2020 NBA Trades

Oklahoma City absorbed Al Horford, acquired a future first and additional rights, and later restored Horford’s trade value; Philadelphia received immediate cap and roster relief.

Houston gained a modest edge when it exchanged Russell Westbrook for John Wall and a protected first.

Boston acquired 2022 conditional second-round pick (not exercised) from Hornets in exchange for Gordon Hayward; 2023 second-round pick (#57 Trayce Jackson-Davis); 2024 second-round pick (#58 Ariel Hukporti).

Cleveland’s trade of cash considerations for Rayjon Tucker and 2027 second round pick (outcome pending) remains difficult to assess because material consideration or outcome evidence is incomplete.

In a three-team trade, Detroit acquired Delon Wright from Dallas; Oklahoma City acquired Trevor Ariza from Detroit plus Justin Jackson, a 2023 second-round pick (best of Dallas or Miami) and a 2026 second-round pick from Dallas; Dallas acquired James Johnson from Oklahoma City.

The long-term value clearly favored New York Knicks: Houston received rights to Issuf Sanon from New York Knicks for Austin Rivers; the rights to Sergio Llull; rights to Tadija Dragicevic; rights to Axel Hervelle.

Houston’s purchase of K.J. Martin’s draft rights was a clear low-cost win.

The 2020-11-25 trade leans slightly toward Oklahoma City Thunder, though Indiana received useful value led by Jalen Lecque.

Detroit acquired Trevor Ariza; rights to Isaiah Stewart; 2027 second round pick (outcome unknown); cash considerations from Houston Rockets for Christian Wood; draft pick (first round pick protected top 16 in 2021-22, top 18 in 2023-24, top 13 in 2025, top 11 in 2026, top 9 in 2027, else 2027 second round pick) (2025 #17-Joan Beringer); 2021 second round pick (#52 – Luka Garza).

Minnesota acquired Ed Davis while sending out Jacob Evans; Omari Spellman; 2026 second round pick (outcome unresolved) in the 2020-11-24 transaction with Knicks.

Oklahoma City recovered a future second in the Danilo Gallinari sign-and-trade, but Atlanta received the established high-level starter and realized more on-court value.

Cleveland acquired JaVale McGee and 2026 second round pick (outcome pending) for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell, producing a clear Cavaliers win on realized player, draft and roster value.

Bucks Win. Milwaukee receives A+ for converting a costly package into a championship core guard. New Orleans earns A for extracting multiple firsts, swaps and usable veterans. Oklahoma City receives A- for strong facilitator value and draft accumulation. Denver receives C+ because Hampton's direct tenure was limited, though his later inclusion in the Gordon package preserved some utility. Bucks Win is the headline, but three of the four teams generated meaningful value. Milwaukee's result is the strongest because Holiday became an immediate championship-level fit next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. The Bucks won the 2021 title in his first season, and Holiday's defense, playmaking and late-game contributions were central to that run. This is exactly the kind of win-now conversion that can justify surrendering significant draft control: the expensive package produced the championship outcome the team was built to chase.

Detroit acquired Zhaire Smith from Philadelphia 76ers for Tony Bradley.

New York Knicks received Ed Davis (Adam); 2023 second round pick (#39-Mouhamed Gueye (a)); 2024 second round pick (more favorable of Cavaliers, Jazz picks) (#38-Ajay Mitchell). Utah Jazz received cash considerations. New York ultimately received the stronger realized value.

Denver received cash considerations; traded player exception from Detroit Pistons, sending Jerami Grant; rights to Nikola Radicevic in return.

Detroit acquired Tony Bradley; rights to Saben Lee from Utah Jazz for cash; traded player exception.

The partner finished with a modest edge. The Warriors acquired Kelly Oubre Jr. from Oklahoma City Thunder for 2021 draft pick (first round protected top 20, else second round pick) (#36-Miles McBride); 2021 second round pick (#55-Aaron Wiggins).

Houston converted Robert Covington into a strong rebuilding package.

Atlanta acquired Tony Snell; Khyri Thomas; traded player exception from Pistons in exchange for Dewayne Dedmon; traded player exception.

Memphis sent two future second-round picks to acquire Desmond Bane’s draft rights in the 2020 three-team deal, while Boston received the seconds and Portland acquired Enes Kanter.

Minnesota Timberwolves received rights to Leandro Bolmaro. New York Knicks received rights to Mathias Lessort; rights to Immanuel Quickley; 2023 second round pick (from Timberwolves) (#31-James Nnaji). New York ultimately received the stronger realized value.

In a multi-team transaction involving Clippers, Pistons, the Nets acquired Landry Shamet; Bruce Brown; rights to Reggie Perry and sent Dzanan Musa; rights to Saddiq Bey; rights to Jaylen Hands; rights to Jay Scrubb; 2021 second-round pick (#37, J.T. Thor).

Boston acquired 2021 conditional second-round pick (not exercised) from Thunder in exchange for Vincent Poirier; cash.

Oklahoma City Thunder captured the stronger long-term value in the 2020-11-19 transaction; Los Angeles Lakers' return of Dennis Schröder did not match Danny Green; rights to Jaden McDaniels; plus 1 additional asset.

