10 Trades That Changed The NBA Forever
9. Laimbeer To The Pistons
In 1982, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded a 24-year-old Bill Laimbeer and PF Kenny Carr to the Detroit Pistons. The Pistons sent back Phil Hubbard, Paul Mokeski, and their 1st & 2nd draft picks.
Mokeski would later be waived by the Cavaliers, while Hubbard finished his career in Cleveland. The picks would become PG John Bagley and SF Dave Magley. Bagley and Hubbard would contribute to a 147-263 record over the next 5 seasons.
While Carr would be an afterthought, Laimbeer would form the foundation of the "bad boy" Pistons of the late '80s to early '90's. The vicious center teamed with Isiah Thomas, John Salley, Dennis Rodman, and Joe Dumars to bully the east. Reaching three finals in a row, the Pistons knocked off Jordan's Bulls each time, culminating in back-to-back championships in '89 & '90.
A four time All-Star, Laimbeer would retire from the Pistons with over 10,000 points and 10,000 rebounds.