15 NBA Players Who Were Never the Same After Demanding a Trade

Sometimes, demanding a trade works out beautifully. You land in a better situation, rack up some wins, and maybe even grab a ring or two. But other times? The grass turns out to be way less green, and your career takes a nosedive faster than a failed fast break.

These 15 NBA players all asked out—and never quite returned to the players they once were. Whether it was a decline in production or simply losing that edge, they were never the same after packing their bags.

15. Jimmy Butler (Timberwolves)

May 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler III (10) drives to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Jimmy wanted out of Minnesota in a very loud and dramatic fashion. While he’s still a star, the chaos around that exit shifted how people viewed him for good.

14. Kyrie Irving (Cavaliers)

Jan 3, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving (11) passes the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Kyrie didn’t want to live in LeBron’s shadow anymore, but his post-Cleveland career has been… complicated. He’s bounced around and still puts up numbers, but the magic hasn’t felt the same.

13. Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets)

Katie Goodale / USA TODAY NETWORK
Pexels

Melo’s move to New York was a blockbuster deal, but it came at a high cost and ultimately yielded little playoff success. His numbers remained solid, but he never returned to that elite tier again.

12. Dwight Howard (Magic)

Apr 8, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard (39) dunks the ball in the second half of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Dwight’s “Dwightmare” exit from Orlando was messy and drawn out. He was never quite the same dominant force after leaving, despite bouncing between contenders.

11. Russell Westbrook (Thunder)

May 18, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook (4) runs down the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Russ asked out when the Thunder blew it up, and while his intensity remained, the triple-double magic faded. He’s been on a new team almost every season since.

10. Paul George (Pacers)

Paul George jumpshot
Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA TODAY Sports

PG-13 wanted out of Indiana to chase bigger moments, but his legacy hasn’t taken that next step. The expectations grew, but the playoff runs fizzled.

9. James Harden (Rockets)

James Harden
Wikimedia Commons

Harden forced his way out of Houston looking for a title, but the journey’s been rocky. Between Brooklyn, Philly, and now L.A., he’s been more drama than dominance.

8. Chris Paul (Hornets)

Apr 9, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) dribbles upcourt against the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images
David Gonzales-Imagn Images

CP3’s exit from New Orleans launched his contender era, but his peak years felt stuck in “what could’ve been” territory. He stayed great, but never quite got over the hump.

7. Andre Iguodala (76ers)

Jan 12, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Heat forward Andre Iguodala (28) brings the ball up court against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Iggy wanted out to play for a winner, and while he eventually found it, his role shifted dramatically. From go-to guy to elite role player, he was never the same centerpiece.

6. DeMarcus Cousins (Kings)

Apr 27, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Denver Nuggets center DeMarcus Cousins (4) spins away from Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) in the fourth quarter during game five of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Boogie wanted a fresh start away from Sacramento’s dysfunction. Unfortunately, injuries and bad luck followed him, and his prime vanished quickly.

5. Kevin Love (Timberwolves)

Feb 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Heat forward Kevin Love (42) drives with the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Love got his wish and joined LeBron in Cleveland, but his role shrank overnight. He won a title, sure, but his numbers and spotlight never bounced back.

4. Vince Carter (Raptors)

Feb 1, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter (15) in action during the game between the Mavericks and the Hawks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Vince’s relationship with Toronto soured, and he forced his way out. He kept playing forever, but his superstar status stayed north of the border.

3. Eric Bledsoe (Suns)

Eric Bledsoe
Wikimedia Commons

One tweet blew up Bledsoe’s Suns tenure, and his career never really recovered. He had solid moments in Milwaukee, but the promise never fully returned.

Read More: 20 NBA Divas Who Needed Everything to Go Their Way

2. Ben Simmons (76ers)

Apr 11, 2025; Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25) during the third quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Simmons sat out, made headlines, and got traded to Brooklyn. The version of him Philly fans once hoped for still hasn’t reappeared.

Read More: Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Mavs for Kyrie Irving Deal

1. Isaiah Thomas (Celtics)

Isaiah Thomas
Wikipedia

IT begged Boston to back up the Brinks truck—then got shipped out. He was never the same after that hip injury, and the trade marked a sudden end to his All-Star days.

Read More: 15 NBA Draft Picks That Took a Team Nowhere for Years

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