Oklahoma City received Admiral Schofield and the rights to Vit Krejci for the rights to Cassius Winston and the 2024 second-round pick used on Bobi Klintman; Oklahoma City produced the stronger realized return.

Charlotte acquired rights to Nick Richards from New Orleans Pelicans for 2024 second round pick (#34-Tyler Kolek).

Cleveland acquired 2025 second round pick (#49-Tyrese Proctor) and removal of protection on Bucks 2022 first round pick for rights to Ilkan Karaman, producing a clear Cavaliers win on realized player, draft and roster value.

Dallas received Josh Richardson; draft rights to Tyler Bey from Philadelphia 76ers and sent Seth Curry; traded player exception in return.

The long-term outcome favored Minnesota Timberwolves; Los Angeles Clippers' return led by rights to Daniel Oturu did not match the value it surrendered.

Memphis clearly won the completed-value comparison with Sacramento Kings, receiving rights to Xavier Tillman for rights to Robert Woodard II; 2022 second-round pick (less favorable of Bulls, Pistons picks) (#49-Isaiah Mobley).

Milwaukee acquired the 2020 No. 45 pick, used on Jordan Nwora, while sending Orlando the 2022 No. 35 pick that became Max Christie and a 2026 second-round pick that became No. 40 Dillon Mitchell.

New Orleans acquired 2022 second round pick (#52-Karlo Matkovic); cash considerations from Utah Jazz for rights to Elijah Hughes.

New York acquired rights to Ante Tomic; 2020 first round pick (#23-Leandro Bolmaro) from Jazz for 2020 first round pick (#27-Udoka Azubuike); 2020 second round pick (#38-Saben Lee). Both sides realized enough value that a decisive winner would overstate the result.

Phoenix acquired Chris Paul and Abdel Nader for Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a protected first-round pick, then reached the 2021 NBA Finals in Paul's first season.

Atlanta acquired Derrick Walton Jr.; $1.3M cash considerations from Clippers in exchange for 2022 second round pick (protected top 55) (not exercised).

Atlanta acquired Skal Labissiere; cash considerations from Blazers in exchange for 2024 second round pick (protected top 55) (not exercised).

Atlanta acquired Dewayne Dedmon; 2020 second round pick (more favorable of (a) Heat pick, (b) less favorable of Rockets, Warriors picks) (#50-Skylar Mays); 2021 second round pick (#48-Sharife Cooper) from Kings in exchange for Jabari Parker; Alex Len.

Cleveland acquired Andre Drummond for Brandon Knight, John Henson and 2023 second round pick (less favorable of Cavaliers, Warriors picks) (#55-Isaiah Wong); the completed outcomes give the Cavaliers a modest realized-value edge.

Denver acquired Jordan McRae from Washington Wizards for Shabazz Napier.

The realized-value outcome ultimately favored Warriors. The Warriors acquired 2020 second round pick (#48-Nico Mannion); 2021 second round pick (#55-Aaron Wiggins); 2022 second round pick (#51-Tyrese Martin) from Philadelphia 76ers for Alec Burks; Glenn Robinson III.

Golden State acquired Andrew Wiggins, the protected first-round pick used on Jonathan Kuminga and a second-round pick for D’Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman.

Houston Rockets received Bruno Caboclo; Grizzlies' option to swap 2023 second round picks (Heat, Mavericks) with Rockets (protected #31-32) (not exercised). Memphis Grizzlies received Jordan Bell; Grizzlies' option to swap 2023 second round picks (Heat, Mavericks) with Rockets (protected #31-32) (not exercised).

Los Angeles Clippers received Marcus Morris; Knicks' option to swap 2021 first round picks with Clippers (protected top 4) (not exercised). New York Knicks received Moe Harkless; rights to Yusuf Sanon; 2020 first round pick (from Clippers) (#27-Udoka Azubuike); Knicks' option to swap 2021 first round picks with Clippers (protected top 4) (from Clippers) (not exercised); 2021 second round pick (from Clippers) (#32-Jeremiah Robinson-Earl). New York ultimately received the stronger realized value.

Orlando acquired James Ennis III from Philadelphia 76ers for 2020 second round pick (#58-Paul Reed).

Slight Hawks Edge: The deal became a referendum on Houston's small-ball experiment, but its broader lesson is that four-team trades can produce more than one good outcome. Atlanta found the best long-term fit, Minnesota extracted meaningful young-player value, Houston gained a useful specialist and later assets, and Denver chose a conservative path that produced the least upside.

Dallas received Willie Cauley-Stein from Golden State Warriors and sent 2020 second-round pick (#51-Justinian Jessup) in return.

Dallas received Justin Patton; cash from Oklahoma City Thunder and sent Isaiah Roby in return.

On January 21, 2020, Portland acquired Trevor Ariza; Wenyen Gabriel; Caleb Swanigan from Sacramento Kings in exchange for Kent Bazemore; Anthony Tolliver; 2024 second round pick (#33-Tyler Smith); 2025 second round pick (#39-Alijah Martin).

Atlanta acquired Jeff Teague; Treveon Graham from Timberwolves in exchange for Allen Crabbe.