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15 Athletes Who Were Traded To Bad Teams

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By @BrianKalchik

15 Athletes Who Were Traded To Bad Teams

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A sports cliche that we have heard repeatedly is that pro sports is a business. Never is this more apparent than when a team makes a blockbuster trade. Sometimes a great player may get traded to a team that isn't better than his previous team. Here now are 15 athletes who were traded to bad teams from good teams.

15. Peja Stojakovic (Sacramento Kings To Indiana Pacers)

Peja Stojakovic Kings
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15. Peja Stojakovic (Sacramento Kings To Indiana Pacers)

Peja Stojakovic Kings
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In exchange for Ron Artest, the IndianaPacers acquired Peja Stojakovic from the Sacramento Kings to give Indiana an offensive presence. Stojakovic lasted only a brief time with his new team and did not provide the spark that the Pacers were hoping for. After a few seasons, Stojakovic was dealt to New Orleans.

14. Antonio McDyess (Denver Nuggets To New York Knicks)

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14. Antonio McDyess (Denver Nuggets To New York Knicks)

Antonio McDyess Nuggets
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After missing the entire 2002-03 season to injury, the Denver Nuggets traded Antonio McDyess to the New York Knicks for Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson and the rights to Nene Hilario. In New York, McDyess re-aggravated his injury and played just 18 games with the Knicks. McDyess was then traded to Phoenix in exchange for Stephon Marbury.

13. Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins To Washington Capitals)

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13. Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins To Washington Capitals)

Jaromir Jagr Penguins
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Teamed with Mario Lemieux in the early 1990's, Jaromir Jagr helped lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to two Stanley Cup titles. In 2001, Jagr was traded to Washington in exchange for Kris Beech, Michal Sivek and Ross Lupaschuk. In Washington, Jagr was a shell of himself, lasting only three seasons and never scoring more than 80 points in any of those seasons.

12. Shawn Kemp (Seattle SuperSonics To Cleveland Cavaliers)

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12. Shawn Kemp (Seattle SuperSonics To Cleveland Cavaliers)

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With the Seattle SuperSonics, Shawn Kemp teamed with Gary Payton to help Seattle become one of the best in the 1990's. However, after the 1996-97 season, Kemp was dealt to Cleveland in exchange for Vin Baker in a three-team deal. With the Cavaliers, Kemp still put up good numbers, but the Cavaliers could not get into the playoffs.

11. Mitch Richmond (Sacramento Kings To Washington Wizards)

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11. Mitch Richmond (Sacramento Kings To Washington Wizards)

Mitch Richmond Kings
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From 1991-98, Mitch Richmond was one of the best shooting guards in the NBA as a member of the Sacramento Kings. In 1998, Richmond was traded to Washington in exchange for Chris Webber. While Webber became a star in Sacramento, Richmond floundered with the Wizards, lasting just three seasons and lacked the game that made him an All-Star with the Kings.

10. Steve Francis (Houston Rockets To Orlando Magic)

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10. Steve Francis (Houston Rockets To Orlando Magic)

Steve Francis Rockets
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In a blockbuster trade, the Orlando Magic sent Tracy McGrady to the Houston Rockets for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. McGrady became a star in Houston, but Francis flopped in Orlando. After three seasons, Francis feuded with management and was traded to the New York Knicks.

9. Gary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics To Milwaukee Bucks)

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9. Gary Payton (Seattle SuperSonics To Milwaukee Bucks)

Gary Payton Sonics
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After a solid 13-year run in Seattle, Gary Payton was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Ray Allen. With the Bucks, Payton was a short-term loan, lasting just 28 games before signing with the Lakers the following offseason. Allen, on the other hand, was a star for the Sonics before he was traded to Boston.

8. Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons To Orlando Magic)

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8. Grant Hill (Detroit Pistons To Orlando Magic)

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In 2000, the Detroit Pistons traded away their superstar in Grant Hill to the Orlando Magic for a little known big man in Ben Wallace. In Orlando, Hill's ankles started getting worse and worse, and his reign with the team was a disappointment. With Detroit, Wallace became one of the best defenders in NBA history, leading the Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship.

7. Allen Iverson (Denver Nuggets To Detroit Pistons)

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7. Allen Iverson (Denver Nuggets To Detroit Pistons)

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Needing to attract superstars in Detroit, GM Joe Dumars traded away respected leader Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson early in the 2008 season. With the Pistons, Iverson clashed with management and was deactivated for most of the season. Billups became a great stop-gap for the Nuggets, as he helped the Nuggets reach the 2009 Western Conference Finals.

6. Randy Moss (New England Patriots To Minnesota Vikings)

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6. Randy Moss (New England Patriots To Minnesota Vikings)

Randy Moss Vikings
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After becoming a locker room cancer for the New England Patriots in 2010, Randy Moss was traded back to his original team, the Minnesota Vikings for a third-round pick. The Patriots missed his presence, losing in the Divisional Playoffs to New York, and the Vikings waived Moss after four weeks following clashes with Brad Childress.

5. Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers To New York Jets)

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5. Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers To New York Jets)

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After reaching the 2007 NFC Championship Game, Brett Favre decided to retire from the Green Bay Packers. After the first of many flip-flops, Favre returned, but was traded to the New York Jets. With the Jets, Favre started off well, but after a four-game losing streak, Favre retired again. After another brief retirement, Favre signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2009, leading them to the NFC Championship Game.

4. Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers To Kansas City Chiefs)

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4. Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers To Kansas City Chiefs)

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The greatest quarterback in NFL history, Joe Montana was traded from San Francisco to Kansas City, a trade that allowed Steve Young to take over the 49ers. In two seasons with the Chiefs, Montana led them to the playoffs, including the 1993 AFC Championship Game. However, the 49ers got the last laugh, winning Super Bowl XXIX against the San Diego Chargers.

3. Eric Dickerson (St. Louis Rams To Indianapolis Colts)

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3. Eric Dickerson (St. Louis Rams To Indianapolis Colts)

Eric Dickerson Rams
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Following a contract dispute, Eric Dickerson, the best running back at the time, was traded in 1987 to the Indianapolis Colts. Dickerson helped make the St. Louis Rams a perennial playoff contender, and in his first season with the Colts, he helped guide them to the postseason. The Colts could not sustain that success with Dickerson, while the Rams reached the NFC Championship Game in 1989.

2. Shaquille O'Neal (Miami Heat To Phoenix Suns)

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2. Shaquille O'Neal (Miami Heat To Phoenix Suns)

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After being traded from Los Angeles to Miami, Shaquille O'Neal helped the Heat win their first NBA Championship in 2006. In 2008, O'Neal was traded to the run-and-gun Phoenix Suns in exchange for Shawn Marion. O'Neal's presence slowed down the Suns and he lasted just two seasons before being traded to Cleveland.

1. Bobby Layne (Detroit Lions To Pittsburgh Steelers)

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1. Bobby Layne (Detroit Lions To Pittsburgh Steelers)

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Bobby Layne was the catalyst behind two of Detroit's three NFL Championships, but during the 1958 season, Layne was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While the Steelers never won anything significant with Layne, it was Layne who would have the last laugh against his former team. He allegedly put a curse on the Lions, saying they would not win a title for 50 years. Since then, Detroit has won only one playoff game.

Brian Kalchik is a Detroit Lions writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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