In wake of the Giannis deal, what is the recent history of trading MVPs?

When the Milwaukee Bucks traded Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat for a package of four players and four draft picks, it gained nation-wide attention not only because it shook a franchise, but also because it was a relatively rare dealing of an MVP. In the modern era, or let’s say the past 20 years, only two former MVPs have been traded between the ages of 30-33: Russell Westbrook (three times) and James Harden. MUST READ: What does the historic Giannis trade mean for Bucks GM Jon Horst? So, let’s expand the window to the turn of the century.

Here are the trades involving former MVPs at about the same age as Antetokounmpo and the perceived “hauls” each produced and the results the acquiring team had: 2004: Shaquille O’Neal, 32 years old Traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Miami Heat for: Players: Caron Butler, Brian Grant, Lamar OdomPicks: 2006 first-round draft pick (Jordan Farmar); 2007 second-round pick (Renaldas Seibutis) Lakers result: The Lakers would return to the NBA Finals in 2007-08 and win in 2009-10, ironically, because of the MVP whose trade request they denied in Kobe Bryant. But after 2010, the Lakers missed the playoffs six of the next nine seasons. GM Mitch Kupchak was fired in 2017. Heat result: O’Neal finished second in the MVP voting in 2004-05 and helped Miami to an Eastern Conference final.

He helped the team win its first NBA championship in 2005-06 while playing alongside Dwayne Wade before the team began a descent the next year. 2006: Allen Iverson, 31 Traded by the Philadelphia 76ers with Ivan McFarlin to the Denver Nuggets for: Players: Andre Miller, Joe SmithPicks: 2007 first round (Daequan Cook); 2007 first round (Petteri Koponen) 76ers result: GM Billy King was fired in 2007. In 20 seasons from 2006-26, Philadelphia has not advanced out of the second round of the playoffs and became synonymous with tanking with no real positive result. Nuggets result: Denver lost in the first round of the 2006-07 playoffs after acquiring Iverson at the deadline. He was an all-star in 2007-08, but the team also lost in the first round. 2007: Kevin Garnett, 31 Traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Boston Celtics for: Players: Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian TelfairPicks: 2009 first round (Jonny Flynn); 2009 first round (Wayne Ellington) Timberwolves result: GM Kevin McHale was fired in 2009.

The Timberwolves did not make the playoffs from 2007-17 and just recently became relevant after drafting Anthony Edwards No. 1 in 2020. Celtics result: Garnett was the 2007-08 Defensive Player of the Year and finished third in the MVP voting while helping Boston win its first championship since 1985-86. He remained an all-defensive team member but never made another all-NBA team or received MVP votes afterward but did help the Celtics return to the finals in 2009-10. 2019: Russell Westbrook, 30 Traded by the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets for: Player: Chris PaulPicks: 2021 first round (did not convey); 2024 first round (Nikola Topić); 2025 first round (did not convey); 2026 first round (top-4 protected, becomes $1 million and 2026 second-round) Thunder result: The Thunder missed the playoffs three times and did not advance out of the second round twice from 2019-24 before winning the title in 2024-25. GM Sam Presti remains in his role and used trades of other non-MVPs to rebuild the Thunder.

Rockets result: Westbrook was an all-NBA third team member and all-star in 2019-20 but the Rockets lost in the second of the playoffs. 2020: Russell Westbrook, 31 Traded by the Houston Rockets to the Washington Wizards for: Player: John WallPick: 2023 first round (did not convey) Rockets result: The Rockets missed the postseason from 2021-24 before losing in the first round in 2024-25. GM Rafael Stone remains in his position. Wizards result: Westbrook led the league in assists in 2020-21 and the Wizards made the playoffs, losing in the first round. 2021: James Harden, 31 In a four-team deal, traded by the Houston Rockets to the Brooklyn Nets for: Players: Dante Exum, Victor Oladipo, Rodions KurucsPicks: 2021 first round (did not convey); 2022 first round (Tari Eason); 2022 first round via Cleveland (traded to Milwaukee, MarJon Beauchamp selected); 2023 first round (did not convey); 2024 first round (Reed Sheppard); 2025 first-round swap (traded for a 2027 pick); 2026 first round (traded back to Brooklyn in 2024); 2027 first-round swap. Rockets result: GM Rafael Stone drafted Eason and Sheppard, who have been role players for the No. 4 team in the Western Conference this season.

The team has not advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since 2021. Nets result: Harden averaged 24.6 points and 10.9 assists in 36 games for the Nets in 2020-21 but was injured in the postseason as Brooklyn lost to Milwaukee in the second round. The Nets traded him at the 2021-22 deadline after an all-star first half. 2021: Russell Westbrook, 32 Traded by the Washington Wizards with a 2023 second-round pick (Tristan Vukcevic), 2024 second-round pick (Bobi Klintman) and a 2028 second-round pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for: Players: Spencer Dinwiddie, Aaron Holiday, Isaiah Todd, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Montrezl Harrell, Kyle KuzmaPick: 2025 second round (Javon Small) Wizards result: GM Tommy Sheppard was fired in 2023. The Wizards have not been to the playoffs since 2021 and have “tanked” each of the past three seasons.

Lakers result: Westbrook averaged 18.5 points per game in 2021-22 but the Lakers missed the playoffs. After transitioning to the bench in 2022-23, he was traded at the deadline in 2023. Unsurprisingly, the teams that acquired the former MVP reached the playoffs or won titles in the short term. The teams that traded away the former MVP – and didn’t have Kobe Bryant left behind – took a long time to return to relevance.