10 Trades That Blindsided Entire Fanbases
Sports fans see trades all the time, but a few deals really catch everyone off guard. When a star player gets shipped out—sometimes with barely any warning—it can flip the mood for a whole fanbase. Some of these moves change the direction of teams and even leave a mark on the sport itself. Here’s a look at a handful of the most unexpected trades ever made.
Kawhi Leonard (Toronto Raptors)
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The Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green from the Spurs in 2018 in exchange for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl, and a 2019 first-round pick. Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and 2014 Finals MVP, delivered 30.5 points per game in the playoffs and led Toronto to its first-ever NBA championship.
Babe Ruth (New York Yankees)
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In 1920, the Red Sox sold Ruth’s contract to the Yankees for $100,000 to fund a Broadway play. Ruth had hit more home runs than entire teams in 1919. He went on to hit 714 career home runs and transform baseball into a power hitter’s game during the live-ball era.
Wayne Gretzky (Los Angeles Kings)
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The Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to L.A. after five Stanley Cups in 1988 for cash, draft picks, and players. Gretzky retired as the NHL’s all-time leader in goals, assists, and points. The move helped boost NHL popularity across the United States and expanded the league’s television footprint.
Wilt Chamberlain (Philadelphia 76ers)
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Wilt was traded during the 1965 All-Star break for three players and $150,000 cash. At the time, Chamberlain had career averages of over 37 points and 24 rebounds per game. He once scored 100 points in a single game and led the league in assists as a center in 1968.
Herschel Walker (Minnesota Vikings)
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Dallas sent Herschel Walker to Minnesota for five players and three picks in 1989. The deal helped Dallas land Emmitt Smith, who became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. Walker, a Heisman Trophy winner and two-time Pro Bowler, totaled over 8,000 rushing yards during his career but never made the Pro Bowl again.
Kevin Garnett (Boston Celtics)
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Minnesota dealt Garnett in 2007 for five players and two first-round picks. Garnett was a former MVP, 10-time All-Star, and one of the best defensive players of his generation. In Boston, he helped form a dominant trio with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, which led the team to a 2008 title.
Shaquille O’Neal (Miami Heat)
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After feuding with Kobe Bryant, Shaq was traded by the Lakers to the Miami Heat in 2004 for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant, and a draft pick. O’Neal was a three-time Finals MVP with the Lakers and averaged over 27 points and 12 rebounds per game during his eight years in Los Angeles.
Randy Moss (New England Patriots)
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The Raiders traded Moss in 2007 to New England for a fourth-round pick. Moss had been a five-time Pro Bowler before arriving in New England. That same year, he set the single-season touchdown reception record with 23, which reignited his career and formed an elite connection with quarterback Tom Brady.
Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati Reds)
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Seattle traded Griffey Jr. to the Reds after he vetoed a Mets deal in 2000. Griffey had already hit 398 home runs and won 10 Gold Gloves as a center fielder. He was a 13-time All-Star who brought superstar pedigree to Cincinnati but battled injuries that shortened his peak years.
Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees)
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After a failed trade with Boston, Texas sent A-Rod to the Yankees in 2004 for Alfonso Soriano. Rodriguez had just won the AL MVP after leading the league in home runs. Over his career, he hit 696 home runs, won three MVP awards, and became one of the most polarizing stars in baseball.
Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche)
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In December 1995, the Montreal Canadiens traded star goaltender Patrick Roy and captain Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche for Jocelyn Thibault, Martin Ručinský, and Andrei Kovalenko. The deal was triggered after Roy, a two-time Stanley Cup winner and playoff MVP, was publicly humiliated by his coach in an 11–1 loss. Roy went on to win two more Cups and a third Conn Smythe Trophy with Colorado. The Canadiens, meanwhile, entered a long period of decline.
Jon Gruden (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
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In 2002, the Raiders traded coach Jon Gruden to Tampa Bay for two first-round picks, two second-rounders, and $8 million. Gruden was only 38 years old at the time and had already led the Raiders to the AFC Championship. That same season, he won the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers.
Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)
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The Lions sent Stafford to L.A. in 2021 for Jared Goff, two firsts, and a third. Stafford had thrown for over 45,000 yards in Detroit with little postseason success. In his first season with the Rams, he threw 41 touchdowns and helped the team capture its first title since 1999.
Tyreek Hill (Miami Dolphins)
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In March 2022, Kansas City traded six-time Pro Bowler Tyreek Hill to Miami for five picks: a 2022 first, second, and fourth-rounder plus 2023 fourth and sixth-round selections. Hill, already a Super Bowl winner, set a Dolphins record with 1,710 receiving yards in 2022 and remains one of the NFL’s fastest.
Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
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The NBA vetoed a trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers in 2011; however, he joined the Clippers instead just days later. Paul had led the league in assists twice and steals four times. He helped turn the Clippers into a perennial playoff team and made the All-Star Game six times in L.A.