2. LA Lakers - Kobe Comes Straight Out Of High School
It's impressive enough that the Lakers managed to take great steps towards a mammoth six championships with a single trade, but to think they did so again in 1996 is simply freakish. Kobe Bryant, a decently-rated young talent (he was only drafted 13th, after all) was destined to become a Laker even before he was selected by the Charlotte Hornets. He had already been heavily scouted by LA and was thought worthy of a huge gamble. The Lakers traded their starting centre, the mammoth Vlade Divac, to Charlotte in exchange for their draft pick. The Hornets reportedly didn't even know who they were selecting until minutes before they were on the clock. Joining the incoming Shaquielle O'Neal, a free agent from the Orlando Magic, Bryant would go on to solidify himself as a true Lakers legend, leading the franchise to five championships in the 21st century (two long after the eventual departure of Shaq).
