20 worst NBA Draft trades ever
By John Buhler
5. Scottie Pippen from Seattle SuperSonics to Chicago Bulls
Olden Polynice. That’s the guy that the then Seattle SuperSonics received from the Chicago Bulls for Scottie Pippen’s 1987 NBA Draft rights. Pippen starred at Central Arkansas and did go No. 5 overall to Seattle.
However, he never played for the SuperSonics, as he became the NBA’s greatest sidekick of all-time. Pippen was arguably the best wing defender of all-time playing alongside Michael Jordan in Chicago on six NBA Championship teams. When Pippen came into form in 1991, there was no stopping the Bulls.
Had the SuperSonics held on to Pippen’s draft rights, head coach George Karl might have actually won an NBA Championship in Seattle. Pairing Pippen with point guard Gary Payton in the SuperSonics back court would have completely smothered opposing offenses into countless turnovers.
Seattle had several outstanding teams during the Karl/Payton/Shawn Kemp era, but were never able to win an NBA Championship. With Pippen, the SuperSonics would have found a way to win the Western Conference Playoffs more than once and would have certainly brought a second NBA Championship to Puget Sound. A second NBA Championship would have been enough to keep the SuperSonics in Seattle, without debate.
Next: 4. Bill Russell from St. Louis Hawks to Boston Celtics.