Dominique Wilkins traded to Clippers (1994).....biggest lowball in NBA history?

[mehyaM24]

poor guy.....I was really pissed when they traded him to la after years of going at it alone on those subpar hawk teams. when atlanta got off to their best start in years, they basically just ditched the guy......probably the cruelest trade in NBA if not sports history.

there was a game up on youtube where he hits the game winner THAT season against atlanta, but i cant seem to find it. epic revenge.

most under appreciated player of the late 80s and 90s, in my opinion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOa2tHweUIM

[L.Kizzle]

For Danny Manning. Did they really think he'd be the savior for the Hawks. WTF.

They could have showed to love like Portland did Drexler and traded him to a contender the following season.

[Hotlantadude81]

For Danny Manning. Did they really think he'd be the savior for the Hawks. WTF.

They could have showed to love like Portland did Drexler and traded him to a contender the following season.

The dude became a journeyman very quickly after the Hawks traded him. He was basically nothing without his athletic ability. He wasn't good enough to change his game to continue his success. Many great players were able to make adjustments to their games after they started to lose their athletic ability. Nique just became a journeyman.

Moreover, he was a free agent the next year.

[L.Kizzle]

The dude became a journeyman very quickly after the Hawks traded him. He was basically nothing without his athletic ability. He wasn't good enough to change his game to continue his success. Many great players were able to make adjustments to their games after they started to lose their athletic ability. Nique just became a journeyman.

Moreover, he was a free agent the next year.
Not sure if serious?

18 pts in 30 minutes is a journeyman. Or him being the age of 35? You're not a journeyman after your 13th season in the league, you're old. He was the leading scorer on that team, in the regular season and the playoffs. Talking about Boston the next season.

And so was Manning, who left for Phoenix. Dumb trade for ATL. Nique wasn't going anywhere.

[sportjames23]

The dude became a journeyman very quickly after the Hawks traded him. He was basically nothing without his athletic ability. He wasn't good enough to change his game to continue his success. Many great players were able to make adjustments to their games after they started to lose their athletic ability. Nique just became a journeyman.

Moreover, he was a free agent the next year.


You mad because your team ain't been shit since they traded Nique away?

One of the dumbest trades in NBA history. In my years of watching the NBA, only the Cavs trading Ron Harper for Danny Ferry was stupider (made it easier for my Bulls to stay ahead of them in the East, but still a stupid trade).

[L.Kizzle]

You mad because your team ain't been shit since they traded Nique away?

One of the dumbest trades in NBA history. In my years of watching the NBA, only the Cavs trading Ron Harper for Danny Ferry was stupider (made it easier for my Bulls to stay ahead of them in the East, but still a stupid trade).
Nique went from 24 pts to 29 with the Hawk-Clippers.
Manning went from 23 pts to 15 with the Clippers-Hawks.

35-15 before the trade
22-10 after the trade

[Hotlantadude81]

Nique went from 24 pts to 29 with the Hawk-Clippers.
Manning went from 23 pts to 15 with the Clippers-Hawks.

35-15 before the trade
22-10 after the trade

The next year he slipped to 17.8 PPG on 42% shooting with Boston.

I was say that he was somewhat inspired after the traded, but ultimately his prime was over. He was only shooting 43% at the time of the trade.

[Hotlantadude81]

You mad because your team ain't been shit since they traded Nique away?

One of the dumbest trades in NBA history. In my years of watching the NBA, only the Cavs trading Ron Harper for Danny Ferry was stupider (made it easier for my Bulls to stay ahead of them in the East, but still a stupid trade).

They didn't do much of anything in the playoffs with Nique. He never won anything besides a slam dunk contest. The Hawks have made the playoffs several times since he was traded... They got as far as he did in the playoffs multiple times.

When you factor in that the Hawks continued to make the playoffs and Nique's post Hawk career was a flop I would say the Hawks won.

[Collie]

I think Wilkens and Nique didn't get along well that year. And Manning was an up and coming stud who could do it all (was averaging 24-7-4 that year and was only 27).

While Atlanta had a great record, remember that Dominique was already 34 and had terrible defense at that point. Manning was a valuable asset who everybody thought would break out. Bill Simmons called the trade a "both guys are leaving in free agency anyway" kind of trade.

In retrospect, it was a wrong move, especially with Manning not living up to expectations and even leaving. But at that time, it probably made sense for the Hawks.

[L.Kizzle]

The next year he slipped to 17.8 PPG on 42% shooting with Boston.

