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Dallas Mavericks: The 3 best draft day trades in franchise history

By Kohl Rast

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 23: Devin Harris #34 of the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks look on during a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 22, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 23: Devin Harris #34 of the Dallas Mavericks and Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks look on during a game against the Golden State Warriors on March 22, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 11: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after scoring against Carl Landry #24 of the Sacramento Kings to take 9th place on the NBA’s All-Time Scoring list in front of Hakeem Olajuwon against the Sacramento Kings on November 11, 2014 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 11: Dirk Nowitzki #41 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates after scoring against Carl Landry #24 of the Sacramento Kings to take 9th place on the NBA’s All-Time Scoring list in front of Hakeem Olajuwon against the Sacramento Kings on November 11, 2014 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

1. Dirk Nowitzki – 1998

There is no way it could be anyone else. The Dallas Mavericks acquired Dirk Nowitzki in a draft day trade in 1998 that is still considered the most lopsided draft day trade in NBA history. As we all know, Dirk played every single one of his 1,522 professional basketball games with the Dallas Mavericks, but the Mavs did not actually select him in the draft.

In 1998, the Mavs were coming off of a rough 20-62 season, but had the 6th overall pick in what was viewed as a semi-talented draft class. With the Golden State Warriors selecting Vince Carter right before the Mavs pick, Dallas decided on a big center from the University of Michigan named Robert “Tractor” Traylor.

Read. 2019 NBA Mock Draft: Full 1st round

Robert Traylor was a well-known player in the draft and was expected to be a solid role player. Don Nelson, however, had different plans for the Mavs because he had been scouting some overseason talent. When the Milwaukee Bucks selected Dirk Nowitzki with the 9th pick, Dallas got on the phone and offered Traylor for Dirk and the 19th overall pick, Pat Garrity.

The icing on the cake for that trade was that the Mavs then shipped Garrity to Phoenix in exchange for a third-year guard that had hardly produced for the team. His name was Steve Nash. That’s right, the Mavs turned Robert Traylor, a guy who played only 7 forgettable NBA seasons for two future first ballot Hall of Famers.

Next. 10 options for the Dallas Mavericks with the 37th pick

This is not just the best draft day trade in Mavs history, this is arguably the best trade in NBA history regardless of what time of year it happened in. Dirk Nowitzki embodies the Mavericks franchise, and the team acquired him for almost nothing.