6. Portland Trail Blazers trade Moses Malone to Buffalo Braves
Back in 1976, the NBA was undergoing a dispersal draft of the players from the Spirits of St. Louis (ABA franchise). The Trail Blazers took a 21-year-old center named Moses Malone in the draft, but just two months later traded him to the Buffalo Braves for a draft pick they’d eventually use on Rick Robey. But that wasn’t the end of Malone’s journey. After playing in only two games for the Buffalo Braves, he was traded yet again, this time to the Houston Rockets.
Over the next five seasons, Malone average 26 points and 15 rebounds per game. Malone finished his career with three MVPs, 12 All-Star appearances, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. In 1983, Malone was named the league MVP, on his way to leading the Philadelphia 76ers to an NBA championship.