Trade Remains Largest In NBA History in Terms of Total Players

Published on May 18th, 2025 12:16 pm EST
Written By: Dave Manuel


Miami Heat executed the largest trade in NBA history involving five teams, immediately leading them to their first-ever NBA championship. On August 2nd, 2005, the Miami Heat pulled off the largest trade in NBA history, in terms of total number of players involved.

The Miami Heat, which had a team that included the likes of Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal, had lost the Eastern Conference Finals to the Detroit Pistons a few months before.

The main issue that the Heat felt as though they had with their team? Depth. They looked to address the issue during the 2005 offseason.

On August 2nd, 2005, a monster deal was announced after weeks of work.

This deal involved 13 players from a total of five different teams - the thought of five teams working on this deal at the same time is enough to give you a headache.

Here is how the deal ended up playing out:

Miami Heat Received:

Antoine Walker
Jason Williams
James Posey
Andre Emmett
Draft Rights to Roberto Duenas

Memphis Grizzlies Received:

Eddie Jones
Raul Lopez

New Orleans Hornets Received:

Rasual Butler
Kirk Snyder

Utah Jazz Received:

Qyntel Woods
Draft Rights to Albert Miralles
Two Second-Round Draft Picks from Miami Heat
Curtis Borchardt

Did the deal end up working out for the Miami Heat?

Absolutely.

The very next season, the Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, with Jason Williams and Antoine Walker both playing key roles, especially in the Finals.

Jason Williams, in particular, soaked up minutes over the course of the season, and was instrumental in pushing the Heat to their very first title.

Both Williams and Walker were gone a short while after the Heat won the title, but they both did their job - they helped bring a title to Miami.

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