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Kravitz here, happy to be back.
I missed a lot of madness last week and most of it came the way of the NBA, and the rumor mill surrounding the draft. Most of which didn't happen but one of the many rumors actually came to fruition, that being the Jimmy Butler trade during the 1st round. The T-Wolves got Butler, and the Bulls received Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine, and the #7 pick (Lauri Markkanen).
It doesn't take a genius to figure out, the Bulls lost the trade. Before we even see Markkanen take the court it's obvious and simple, the team that trades away the proven superstar in his prime ALWAYS loses the trade. I can't think of one example off the top of my head where that's not true.
Examples of recent memory...
- In 2007 the Celtics exchanged Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, and Theo Ratliff’s expiring contract for the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Garnett. That same year, the Celtics traded Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak, and the 5th pick (Jeff Green) to the Seattle SuperSonics for Ray Allen and Glen Davis
- In 2003, the Bucks traded Ray Allen Ronald Murray, Kevin Ollie, and a 1st round pick for the Sonics Gary Payton & Desmond Mason.
- Last year, the Pelicans acquired Demarcus Cousins from the Kings for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, and Langston Galloway. (Plus a 1st and a 2nd)
- In 2012, the Warriors grabbed Andrew Bogut from the Bucks in a trade that landed Milwaukee Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and the always efficient Kwame Brown.
- In 2004, the Heat and Lakers completed a deal that sent Shaq to Miami and Lamar Odom, Caron Butler, Brian Grant, and a pick to the Lakers. Not a bad deal for LA, except for the fact that it netted Miami a title.
Some of those trades are more lopsided than others, but the point is, the winner in each deal was/is the team that lands the superstar still in his prime. It is almost impossible to trade a superstar in the NBA and come out better on the other side, just ask the Magic. Even in Orlando, where the Magic were the clear winner of the Dwight trade, have been a bottom dweller ever since acquiring Nik Vucevic.
The Melo trade and the Kevin Love trade are really the only ones I can think of where it's actually worked out equally for both teams. In the Melo deal, both teams still suck...and with the Love trade, the Cavs got their title, while the Wolves got their young future in Andrew Wiggins. Maybe this deal will work out for the Bulls and the T-Wolves, but history is certainly not on Chicago's side.
- Kravitz