NBA Trade Deadline 2018: 5 greatest trade deadline deals ever

1. Bucks/Warriors (2012)

Milwaukee Bucks get: Monta Ellis, Kwame Brown, Ekpe Udoh

Golden State Warriors get: Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson

That should really say “the Golden State Warriors get rid of a chucking, shoot-first, streaky guard, add a defensive anchor, and make room to develop Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson into the core of one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled.”

Dealing Ellis allowed room for then-rookie Klay Thompson to take over as the team’s starting shooting guard, beginning the “Splash Brothers” era in the Bay. It also allowed Curry to become more of a focus for the team offensively, a role previously filled by the high scoring Ellis.

Basically, this trade set the table for the Warriors to become the juggernaut team the league has been playing catch-up with for a few years.

In terms of impact, the Warriors have gone on to win two championships, set the all-time record for regular season wins, been able to tinker with their roster to the point where they could add prized free agent Kevin Durant, and build one of the most efficient teams in NBA history on both sides of the ball. They have changed the way the league operates both on-court and in front offices. Teams have changed the course of their franchises in hopes of trying to take them down or start a rebuild in hopes that their squads come to fruition after the Warriors dynasty has ended.

Next: Greatest NBA Trade Deadline Deals Ever

The problem with the latter choice is that the Golden State dynasty does not have a clear-cut ending in sight. We don’t know how long they’ll be able to continue to dominate the league, or the historic heights they can reach before their days are over.

They’ve already done enough to earn this trade the number one spot on our list.