What are the chances Stephen Curry is dealt before the NBA trade deadline Thursday?
Miniscule to be sure, but after the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks executed a trade that shook the sports world over the weekend with Luka Dončić joining LeBron James and Anthony Davis headed to Texas, even the most unlikely transactions suddenly seem possible.
“Luka Dončić just got traded,” Warriors forward Draymond Green said Monday night after a 104-99 win over the Orlando Magic. “So everything is possible at this point, right?”
The Bay Area has a history of trades for its teams in the four major sports, albeit probably none where two potential Hall of Famers at the peak of their powers were dealt for each other.
If Joe Montana, Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson and Rickey Henderson can be traded, no one is safe.
A look at some of the big ones:
ICONIC DEPARTURES
49ers trade Joe Montana to the Kansas City Chiefs: To make way for Steve Young, the 49ers sent 36-year-old Joe Montana, safety David Whitmore and a third-round pick in 1994 for the Chiefs’ first-round selection on April 20, 1993. Montana won four Super Bowls with the 49ers and was 17-8 with the Chiefs and 2-2 in the playoffs.
Giants trade Willie Mays to New York Mets: To reduce payroll, the Giants traded future Hall of Famer Willie Mays on May 11, 1972 to the New York Mets — where he started his career with the Giants — for a minor league pitcher named Charlie Williams and $50,000. Mays, at ages 41 and 42, played 135 games and hit .238 with 14 homers and 44 RBIs.
A SAN JOSE SURPRISE
“Jumbo Joe” traded to Sharks: The San Jose Sharks pulled a major stunner on Nov. 30, 2005, acquiring Joe Thornton from the Boston Bruins in exchange for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau, and Brad Stuart. Thornton played 15 seasons and is second on the team’s all-time list with 1,055 points in 1,105 games. The Sharks had the NHL’s best regular season record in that span (659-376-125) and made the playoffs 13 times.
WARRIORS WHEELING AND DEALING
Nate Thurmond to Chicago for Clifford Ray: An unpopular move on Sept. 3, 1974, Thurmond was just beginning to slip at age 33. He played four more seasons with the Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. Ray was an enforcer and defender who split the center position with shot-blocker George Johnson and a catalyst for an out-of-nowhere NBA title in 1975.
Wilt Chamberlain to the 76ers: Chamberlain was averaging 34.7 points per game on Jan 15, 1965 when traded to the Philadelphia 76ers, a salary dump (he was making $75,000) that brought back several players including Connie Dierking, Paul Neumann and Lee Shaffer. He won three MVPs and an NBA title in Philadelphia before being traded to the Lakers.
Chris Webber to Washington for Tom Gugliotta: The Warriors got Webber out of Michigan on a draft day deal involving Penny Hardaway. He was the NBA Rookie of the Year, but forced his way out of town on Nov. 17, 1994 because of a conflict with coach Don Nelson. The Warriors received Tom Gugliotta and three first-round draft picks.
Bernard King to the Knicks for Micheal Ray Richardson: The Warriors acquired King in exchange for Wayne Cooper before the 1980-81 season. A recovering alcoholic, King averaged 22.5 points per game in two seasons, but was traded on Oct. 22, 1982 for Richardson, who had off-the-court issues and averaged 12.5 points in one season. King averaged 26.5 points for the Knicks over four seasons.
Joe Barry Carroll to Houston for Ralph Sampson: In a deal of two former No. 1 overall draft picks, Carroll was sent to the Rockets for Sampson and guard Steve Harris. Carroll averaged 20.4 points in seven seasons with the Warriors but faded after the trade, which was made in December of 1987. Sampson was 27, but averaged just 9.3 points in two seasons.
GIANTS GOOD AND BAD
Kevin Mitchell arrives in multi-player deal: On the Fourth of July in 1987, the Giants received Mitchell and pitchers Dave Dravecky and Craig Lefferts in exchange for third baseman Chris Brown and pitchers Mark Davis, Mark Grant and Keith Comstock. Mitchell became one of the National League’s most feared sluggers and won an MVP in 1989 — the same year Davis won a Cy Young Award as a reliever. The Giants also dealt for starting pitcher Rich Reuschel on Aug. 21 of that year for pitchers Scott Medvin and Jeff Robinson.
Vida Blue crosses the bay: Blue became a Giant on March 15, 1987 in exchange for seven players and $300,000. Blue, a former A’s All-Star and MVP, was a three-time All-Star for the Giants and was 72-58 in six seasons, including 18-10 his first year.
Matt Williams for Jeff Kent: New general manager Brian Sabean made an enormously unpopular trade when he sent Williams, a star third baseman, to Cleveland on Nov. 13, 1996. Other players were involved, but the key figure was Kent. Kent was a three-time All-Star in six seasons and the N.L. MVP in 2000. Williams played one season in Cleveland and played his final six years in Arizona.
Orlando Cepeda for Ray Sadecki: With two first basemen in Cepeda and Willie McCovey, the Giants opted to send Cepeda to the St. Louis Cardinals on May 8, 1966 in exchange for a left-hander who had won 20 games in 1964. Sadecki was 32-39 in four seasons with a 3.52 ERA. Cepeda was the National League’s MVP in 1967 and was eventually named to the Hall of Fame.
