20 best NBA Draft trades ever
By John Buhler
Though he would later go on to have his best two seasons as an NBA point guard with the Suns as a back-to-back league MVP in 2005 and 2006, Phoenix did trade away the future Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash to the Mavericks in the infancy of his NBA career.
In 1998, the Suns traded Nash to Dallas for Martin Muursepp, Bubba Wells, Pat Garrity’s draft rights, and future first round pick which later became Shawn Marrion. From 1998 to 2004, Nash became one of the league’s most electrifying point guards, forming a big three in Dallas with Dirk Nowitzki, and Michael Finley under brilliant head coach Don Nelson.
Dallas became one of the most exciting teams in the NBA when Nash was the Mavericks’ point guard. Nash would make his first two NBA All-Star games in Dallas, helping turnaround the fortunes of the former Western Conference doormat in his time with the Mavericks.
Nash’s great play helped Nowitzki grow into a perennial All-Star in his early 20s and Finley would have his best years as a pro in Dallas before becoming a crucial role player with the San Antonio Spurs before retiring. Nowitzki is easily the greatest Mavericks player of all-time, but without Nash there in the early days of his Hall of Fame career, the German standout might have busted.
Next: 11. Kevin Love from Memphis Grizzlies to Minnesota Timberwolves.