Everyone loves to talk trades. Good ones, bad ones, who won and who lost – we’re all interested in the aspects of a player for player deal. But perhaps none catch our attention more than those we feel have proved to be the worst swaps ever.

This, then, is the story of the worst NBA trade ever.

In 1996, the Charlotte Hornets decided they needed a veteran presence on their squad. So, they traded the draft rights to a young player to the Lakers, gaining center Vlade Divac in the process. Sounds like a decent trade, right? Sure. Except for the young player was named Kobe Bryant.

Well, we all know what Bryant has done in LA. A few championships here and there, a couple of other awards, and so on and so forth. But what became of his counterpart in this historic swap?

Unfortunately, things didn’t go so well for Divac.

All in all, it appears that Vlade is more known for his tendency to smoke like a chimney, yet still perform on the basketball court. He played only a pair of seasons with Charlotte, totaling 11.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.

This isn’t entirely fair, as Divac has made some notable contributions on the international hardwood. He’s also been cited for numerous charitable donations and humanitarian activities. Most heartwarming were his efforts in his war torn native land of Serbia, as well as his participation in African causes.

But despite his noble ambitions, Divac’s place in NBA history is still rather dubious. Yes, he had a successful career. But on the court, he will most likely be forever known as the man traded for Kobe Bryant. Imagine how different the Hornets would have been if they’d been buoyed by the presence of the Black Mamba. Would the move to New Orleans have ever taken place? Maybe not.

- Taylor Maxwell

Popularity: 1% [?]

Tags | Basketball, Kobe Bryant, NBA, Vlade Divac, Vlade for Kobe, Vlade Kobe Trade, worst nba trade