The NBA’s annual trade deadline is set for 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. We have already seen Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis sent to the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans. Negotiations on a swap of Brooklyn Nets star James Harden and Philadelphia 76ers counterpart Ben Simmons could gain momentum at any moment. What better way to pass the time between than to remember the 33 trades in the league’s 75-year history that directly swung championships.
Let this trip down memory lane be a reminder that disgruntled stars, trade requests, contract disputes and head-scratching deals involving headlining names were a reality long before the player empowerment era …
Three of the 33 trades that altered championships in the NBA’s 75-year history. (Graphic by Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports)
June 1948: Dolph Schayes for nothing but a chance to save a league
Leo Ferris, serving as both general manager of the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and vice…