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Lakers: The Anthony Davis trade and the 5 best trades of the decade

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers keeps the ball from Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers as he posts up during the first half at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 08: Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers keeps the ball from Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers as he posts up during the first half at Staples Center on March 08, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

1. The Houston Rockets landing a superstar in James Harden

The Houston Rockets acquired one of the five best players in the NBA (at worst) from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2012 offseason. It is one of the worst moves in recent history when we look at it from the Thunder’s perspective, as they only traded Harden to save money over the luxury tax and wound up never winning an NBA title despite having three young future MVPs.

In return for Harden, the Thunder received Kevin Martin, Jeremy Lamb, a second-round pick and two first-round draft picks that turned into Steven Adams and Mitch McGary. The Rockets, meanwhile, received a legitimate franchise player who is an MVP and has been putting up ridiculous numbers.

You can hate the way that Harden plays basketball all you want but it is undeniable that he is one of the five best players in the league at worst and absolutely is someone who can carry his team to the NBA Finals. It is a shame that he has not thus far, as he should have in the 2018 NBA Playoffs before Chris Paul’s injury in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals essentially derailed their chances.

Again, you could put Kawhi over this as it led to a championship and if AD wins a championship and re-signs with the Lakers then I am more than okay with putting that trade above this one as well.

However, the reason why I like this trade as the best of the decade is that the Houston Rockets landed a legitimate franchise cornerstone for the next decade-plus for essentially nothing all because the Thunder wanted to save some money.

An offseason trade target from each Central team. dark. Next

Anthony Davis could be a mixture of Leonard and Harden — getting a championship in year one and then staying and becoming the franchise cornerstone for the next decade. We just have to wait and see if that is the case.

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