeared in 26 Pelicans games, providing 377 minutes and 95 points, before New Orleans traded him to Washington in February for Markieff Morris and a future second-round pick. Pelicans Win, New Orleans B, Clippers C.

Houston lost the long-term value battle in the Ryan Anderson salary trade.

Cleveland acquired Sam Dekker, rights to Renaldas Seibutis and cash for rights to Vladimir Veremeenko; the completed outcomes give the Cavaliers a modest realized-value edge.

Dallas received Chinanu Onuaku; Mavericks' option to swap Warriors 2020 second-round pick with Rockets (not exercised); cash from Houston Rockets and sent draft rights to Maarty Leunen; Mavericks' option to swap Warriors 2020 second-round pick with Rockets (not exercised) in return.

In a three-team trade, Atlanta acquired Carmelo Anthony and Oklahoma City's protected 2022 first-round obligation plus Justin Anderson from Philadelphia; Oklahoma City acquired Dennis Schröder from Atlanta and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot from Philadelphia; Philadelphia acquired Mike Muscala from Atlanta. The protected Oklahoma City first did not convey and became the second-round picks used on Ulrich Chomche and Jahmai Mashack.

Boston traded Abdel Nader and $450,000 in cash to Oklahoma City on July 23, 2018, for Rodney Purvis, a guard on a fully non-guaranteed contract. The Celtics waived Purvis one week later without a Boston game, saving on Nader's salary and luxury-tax obligations. Oklahoma City used Nader as a regular reserve wing over the next two seasons. Oklahoma City Thunder Win, Thunder B, Boston C+.

Memphis and Orlando Magic produced a narrow realized-value edge for Magic in the 2018-07-23 exchange: Dakari Johnson; rights to Tyler Harvey for Jarell Martin; cash.

Dallas received draft rights to Maarty Leunen; $50,000 cash from Los Angeles Clippers and sent Johnathan Motley; draft rights to Renaldas Seibutis in return.

The Nets acquired Jared Dudley; 2021 second-round pick (protected #31, 35) (#59, RaiQuan Gray) from Suns in exchange for Darrell Arthur.

Oklahoma City received Rodney Purvis and sent Dakari Johnson; cash. The counterpart finished with the modest hindsight edge.

On July 20, 2018, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired $1M cash from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Richaun Holmes.

On July 18, 2018, Toronto acquired Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and the cash consideration recorded in transaction ledgers from San Antonio for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and a protected 2019 first-round pick that conveyed at No. 29 and became Keldon Johnson. Leonard won 2019 Finals MVP as Toronto captured the first championship in franchise history, while San Antonio received three separate pieces that produced multi-year value. The title makes Toronto the clear hindsight winner, but the Spurs' return was substantial rather than empty.

Sacramento Kings gained a narrow hindsight edge; Memphis received Garrett Temple but sent Ben McLemore; Deyonta Davis; 2021 second-round pick (#46-Dalano Banton); $1.5M cash.

The Nets acquired Darrell Arthur; Kenneth Faried; draft picks (first-round pick protected top 12 in 2019-24, else 2024 second-round pick, 2025 second-round pick) (2019 #27, Mfiondu Kabengele); 2020 second-round pick (#55, Jay Scrubb) from Nuggets in exchange for Isaiah Whitehead.

Atlanta acquired Jeremy Lin from Brooklyn in July 2018, along with a 2025 second-round asset and a 2023 second-round swap right, while the Nets received the rights to Isaia Cordinier and a conditional second. Lin provided Hawks backcourt minutes before moving on to Toronto, and Brooklyn gained flexibility. Atlanta's inherited B+ exceeds the Nets' C.

Hornets Win. Charlotte earns A- for Biyombo's useful tenure plus the two seconds, including the Cody Martin pick. Chicago receives C because salary savings had real organizational value even though Stone did not matter on court. Orlando receives D+ because Mozgov and Grant did not justify surrendering Biyombo and two picks. Hornets Win is more accurate than the prior slight-edge language. Charlotte generated the strongest completed value. Biyombo returned to a franchise where he already understood the role and provided multiple seasons of interior defense and rebounding. More importantly for the trade details, one of Orlando's seconds became the No. 36 pick used on Cody Martin, who developed into a multi-year Hornets rotation player. Receiving a useful center plus two picks for Mozgov created both immediate and retained value.

The Nets acquired Dwight Howard from Hornets in exchange for Timofey Mozgov; rights to Hamidou Diallo; 2021 second-round pick (#57, Balsa Koprivica); cash.

Charlotte acquired 2019 second round pick (#52-Jalen McDaniels); cash from Oklahoma City Thunder for rights to Hamidou Diallo.

Denver received 76ers' option to swap 2022 second-round picks with Nuggets (pick forfeited); cash from Philadelphia 76ers, sending Wilson Chandler; 2021 second-round pick (#55-Aaron Wiggins); 76ers' option to swap 2022 second-round picks with Nuggets (#50-Matteo Spagnolo) in return.

The 2018-07-06 exchange produced broadly comparable realized value: draft rights to Isaac Bonga for 2019 second-round pick (#34-Bruno Fernando); cash.

Los Angeles Clippers earned a modest hindsight edge over Washington Wizards in the 2018-06-26 exchange, with Marcin Gortat providing the better overall return.

The Hawks traded Luka Doncic's No. 3 draft rights to Dallas for No. 5 Trae Young and a protected 2019 first later used for No. 10 Cam Reddish. Young became an Atlanta All-Star and led a 2021 conference-finals run, but Doncic was the Mavericks' primary offensive creator on their 2024 Finals team. Mavericks Win, Dallas A+ and Atlanta B.

