The NBA has always been a league full of drama, but nothing stirs up excitement and tension like a superstar demanding a trade. These moves alter franchises, shape rivalries, and even change the course of history. Let's check out nine trade requests that had a lasting impact on the NBA.
Kyrie Irving
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Kyrie Irving's 2017 trade request was driven by ambition. He became tired of playing Robin to LeBron James' Batman. Boston became his next stop, though the fit proved messy. Even so, his departure set off a chain reaction of roster shifts and power moves that altered the league for years.
Wilt Chamberlain
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The Los Angeles Lakers' 1972 championship owes a lot to a move made four years earlier. Wilt Chamberlain had grown restless in Philadelphia despite already winning a title with the 76ers, and his push to join forces with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor rewrote the league's balance of power. His trade request aimed to chase the spotlight of LA, which in turn shaped the Lakers' dynasty aspirations.
Shaquille O'Neal
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By 2004, the Shaq–Kobe feud had become too toxic for the Lakers to contain. Instead of a quiet exit, Shaquille O'Neal forced the franchise's hand, demanding a trade after losing the Finals to the Detroit Pistons. After being sent to Miami, he became the missing piece that propelled Dwyane Wade to stardom and delivered a Heat championship in 2006.
Anthony Davis
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Anthony Davis' departure from New Orleans was no secret; he wore a "That's All Folks" shirt to his final game with the Pelicans. His request in 2019 dragged through months of drama before LA finally landed him. The haul of picks and players shifted the Pelicans' future, but Davis' immediate impact helped LeBron James capture the Lakers' 17th title in 2020.
Tracy McGrady
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Tracy McGrady's situation in Orlando was far from quiet. In 2004, at the height of his scoring powers, McGrady publicly expressed his desire to leave the Magic. Despite the team's success, McGrady was unhappy with the direction of the franchise, and his frustration with the organization, particularly his relationship with head coach Doc Rivers, led him to request a trade. McGrady's wish was granted when he was traded to Houston, where he formed a high-profile partnership with Yao Ming.
Jimmy Butler
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In 2018, Jimmy Butler became frustrated with Minnesota's direction, stormed into training, humiliated the starters with backups, and barked at management before demanding a trade. Days later, Philadelphia answered the call. The spectacle was unforgettable, but so was the way Butler used it to signal the relentless, confrontational leadership style that came to define his career.
Chris Paul
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Chris Paul's 2011 trade demand was supposed to land him with Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles. The deal was struck, but David Stern's shocking veto as commissioner killed the move and stunned the league. Instead, Paul joined the Clippers and transformed them from a laughingstock to Lob City.
Kobe Bryant
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Kobe Bryant's trade request in 2007 was more of a threat than reality, but its weight was undeniable. After being disillusioned with the Lakers' lack of success, he openly flirted with the idea of leaving for Chicago or elsewhere. The franchise refused, bet on him, and was rewarded with two more championships.
Kawhi Leonard
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Kawhi Leonard's exit from San Antonio was defined by trust. His 2018 standoff with the Spurs over injury treatment created a fracture that no amount of success could repair. Against his wishes, he landed in Toronto, where the gamble paid off with a championship that altered Canadian basketball forever.
Kevin Durant
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Kevin Durant's 2022 trade request was unlike others; it came with four years left on his contract and threw the Nets into chaos. While it didn't yield an immediate move, the demand exposed fractures between Brooklyn's stars and front office. Eventually, his wish materialized in 2023 with a trade to Phoenix, where he joined another superteam.
Hakeem Olajuwon
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For Hakeem Olajuwon, a trade request in 1992 was about frustration and mistrust. The Rockets accused him of faking an injury, and he was asked to leave. Houston resisted and chose reconciliation instead. That decision led to Olajuwon delivering back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995.
Carmelo Anthony
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Carmelo Anthony's push to join the Knicks in 2011 was so he could return to his home state. The blockbuster deal electrified Madison Square Garden and defined an era of New York basketball, even if it never translated into deep playoff success. Melo's request was proof of how one player's star power can revive a city's basketball culture.
Dwight Howard
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Once the most dominant center in the game, Dwight Howard's 2012 demand to leave Orlando sent shockwaves. He eventually landed with the Lakers, but the highly anticipated partnership with Kobe Bryant quickly unraveled before becoming one of the most disappointing experiments in NBA history.
Chris Webber
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Chris Webber wasted no time shaking up the NBA. After just one year with Golden State in 1994, the Rookie of the Year demanded a trade due to clashes with Don Nelson. After being sent to Washington, he went on to become an All-Star, while the Warriors began another cycle of rebuilding.
Allen Iverson
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By 2006, Allen Iverson's patience with Philadelphia had run dry. His trade request closed the book on a legendary era and sent him to Denver in a deal that marked the start of the Sixers' rebuild. For Iverson, it was a last shot at contention. His departure symbolized the bittersweet nature of a superstar leaving the city he carried for a decade.