I was say that he was somewhat inspired after the traded, but ultimately his prime was over. He was only shooting 43% at the time of the trade.
He was 36.

[L.Kizzle]

They didn't do much of anything in the playoffs with Nique. He never won anything besides a slam dunk contest. The Hawks have made the playoffs several times since he was traded... They got as far as he did in the playoffs multiple times.

When you factor in that the Hawks continued to make the playoffs and Nique's post Hawk career was a flop I would say the Hawks won.
That was the Deke, Smith, Blaylock years.

I'm not sure, but was he asking to leave? Did he say he wouldn't resign?

[L.Kizzle]

I think Wilkens and Nique didn't get along well that year. And Manning was an up and coming stud who could do it all (was averaging 24-7-4 that year and was only 27).

While Atlanta had a great record, remember that Dominique was already 34 and had terrible defense at that point. Manning was a valuable asset who everybody thought would break out. Bill Simmons called the trade a "both guys are leaving in free agency anyway" kind of trade.

In retrospect, it was a wrong move, especially with Manning not living up to expectations and even leaving. But at that time, it probably made sense for the Hawks.
But Danny Manny though? Nique put up basically the same numbers and was much older. Was no one else not available?

Mullin
Coleman
Larry Johnson (about a year too early)
Detlef

[julizaver]

The next year he slipped to 17.8 PPG on 42% shooting with Boston.

I was say that he was somewhat inspired after the traded, but ultimately his prime was over. He was only shooting 43% at the time of the trade.

But his eFG % was the same as his prevous year 47.2 %. That's because of him had a career year in 3pt shooting with 38.8 %. And two years later (after one season in Greece) he was averaging 18 ppg in 30 min with Spurs. And I remembered some nasty dunks by 37 years old Nique.

[Choke94]

One of the most disrespectful moves in the history of NBA... Still doesn't make sense, it's the one and only time in NBA history a team in first place in their conference traded its leading scorer after the All-Star break.

[Collie]

But Danny Manny though? Nique put up basically the same numbers and was much older. Was no one else not available?

Mullin
Coleman
Larry Johnson (about a year too early)
Detlef

Those guys probably weren't available for old Nique.

Manning was having a career year in 94. I guess the Hawks thought he would play at the same level for them. IIRC, Wilkins was also gonna leave after that year, so I guess Atlanta decided to roll the dice before he did.

There were some baffling trades during the 90's. Hell, I think Mitch Richmond for Billy Owens, Ron Harper for freakin' Danny Ferry and Chris Webber for Googs were much worse (especially the Webber one).

[JohnnyBravo5]

Even Kobe for Divac. I know he didn't want to play for Charlotte but he was 17, I would've forced him to play.

[Kblaze8855]

Nique at that age in his final season of stardom for Danny Manning who was one of the most hyped prospects of the 80s finally rounding into form at like...26 years old?

It was disrespectful of Nique...but it doesnt belong on a worst trades list.

It would be like the Knicks trading Melo for Jabari Parker...in like 3 years.

At least from basketball side...Melo isnt a Knicks lifer like Nique with the Hawks to that point.

[Hotlantadude81]

One of the most disrespectful moves in the history of NBA... Still doesn't make sense, it's the one and only time in NBA history a team in first place in their conference traded its leading scorer after the All-Star break.

People maybe could argue that they could have made a playoff run that year... But maybe not. But, long term the only thing it caused was some fans to get all butthurt. I mean, it was over. Hell, even Payton Manning didn't stay with the Colts. Sometimes it's just over.

What I've heard is that he wanted a long term commitment at his advanced age, and there have been rumors that he and Lenny did not see eye to eye.

He was a star here for over a decade and he deserves to have a role on the team and all of that... But the dude was nearing the end of his prime. The trade didn't work out, but it shouldn't still be this huge deal 20 years later.

[sportjames23]

One of the most disrespectful moves in the history of NBA... Still doesn't make sense, it's the one and only time in NBA history a team in first place in their conference traded its leading scorer after the All-Star break.


Exactly, they were in first place. Let that sink in--they were in FIRST PLACE. Damn, at least see how the rest of the season plays out before making a drastic trade like that. If ATL flamed out in the first or second round, I could see them saying, "Well, we had a good run with Nique and this group, but it might be time to make some changes."

I mean, I'm not even a Hawks fan and I'm still pissed off with that franchise for what they did to Nique.

[Nowitness]

Wilkins is the modern day Melo. I'd say Atlanta made a fair trade and Wilkins got what he deserved.

A championship outside the elite league.