Charlotte obtained draft rights to Devonte' Graham from Atlanta in 2018 for two future second-round choices, subsequently identified with the 2019 No. 44 and 2023 No. 34 selections. Graham developed into a productive Hornets guard, while Atlanta redirected the picks in later transactions instead of drafting the eventual players for its own roster. Charlotte Win, Hornets B+ versus Hawks D+.

Charlotte acquired rights to Miles Bridges; 2020 second round pick (#32-Vernon Carey Jr.); 2021 second round pick (#56-Scottie Lewis) from Los Angeles Clippers for rights to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Dallas received draft rights to Raymond Spalding; draft rights to Kostas Antetokounmpo from Philadelphia 76ers and sent draft rights to Shake Milton in return.

Denver acquired rights to Jarred Vanderbilt from Orlando Magic for rights to Justin Jackson (Nicholas); 2019 second-round pick (less favorable of Nuggets (protected #56-60), Wizards picks; if Nuggets pick is less favorable but falls within protected range, then Wizards pick) (#36-Cody Martin).

Detroit lost the deal, sending 2021 second round pick (#32 – Jeremiah Robinson-Earl), 2023 second round pick (#31 – James Nnaji) for rights to Khyri Thomas.

The realized return strongly favored Houston: Houston received rights to Vince Edwards from Utah Jazz for cash.

Phoenix acquired the rights to No. 10 pick Mikal Bridges from Philadelphia on 2018 draft night for the rights to No. 16 pick Zhaire Smith and Miami's unprotected 2021 first-round pick. Bridges played every possible Suns regular-season game before his 2023 trade, totaling 365 games, 298 starts, an All-Defensive First Team selection and a starting role on the 2021 NBA Finals team. Smith played only 13 games for Philadelphia, but the Miami first retained major trade value and became part of the 2019 Tobias Harris package.

On June 21, 2018, Portland acquired rights to Gary Trent Jr. from Sacramento Kings in exchange for 2019 second round pick (more favorable of Lakers, Timberwolves picks) (#40-Justin James); 2021 second round pick (#48-Sharife Cooper); cash.

The Nets acquired Dante Cunningham from Pelicans in exchange for Rashad Vaughn.

Atlanta exchanged Luke Babbitt for Okaro White at the February 2018 deadline. The Hawks waived White on the same date rather than using him, while Babbitt returned to Miami to provide perimeter-shooting depth. Miami obtained the practical playing benefit; Atlanta primarily handled roster needs.

Atlanta obtained Sheldon Mac and cash from Washington in February 2018, sending the Wizards a conditional second-round selection for 2019 that never conveyed. Mac did not develop a meaningful Hawks playing role following his injury, and Washington obtained flexibility. The inherited Hawks Win gives Atlanta B- and Washington C, though neither received major on-court production.

Chicago received Noah Vonleh, cash for rights to Milovan Rakovic and finished with a modest realized-value edge.

Chicago exchanged Jameer Nelson (Sr.), Bulls' option to swap 2022 second round picks with Pistons (#49-Isaiah Mobley) for Willie Reed, Bulls' option to swap 2022 second round picks with Pistons (#33-Christian Koloko) in a transaction with broadly balanced realized value.

Cleveland acquired Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and draft pick (protected top 3 in 2018, top 10 in 2023, else 2023 second round pick) (2018 #25-Moe Wagner), producing a clear Cavaliers win on realized player, draft and roster value.

Cleveland exchanged Dwyane Wade for 2024 second round pick (protected top 55) (not exercised), with the realized return ultimately favorable to Heat.

Cleveland acquired George Hill, Rodney Hood and overseas rights through a February 2018 three-team deal with Sacramento and Utah. The Kings received Iman Shumpert, other rights, draft assets and cash; the Jazz obtained Jae Crowder and Derrick Rose. Cleveland sought immediate help around LeBron James, while the other clubs reshuffled veteran rosters. The inherited Even Trade gives all three B.

In a 3-team transaction, Dallas received Doug McDermott; 2018 second-round pick (less favorable of Blazers, Kings picks) (from Nuggets) (#54-Shake Milton) and sent Devin Harris.

Detroit acquired James Ennis III from Memphis Grizzlies for Brice Johnson; 2022 second round pick (less favorable of Bulls, Pistons picks) (#49 – Isaiah Mobley).

Orlando acquired 2018 second round pick (second least favorable of Grizzlies, Heat, Hornets picks) (#41-Jarred Vanderbilt) from Phoenix Suns for Elfrid Payton.

On February 8, 2018, Toronto acquired Malachi Richardson from Sacramento Kings in exchange for Bruno Caboclo.

Charlotte acquired Willy Hernangómez from New York Knicks for Johnny O'Bryant III; 2020 second round pick (#38-Saben Lee); 2021 second round pick (#42-Isaiah Livers).

The Nets acquired Rashad Vaughn; second-round pick (protected #48, 60 in 2018, else unprotected in 2020) (2018 #45, Hamidou Diallo) from Bucks in exchange for Tyler Zeller.

Chicago acquired Omer Asik, Tony Allen, Jameer Nelson (Sr.), plus 2 additional assets from Pelicans for Nikola Mirotic, 2018 second round pick (#51-Tony Carr (Gregory)), Bulls' option to swap 2021 second round picks with Pelicans (#40-Jared Butler), in a completed-value exchange that remains broadly balanced.

Detroit acquired Blake Griffin, Brice Johnson and Willie Reed for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanović and first- and second-round picks.