Building a Championship Contender Via Trade

[Lipoli390]

It think it's clear that the path to NBA championship contention is through the draft. Teams that contend for NBA championships, with rare exception, typically acquire their top 2 or 3 core player by drafting them. For example, the Warriors drafted Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, in addition to Barnes and Ezeli. The Thunder drafted Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka and Adams. The Spurs drafted Leonard, Parker, Manu and Duncan. Their newest top core guy, Aldridge is one of those exceptions having acquired him through free agency.

Apart from the draft, some teams have acquired one or two of their core three players via free agency. The Spurs' acquisition of Aldridge is one example. The Heat's acquisition of LeBron and Bosh to go with Wade is another. Cleveland bringing back LeBron via free agency is another example. But these are the exceptions and even the teams that have acquired one or two core players through free agency, have drafted at least one if not two of their core three guys.

My question relates to trades. More specifically, what teams in the past 10 years have acquired one of their core three players via trade. Even more specifically, what teams have acquired one of their core three by trading a current or future first round pick? I honestly don't know the answer to that question. There may be several that just don't come to mind. If you go way back, perhaps the Suns trade for Barkley or the Lakers trade for Shaq. The closest I can come in the last 10 years is Cleveland trading Wiggins for Love, but you have to ask whether Love is one of their core three. And it's worth asking whether the Cavs would have been as good or even better with Wiggins instead of Love.

The supposition of my question is that trading first round picks to acquire a top 2 or 3 veteran player to position your team for championship contention is a nonstarter. History has shown it just doesn't work. That takes me to the notion of the Wolves trading for Butler by swapping our #5 pick (i.e., Dunn) and either Zach or Wiggins for Butler. If such a trade had happened, perhaps it would have vaulted the Wolves into immediate championship contention. But history suggests it would have proved to be a mistake, if not initially, over time. Trades can help build around your core three, but they don't seem to be an effective way of building the core. And the franchises that trade high first round picks for long-term veterans tend to be those that dwell near the bottom of the standings for long periods of time.

Just food for thought.

[Phenom]

Boston did it trading for Ray, KG, and technically Rondo but other than that. . .

[thedoper]

The Celtics, The Heat, The Lakers with Pau, The Lakers with Shaq. Chicago adding Rodman. Even the warriors added to key pieces via FA and trade (Bogut and Iguodala), at the time AI was way more of a tangible asset than Draymond Green.

Basically every champion except San Antonio has gone route B to some extant. I think it depends what resources you have already. But I think it is more like 50/50 between the acquisition and building through the draft models. Especially now. If it is piece #3 on a team I don't think it is a huge deal. Like I've said before I am sure there were Warriors fans who were furious about getting rid of Monta Ellis at the time. Ultimately you need to be smart on all fronts of acquiring talent, including trades. I hope we got the team together who can do that.

Ultimately you highly rate Zach which is coloring your view of these rumors. Nothing wrong with that but we have assets and therefore should be considering moves that can make our team better.

[Squishypoo [enjin:6648839]]

The Celtics, The Heat, The Lakers with Pau, The Lakers with Shaq. Chicago adding Rodman. Even the warriors added to key pieces via FA and trade (Bogut and Iguodala), at the time AI was way more of a tangible asset than Draymond Green.

Basically every champion except San Antonio has gone route B to some extant. I think it depends what resources you have already. But I think it is more like 50/50 between the acquisition and building through the draft models. Especially now. If it is piece #3 on a team I don't think it is a huge deal. Like I've said before I am sure there were Warriors fans who were furious about getting rid of Monta Ellis at the time. Ultimately you need to be smart on all fronts of acquiring talent, including trades. I hope we got the team together who can do that.

Ultimately you highly rate Zach which is coloring your view of these rumors. Nothing wrong with that but we have assets and therefore should be considering moves that can make our team better.

SA is trying to do it now, Going after KD and allready having Aldridge.

[thedoper]

The Celtics, The Heat, The Lakers with Pau, The Lakers with Shaq. Chicago adding Rodman. Even the warriors added to key pieces via FA and trade (Bogut and Iguodala), at the time AI was way more of a tangible asset than Draymond Green.

Basically every champion except San Antonio has gone route B to some extant. I think it depends what resources you have already. But I think it is more like 50/50 between the acquisition and building through the draft models. Especially now. If it is piece #3 on a team I don't think it is a huge deal. Like I've said before I am sure there were Warriors fans who were furious about getting rid of Monta Ellis at the time. Ultimately you need to be smart on all fronts of acquiring talent, including trades. I hope we got the team together who can do that.

Ultimately you highly rate Zach which is coloring your view of these rumors. Nothing wrong with that but we have assets and therefore should be considering moves that can make our team better.

SA is trying to do it now, Going after KD and allready having Aldridge.

Great point. Hybrid is the way to go as I see it.

[AbeVigodaLive]

There are many examples of trades helping teams win titles. Another one I don't think was mentioned was Shaq ending up in Miami in 2006. Or R. Wallace ending up in Detroit in 2004 was also huge. Was he their best player? Probably not... but that team was vastly improved with him on the court. Heck, the Wolves made the only run in its history for trading for Sam Cassell.

