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 acquired Matthew Dellavedova, John Henson and 3 additional assets for George Hill, Sam Dekker and 2021 second round pick (#43-Greg Brown III), producing a clear Cavaliers win on realized player, draft and roster value.

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.

Los Angeles Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans produced a stronger realized return for Pelicans in the 2018-10-15 exchange: Alexis Ajinca / Alex Ajinca for Wesley Johnson / Wes Johnson.

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 acquired Rodney Purvis from Thunder in exchange for Abdel Nader; $450K cash.

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.

Toronto won the Kawhi Leonard trade by converting one season of Leonard and Danny Green into the 2019 championship, while San Antonio recovered a credible package led by DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and Keldon Johnson.

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; Hawks' option to swap 2023 second round picks (less favorable of Hawks, Hornets picks) with Nets (not exercised); 2025 second round pick (#36-Adou Thiero) from Nets in exchange for rights to Isaia Cordinier; 2020 second round pick (protected top 55) (not exercised); Hawks' option to swap 2023 second round picks (less favorable of Hawks, Hornets picks) with Nets (not exercised).

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.

Atlanta acquired the rights to Trae Young and a 2019 protected first-round pick (#10 Cam Reddish) from Dallas in exchange for the rights to Luka Doncic.

Atlanta traded the rights to Devonte' Graham (34th pick 2018) to Charlotte for 2019 second-round pick (#44 Bol Bol) and 2023 second-round pick (#34 Colby Jones).

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.

On June 21, 2018, the Phoenix Suns acquired rights to Mikal Bridges from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for rights to Zhaire Smith; 2021 first-round pick (#18-Tre Mann).

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 acquired Okaro White from Heat in exchange for Luke Babbitt.

Atlanta acquired Sheldon Mac; cash from Wizards in exchange for 2019 second round pick (protected top 55) (not exercised).

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 exchanged Derrick Rose, Jae Crowder and 5 additional assets for George Hill, Rodney Hood and 2 additional assets, with the two sides generating broadly comparable realized value.

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.