Trading for future stars or busts? Most recent NBA Draft trades / News - Basketnews.com

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NBA Draft night trades always come with great unknowns. They carry an added amount of risk because they involve exchanging players that haven't played a single game. And it takes time for a true winner (and loser) of those trades to emerge. BasketNews invites you to remember the three most significant Draft night trades of the last decade.

2011 NBA Draft. The Indiana Pacers acquire George Hill from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for the rights to 15th pick Kawhi Leonard, 42nd pick Davis Bertans and 46th pick in the 2005 draft – Erazem Lorbek

Arguably the biggest draft-night trade of the past decade. The centerpiece in this trade - Kawhi Leonard - had all the tools to be an elite defender. Still, the biggest concern was his offensive capabilities, especially his poor shooting from behind the arc. Leonard was compared to Metta Worlds Peace and Gerald Wallace, which, of course, was a positive evaluation. However, it wasn't nearly enough to consider him as a franchise player.

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Greg Popovich took the risk and traded a well-performing guard for a rookie without a clear role or perspective. Now we can say Popovich once again unleashed his mastermind and eye for hidden gems. "The Claw" helped the Spurs win their 5th title in franchise history and was named NBA Finals MVP only in his third year with the team.

The Indiana Pacers could only wonder what the team could have accomplished with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard as their backcourt duo. This trade was a unanimous win for the San Antonio Spurs.

2018 NBA Draft. Dallas acquired Atlanta's No. 3 pick (Luka Doncic) in exchange Dallas' No. 5 pick (Trae Young) and a protected 2019 first-round selection (Cam Reddish)

Talent-wise, the 2018 NBA Draft was probably one of the deepest in recent years, with mysterious European prospect leading the way. Both teams involved in this trade received what they desperately needed. Mark Cuban was a big fan of Luka, while the Hawks prioritized Trae Young, so there were no major difficulties in getting the deal done.

Luka is considered one of the world's best players with deadly stepbacks and crossovers in his arsenal. From day one, Doncic started appearing in MVP conversations, confirming his talent and adaptability to a different style of basketball. Yet, the Mavericks struggled in playoffs, as they were eliminated in the first round two years in a row.

On the other side, Trae Young showed his potential and carried the Hawks to the Eastern Conference finals. Cam Reddish also plays an important part in the Hawks' success. He has been a solid starting five player and averaged double digits in both seasons. Despite Luka's individual numbers, it is fair to say that so far, there are no winners in this trade. No losers, either.

2017 NBA Draft. Utah acquired Denver's No. 13 pick (Donovan Mitchell) in exchange for Utah's No. 24 pick (Tyler Lydon) and Trey Lyles

Right from the start, Mitchell proved that he was a force to be reckoned with. Mitchell averaged 20.5 points during his rookie campaign and came second in the Rookie of the Year voting. That instantly sparked the discussion regarding Denver's mistake in trading their lottery pick. Tyler Lydon only lasted 26 games in the NBA and averaged 0.9 points. He did not even stick in the G League, playing briefly for two different teams in two years. And while Trey Lyles is a solid role player averaging 7.3 points over 18 minutes, he is a far cry from Donovan Mitchell.

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It is hard to say whether the Nuggets had picked Mitchell. Without this acquisition, they are still a championship contender with Jokic and Murray. But seeing what Donovan Mitchel brings to the table, one could only imagine how powerful and dangerous the Nuggets would have been. This trade is a win for the Utah Jazz.

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