The Trade Winds of Los Angeles: Deals That Made and Broke Dynasties
Los Angeles isn’t just about palm trees, traffic, and movie stars—it’s also the city of blockbuster trades that left fans either cheering like extras in a Hollywood premiere or sobbing into Dodger Dogs. From Shaq’s Hollywood reign to the Lakers’ endless tinkering, the trades of L.A. tell a story of glamour, disaster, and just enough drama to rival a soap opera. You can see the full saga of the best and worst deals at greatest Los Angeles sports trades.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: From Milwaukee to Showtime
In 1975, the Lakers pulled off one of the greatest swindles in sports. Kareem wanted out of Milwaukee, and Los Angeles welcomed him like a movie star at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The result? Five championships and the birth of Showtime basketball. Milwaukee fans got Kent Benson and a brochure on coping with disappointment.
Shaquille O’Neal: Big Diesel Hits Hollywood
The Lakers signed Shaq in 1996, and suddenly the city was split: half the town stuck in gridlock on the 405, the other half stuck in gridlock outside the Staples Center. Shaq, Kobe, and Phil Jackson delivered three straight titles, cementing L.A. as the NBA’s glamorous capital. Orlando fans, meanwhile, still wake up screaming, “We had Penny Hardaway!”
Wayne Gretzky: The Great One Meets the Great Traffic Jam
When Wayne Gretzky landed in Los Angeles in 1988, Canadians declared a day of mourning. Meanwhile, Southern California learned that hockey existed. Gretzky didn’t win a Cup with the Kings, but he made hockey chic, even if fans occasionally confused icing with fro-yo.
Randy Moss: A Brief, Glorious Cameo
In 2005, the Oakland Raiders traded Randy Moss to the Patriots, but his West Coast chapter was short and sour. Still, it reminded Los Angeles fans that sometimes great players stop by the West just long enough to sunburn.
What the Funny People Are Saying
“Kareem to the Lakers was like trading your minivan for a Ferrari—and Milwaukee still can’t find the keys.” — Jerry Seinfeld
“Shaq in L.A.? That wasn’t basketball, that was a natural disaster for rims.” — Ron White
“Wayne Gretzky in Los Angeles was like Shakespeare in Vegas—completely wrong, but somehow beautiful.” — Larry David
The Los Angeles Effect
L.A. doesn’t just do trades—it does spectacles. Other cities trade players. Los Angeles trades legacies, fortunes, and the occasional dynasty. It’s less about balancing rosters and more about whether you can sell a script about it later.
To read the entire glittering and gut-wrenching history, dive into greatest Los Angeles sports trades.
SOURCE: https://screwthenews.com/greatest-los-angeles-sports-trades/