In the wake of this week's unexpected Luka Dončić trade, we're revisiting other blockbuster deals that sent shockwaves through the NBA.
Here are 10 of the most surprising NBA trades that reshaped the league over the decades.
6. Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Lakers (2011, vetoed by the NBA)

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Chris Paul
New Orleans Hornets Receive: Lamar Odom (from Lakers), Kevin Martin (from Rockets), Luis Scola (from Rockets), Goran Dragić (from Rockets), 2012 first-round pick (from Rockets)
Houston Rockets Receive: Pau Gasol (from Lakers)
The real shock of this trade came not from the deal itself, but from the fact that it never happened.
NBA Commissioner David Stern, who was acting as the de facto owner of the New Orleans Hornets after the league took control of the team, blocked the trade, citing the now-infamous rationale of “basketball reasons.”
The decision sparked an uproar, with fans viewing it as an unfair intervention. Conspiracy theories began circulating, suggesting that the league was trying to prevent small-market teams from creating another Lakers superteam.
The incident also raised serious questions about NBA ownership, with growing resentment over the league's power to control a team and interfere in front-office decisions.