But superstars aren't traded all that often, which cuts down on it quite a bit. It's the 2nd and 3rd and 4th best players that can put a team over the top via trade.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

There are many examples of trades helping teams win titles. Another one I don't think was mentioned was Shaq ending up in Miami in 2006. Or R. Wallace ending up in Detroit in 2004 was also huge. Was he their best player? Probably not... but that team was vastly improved with him on the court. Heck, the Wolves made the only run in its history for trading for Sam Cassell.

But superstars aren't traded all that often, which cuts down on it quite a bit. It's the 2nd and 3rd and 4th best players that can put a team over the top via trade.

.....and Terrell Brandon's Insurance-Paid contract to ATL in a 4-team deal that brought Latrell Spreewell. Just remember, success is just failure that hasn't happened yet.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Tyson Chandler and Jason Kidd in the case of Dallas - arguably their two next important players on that squad after Dirk.

Heh, sorry Lip! I'm not sure your premise holds up too much!

But yeah, typically it's one or two really good draft picks that sort of get things going and then there is that key FA acquisition and/or trade that puts things over the top.

I've never been a believer in specific formulas for success, but yeah, absolutely nailing a few draft picks sure as heck helps!

[SameOldNudityDrew]

2016 Cavs (Draft-Irving, TT, Trade/FA-LeBron, Love, Smith, etc)
2015 Warriors (Draft-Curry, Thompson, Green, Trade/FA-Iggy, Bogut)
2014 Spurs (Draft-Kawhi, TD, Parker, Ginobili, Trade/FA-Diaw, Green, Belinelli)
2013 Heat (Draft-Wade, Trade/FA-LeBron, Bosh)
2012 Heat (Draft-Wade, Trade/FA-LeBron, Bosh)
2011 Mavs (Draft-Dirk, Barea, Trade/FA-Chandler, Kidd, Terry, Marion, Peja, Brewer, Caron Butler)
2010 Lakers (Draft-Kobe, Bynum, Trade/FA-Gasol, Odom, Artest)
2009 Lakers (Draft-Kobe, Bynum, Trade/FA-Gasol, Odom, Ariza)
2008 Celtics (Draft-PP, Rondo, Trade/FA-KG, Ray Allen)
2007 Spurs (Draft-TD, Parker, Ginobili, Trade/FA-Bowen, Finley, Horry)
2006 Heat (Draft-Wade, Haslem, Trade/FA-Shaq, Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, Zo, Posey, Payton)
2005 Spurs (Draft-TD, Parker, Ginobili, Trade/FA-Bowen, Horry, Barry)
2004 Pistons (Draft-Prince, Trade/FA-Billups, Rip, Sheed, Ben Wallace)


I'm too lazy to keep going. Finals MVP in bold. I'm lumping free agency in with trades here, because I want to test how important the draft is compared to those other ways of acquiring players.

All of those teams except for Detroit had at least one star they acquired in the draft (Prince was a great role player, but not a star), and usually at least one other good player or starter (but not a necessarily a star) they drafted as well. Two teams, the Spurs and Warriors had 2 or more actual stars they acquired in the draft, and both arguably had 3.

BUT, other than the Spurs and Warriors, all of the other teams had only one drafted star and usually one other drafted starter or good player, relying for trades or free agency to get their #2 and #3 best players.

So in the last 13 years, 9 different teams have won it all, and only 2 of them actually drafted their #1 and #2 best players. Seven of those 9 teams got their #2 and usually #3 through trade or free agency.

My conclusion?

The draft is absolutely important. If you get smart/lucky like the Spurs and Warriors, you're in luck! But that's only happened to 2 out of the 9 teams. Still, the draft is obviously crucial for getting a star. Eight out of the 13 Finals MVPs were drafted by their team. And only one team, the Pistons, didn't draft their #1, 2, or 3 best player. It's also important for getting at least 1 other starter or very good player. Guys like Ginobili, Bynum, etc.

But this (admittedly small sample size) history also shows that 7 times out of 9, championship teams actually do get 1 or 2 of their top 3 players through trade or free agency.

What does this mean for us?

Woohoo!! We got Towns! That's out linchpin! And if Wiggins and LaVine also become stars, then we've got a shot at being at least like OKC if not hopefully like the Spurs and Warriors. But this history also suggests that the chances are if we make it, at least 1 or even 2 of our top 3 players when we win the championship will actually have been acquired through a trade or free agency. So we shouldn't be afraid to make the right trade or sign the right free agent when the time is right.

EDIT: Oh, hey, almost forgot to state the obvious. If we win the championship with Wiggins, we've already got one of our top players acquired through a trade!

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Nice analysis Drew. While I do think we need to identify a Big 2 or 3 to build around, I'm also content growing this team organically as long as possible. I see some chemistry and I don't wanna trade or sign big free agents quite yet. Fools will rush in and grab Noah and Deng early, but our best players are 20 years old. No other team has our young talent, let the seeds grow.....grab a couple cheap free agents and that's it.