Revisiting 6 blockbuster trades that altered the NBA landscape

Every now and then, a trade comes along that ends up shiftingthe landscape of the NBA.

There are quite a few NBA legends who have been traded, foreveraltering the course of franchises. Today, we're revisiting some ofthe biggest trades in NBA history.

Bill Russell to the Boston Celtics

One of the most significant trades in NBA history occurred in1956 when the Celtics acquired Bill Russell from the St. LouisHawks in a draft-day trade. In a stroke of genius by Celtics coachand general manager Red Auerbach, Boston acquired No. 2 overallpick Russell in exchange for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley. Russell,a dominant defensive force and rebounder, quickly became thelinchpin of the Celtics' dynasty, leading them to an unprecedented11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons with the team. Hisshot-blocking prowess and unyielding will to win solidified hislegacy as one of the greatest winners in sports history. The tradenot only transformed the Celtics into a perennial powerhouse butalso established Russell as a symbol of defensive excellence andteam-oriented basketball. His impact on the franchise and theleague as a whole remains unparalleled, making this trade acornerstone of NBA history.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the Los AngelesLakers

In 1975, the Milwaukee Bucks sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the LosAngeles Lakers. At that time, Abdul-Jabbar was already establishedas one of the league's dominant forces, but his desire for a changeof scenery led to this monumental deal. The Lakers gave up ElmoreSmith, Brian Winters, Junior Bridgeman and Dave Meyers forAbdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley. This trade proved to be agame-changer for the Lakers, as Abdul-Jabbar's presence immediatelyelevated them to championship contention. Abdul-Jabbar and hisunstoppable skyhook led the Lakers to five NBA championships in the1980s, solidifying Kareem as one of the greatest players inbasketball history and cementing this as one of the most impactfulNBA trades of all-time.

Wilt Chamberlain to the Los Angeles Lakers

In another major trade that reverberated throughout the NBA,Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from thePhiladelphia 76ers in 1968. Chamberlain, already an establishedsuperstar and prolific scorer, brought his dominant presence andunparalleled scoring ability to the Lakers. The trade was astrategic move by the Lakers to bolster their roster and create aformidable trio of Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.Chamberlain's arrival in Los Angeles marked the beginning of asuccessful era for the Lakers, culminating in a championship in1972. The trade reshaped the Lakers' fortunes and added anotherillustrious chapter to Chamberlain's storied career, solidifyinghim as an all-time great.

Kobe Bryant to the Los Angeles Lakers

While Kobe Bryant only ever suited up for the Los Angeles Lakersthroughout his 20-year NBA career, he was actually drafted by theCharlotte Hornets with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft.However, immediately after the selection, a pre-arranged trade sentBryant to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac. This trade,orchestrated by general manager Jerry West, proved to be a strokeof genius that forever altered the course of the Lakers' franchise.Bryant went on to become one of the most iconic figures in NBAhistory and a five-time champion. This trade not only transformedthe Lakers' future but also set the stage for Bryant to become oneof the greatest players to ever grace the basketball court.

Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to the BostonCeltics

In 2007, the Boston Celtics orchestrated a masterstroke byacquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join forces with PaulPierce. While these were two separate trades, Garnett and Allenwere in communication throughout the process and Boston pulled offboth moves over the course of three days – transforming the Celticsfrom a struggling franchise to a powerhouse contender. The Celtics'Big Three revolutionized the concept of superstar collaborations,and their union culminated in an NBA championship in 2008,rejuvenating the storied Celtics franchise and igniting the era ofsuperteams.

LeBron James to the Miami Heat

While many NBA fans know about "The Decision" and LeBron Jamestaking his talents to South Beach, they may not realize that Jamesultimately landed in Miami via a sign-and-trade. James, theleague's reigning MVP, made the highly controversial decision toleave his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers and join forces with DwyaneWade and Chris Bosh on the Heat. In exchange for parting with Jamesin the sign-and-trade, the Cavs received two first-round picks, twosecond-round picks and a pick swap (as well as a largetraded-player exception).

The move instantly transformed the Heat into a juggernaut andcreated a new era of superteams. While "The Decision" ignited afirestorm of criticism, it also showcased the power and influencethat superstar players had in shaping the league's landscape. WithJames leading the way, the Heat reached the NBA Finals in all fouryears of his tenure, winning two championships in 2012 and 2013.This trade not only marked a pivotal moment in James' career butalso had a profound impact on the way teams approachedteam-building, ushering in the player-movement era in the modernNBA.

What's your favorite league-altering trade? Tweet us your thoughts here! And for a list of the biggest free-agency signings of all-time,click here!