NBA Draft: Ranking the 10 Craziest Draft-Day Trades of All Time

#5 Milwaukee Bucks trade Dirk Nowitzki for Robert Traylor

Dirk Nowitzki traded to the Bucks for Robert Traylor

The Milwaukee Bucks are known for making bad trade decisions in NBA History and this is one big example of that. The Bucks drafted Dirk Nowitzki as the 9th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft. But before the German had a chance to try on his jersey, he and Pat Garrity were traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Robert Taylor.

Robert Traylor played only 2 years for the Bucks and six years in the NBA before he died unfortunately through a tragic heart attack in 2011. He averaged 4.8 points per game in his career.

On the other hand, Nowitzki has been the best player for the Mavericks since he joined them and has become a franchise player for them. In an illustrious 20 year career, Dirk has earned the respect of probably being the best international player and definitely one of the best players the game has ever seen. He is considered one of the best big shooting men in the history of his league.

He also won a championship with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 by defeating the heavily favoured big trio of the Miami Heat and won the Finals MVP award for his spectacular performance in the Finals. Thus, another bad move by the Milwaukee Bucks as Dirk could have been a franchise player for them.