20 worst NBA Draft trades ever
By John Buhler
11. Moses Malone from Portland Trail Blazers to Buffalo Braves
The late Moses Malone is one of the greatest NBA players that doesn’t seem to get the credit he deserves. The former high school to the pros prospect starred in the 1980s for the Houston Rockets and the Philadelphia 76ers as an NBA Champion, three-time MVP, and 12-time NBA All-Star.
However, he could have been the big man the Portland Trail Blazers always wanted in the post-Bill Walton fall out. In the 1976 ABA dispersal draft, Malone went to Portland No. 5 after he spent two seasons in the ABA with the Utah Stars and the Spirits of St. Louis.
Portland would then immediately trade Malone to the Buffalo Braves, who then after two games in 1976 traded Malone to Houston and the rest is history. Malone would form a championship caliber front court in Houston with 7’4″ Ralph Sampson en route to a 1982 NBA Finals appearance. Malone would win the 1983 NBA Finals in his first year with the 76ers.
Malone was still in his early 20s during the 1976 dispersal draft, as he didn’t play in college. Portland would win the 1977 NBA Finals with Walton as its star player, but injuries ruined his career. The Trail Blazers could have been an iconic NBA franchise in the 1980s with Malone as its centerpiece.
Next: 10. Antonio McDyess from Denver Nuggets to New York Knicks.