Gaylord Perry for Sam McDowell: Perry was 134-109 in 10 years with the Giants, but was traded to Cleveland on Nov. 29, 1971 for “Sudden” Sam McDowell, who was 28 but battling alcoholism. Perry went on to win Cy Young Awards in both leagues, win 314 games and make the Hall of Fame. McDowell was 10-8 in his lone season with the Giants.
ATHLETICS’ BIG DEALS
So long Reggie: The day after April Fool’s Day in 1976, the A’s traded their first Oakland A’s superstar to the Baltimore Orioles in advance of offseason free agency. Jackson and Ken Holtzman were dealt for designated hitter Don Baylor and pitchers Mike Torrez and Paul Mitchell. Holtzman originally arrived in 1971 in exchange for center fielder Rick Monday and helped anchor a pitching staff that produced three straight World Series titles. Jackson starred with Baltimore, the Yankees, Angels and returned to the A’s for one last season in 1987.
Return of Rickey: Having been traded to the Yankees in 1984, Rickey Henderson was back in his hometown on June 21, 1989 in exchange for Luis Polonia, Greg Cadaret and Eric Plunk. Henderson was the spark plug for a World Series championship, won the MVP in 1990 and would return to the A’s two more times before ending his Hall of Fame career having played for nine teams.
Jose Canseco for Ruben Sierra: A Rookie of the Year, MVP and five-time All-Star, Canseco was called out of the on-deck circle at the Coliseum on Aug. 31, 1992 and traded to Texas. The A’s received Sierra and pitchers Bobby Witt and Jeff Russell. Despite the star-for-star swap, neither player made the desired impact with their new team before moving on.
Dennis Eckersley comes home: His career at a crossroads, Eckersley, who grew up in Fremont, was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the A’s on April 3, 1987 along with Dan Rohn for three minor leaguers. He was converted to relief and saved 320 games in nine seasons, won a Cy Young Award, an MVP and was named to the Hall of Fame.
Bob Welch for four players: The A’s got Welch on Dec. 11, 1987 from the Dodgers for shortstop Alfredo Griffin and pitchers Jay Howell, Kevin Tapani and Wally Whitehurst Welch was 96-60 in seven seasons with the A’s and 27-6 in 1990, winning the A.L. Cy Young Award.
Yoenis Cespedes for Jon Lester: A’s fans are still smarting over GM Billy Beane’s decision to send the popular Cespedes for Lester, a left-handed starter, on July 31, 2014. Cespedes was hitting .265 with 17 homers and 67 RBIs at the time of the trade. Lester was 6-4 as a rental and signed with the Cubs the next season. Lester had a 7-3 lead in the wild card game against Kansas City but couldn’t get out of the eighth and the A’s lost 9-8 in 12 innings.
Strictly salary dumps: Mark McGwire to the Cardinals (1987), Tim Hudson to the Braves (2004), Mark Mulder to the Cardinals (2004), Matt Chapman to the Blue Jays (2022), Matt Olson to the Braves (2022), Sean Manaea to the Mets (2022).
49ERS MOVES
Fred Dean an October surprise: Coach Bill Walsh made a move that would help deliver a championship, getting pass rusher Fred Dean from San Diego for a second-round draft pick on Oct. 2, 1981. Dean had 12 sacks in 11 games and finished his Hall of Fame career with the 49ers in 1985.
Charles Haley sent packing: Haley’s erratic behavior led coach George Seifert to trade the edge rusher to Dallas on Aug. 26, 1992 for second- and third-round draft picks. Haley played five years in Dallas and contributed to two Super Bowl champions before finishing his career with the 49ers in 1999.
Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey provide upgrades: After Joe Staley retired, the 49ers fleeced Washington to get Williams to play left tackle on April 25, 2022 in exchange for third- and fifth-round draft picks. McCaffrey arrived on Oct. 20, 2022 for four selections from Carolina — none of them higher than the second round.
Steve Young rebuilt by Walsh: After struggling in bad situations in the USFL and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 49ers sent second- and fourth-round draft picks to the Bucs for Young. Young anxiously bided his time and learned the 49ers’ system behind Montana before flourishing as an MVP and Hall of Fame player.
SHARKS STRIKE
Erik Karlsson arrives: With an eye toward the Stanley Cup, the Sharks received Erik Karlsson and Francis Perron for Josh Norris, Chris Tierney, Rudolfs Balcers, Dylan DeMelo and three high draft picks from the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 13, 2018. The NHL’s top offensive defenseman, Karlsson missed time with a groin injury that hampered him in the playoffs. The Sharks lost the Western Conference final and haven’t been to the playoffs since. After five up-and-down seasons, Karlsson was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
DON’T FORGET THE RAIDERS
Ken Stabler for Dan Pastorini: Owner Al Davis made an unpopular move with the Oakland fan base when he traded Stabler, who had thrown 72 interceptions in his previous three seasons, for Houston’s strong-armed Pastorini on March 16, 1980. Stabler, 34, was fading after years of excess. Pastroni broke his leg and was replaced by Jim Plunkett, who led the Raiders to two Super Bowl wins.
Hendricks finds a home: Iconoclastic 6-foot-7 linebacker Ted Hendricks was obtained from Green Bay for two first-round draft picks as a “limited” free agent before the 1975 season. He continued a Hall of Fame career and contributed to two Super Bowl championships.