The Oddest Trades in Major League Sports History

Over the history of major league sports, teams have often engaged in trades that seemed bizarre or even counterproductive. Sometimes, these trades turn out to be nothing more than pranks or outright mistakes. Let's explore some of the strangest and most perplexing trades in the history of sports.

A Blunder in the NHL

One of the most notorious and misunderstood trades came in the NHL in the 1970s. The Montreal Canadiens, a powerhouse of the era with a roster anchored by legend Guy Lafleur, found themselves fielding a left winger named Steve Shutt. Shutt was a veteran who had consistently scored over 30 goals each of the last nine seasons, culminating in a remarkable 60-goal season in 1976–7.

Unfortunately for Shutt, his name was the subject of a mistake during a trade that took place in 1978. The Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager, Baz Bastien, had a similar-sounding player named Rod Schutt in mind. Unbeknownst to Bastien, the player he wanted was a different Steve Shutt from the Edmonton Oilers. In a fit of misguided pride, he announced in a Penguins locker room that he had acquired renowned left winger Steve Shutt. However, he had no idea who he had actually gotten.

Rod Schutt’s career in the NHL was a brief and unremarkable one. He managed to play a few productive years but was ultimately a minor league fixture. The trade of a first-round draft pick for a player whose impact was questionable, at best, was a humbling moment for Bastien and the Penguins.

A Screwup in the NFL

The Texas–Cleveland trade is another memorable example of a bizarro-world trade. In the 1970s, the Houston Texans made a trade that seemed to defy conventional logic. They gave up a first-round draft pick and a second-round pick for what they believed to be a sixth-round pick. What they actually got was the Cleveland Browns taking on Brock Osweiler and his contract, essentially a net negative value trade.

The trade had a lasting impact. Brock Osweiler's tenure with the Browns was shortened by a subsequent trade, but the fact of the trade itself remains a memorable part of NFL history.

The Bulls and the Timberwolves

Just a few years ago, the Chicago Bulls, a franchise steeped in Basketball Hall of Famers like Michael Jordan, made a move that bordered on the surreal. The Bulls traded longtime vet Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a one-dimensional shooting guard Zach LeVine and a rookie player, Lauri Markkanen, from the University of Arizona.

Jimmy Butler, regarded as one of the top 10-12 players in the game, was sent to a team known for its promising young talent, but the trade seemed to be a misstep as it did not align well with the Bulls' future plans. This trade, along with other moves during that period, has been widely criticized as one of the more senseless trades in recent NBA history.

The Milwaukee Bucks and Dirk Nowitzki

Date back to 1998, when the Milwaukee Bucks made a notorious trade with the Dallas Mavericks. In exchange for Dirk Nowitzki, now a basketball legend, the Bucks received Robert Traylor, a center who battled with weight issues throughout his career. Traylor's short-lived stint with the Bucks saw him struggle to find consistent play relative to his size and athleticism.

In the end, the trade benefited the Dallas Mavericks more as Dirk Nowitzki went on to win an NBA championship with the Mavericks in 2011. Nowitzki's career as a European player stands testament to his skill and cannot be overstated, elevating him to the status of an all-time great in the NBA.

Conclusion

These trades, whether intentional or accidental, provide valuable lessons to teams and fans alike. While some may seem like blunders, in time, they often turn out to be more complex and revealing about the teams and players involved. Understanding these trades, whether through academic analysis or simply curiosity, adds color and context to the rich history of major league sports.