NBA History: 5 Worst trades of all time

#3 Charlotte Hornets trade Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is one of the best players in the history of the NBA. He played all his years for the Los Angeles Lakers. But he wasn't originally scheduled to play for the Lakers.

Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 NBA Draft. Contract negotiations with Kobe, however, didn't go well and Charlotte sent Kobe to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac. Divac was a reliable and useful big, but he left Charlotte in free agency two years after he arrived.

Kobe Bryant won 5 championships with the Lakers.

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#2 St. Louis Hawks trade Bill Russell to the Boston Celtics

Bill Russell [middle]

Bill Russell is the greatest winner in the history of NBA with 11 rings. But he was originally drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the 1956 NBA Draft.

The Hawks dealt Russell to the Celtics for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley. Hagan and Macauley were good NBA players. But no one can match Bill Russell's 11 championships in his 13-year NBA career.

In a league dominated by centers for their offensive prowess, Russell changed the way the NBA perceived big men as he brought his characteristic man-to-man defense and rebounding ability to the table.