24 Years Ago, A Monumental NBA Trade Between The Grizzlies, Rockets, And Magic Made Waves

Photo: Sporting News

In the annals of NBA history, certain trades stand out as pivotal moments that reshaped the league’s landscape. The year 1999 witnessed one such seismic transaction that sent shockwaves through the basketball world. The trade involving the Vancouver Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and Orlando Magic not only involved a significant exchange of players but also carried implications that would reverberate for years to come.

On August 27, 1999, 24 years ago today, the Vancouver Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, and Orlando Magic engaged in a blockbuster trade that would go down as the largest trade then, and one of the largest of all-time. The trade involved a complex web of player swaps, draft picks, and future considerations, making it a spectacle that captured the attention of fans, analysts, and pundits alike.

Trade Components:

1. Vancouver Grizzlies received:
– Steve Francis (from Houston Rockets)
– Tony Massenburg (from Houston Rockets)
– Don MacLean (from Houston Rockets)
– Brian Skinner (from Orlando Magic)
– Michael Smith (from Orlando Magic)
– Lee Mayberry (from Orlando Magic)
– 2003 1st-round draft pick (used to select Dahntay Jones)

2. Houston Rockets received:
– Michael Smith (from Vancouver Grizzlies)
– Rodrick Rhodes (from Vancouver Grizzlies)
– 2000 1st-round draft pick (used to select Joel Przybilla)
– Conditional 1st-round draft pick in 2001 (never conveyed)

3. Orlando Magic received:
– Michael Smith (from Vancouver Grizzlies)
– Lee Mayberry (from Vancouver Grizzlies)
– Makhtar N’Diaye (from Denver Nuggets, via Vancouver Grizzlies)
– 2000 1st-round draft pick (used to select Keyon Dooling)
– 2003 1st-round draft pick (traded to Golden State Warriors)