15 Most Shocking Trades In Sports History

By Justin Broyles

15 Most Shocking Trades In Sports History

Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers — Trades are an essential part of the business that is sports. Even though we know they are going to happen, some trades still shock us from an outsider's perspective. These are the 15 most shocking trades to ever go down in sports history.

15. Paul Coffey To the Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins Paul Coffey

15. Paul Coffey To the Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Penguins Paul Coffey — The Edmonton Oilers faced several financial after the 1987 season. The team had just won the Stanley Cup and players were demanding contract extensions. One of these players was All-Star defenseman Paul Coffey. Coffey was still under contract for a few years, but the Oilers surprised the NHL by shipping him off to the Penguins before the next season began. Coffey would go on to win the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1991.

14. Trent Richardson To the Indianapolis Colts

Trent Richardson Indianapolis Colts

14. Trent Richardson To the Indianapolis Colts

Trent Richardson Indianapolis Colts — A more contemporary version of a shocking trade, no one in the NFL saw the Trent Richardson trade coming. He was the third overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and just came off of a strong year with the Cleveland Browns. But after an 0-2 start in 2013, the Browns dumped Richardson on the Colts for a first round pick. Many people believed the Browns were tanking, but Richardson has been awful since, justifying the shocking trade.

13. Pau Gasol To the Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol

13. Pau Gasol To the Los Angeles Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol — This trade comes in on the list because it seemed to come out of nowhere and was lopsided. Pau Gasol was the face of the Memphis Grizzlies, but the team had internally been considering trading him. Then, in February 2008, the trade was completed, sending Gasol to the Lakers and catching everyone off guard. Even more shockingly, the Lakers only had to send Memphis Kwame Brown and Marc Gasol, among other NBA journeymen.

12. Randy Moss To the Oakland Raiders

Randy Moss Oakland Raiders

12. Randy Moss To the Oakland Raiders

Randy Moss Oakland Raiders — By the mid 2000s, Randy Moss was cemented as the best receiver in the NFL. He was putting up extreme numbers for the Minnesota Vikings and was one of the biggest characters in the league, but the Vikings were slowly getting tired of Moss' off-field antics. No one expected the Vikings to trade their star, but in 2005, they shipped him off to Oakland. Moss disappointed as a Raider, but was later able to resurrect his career in New England.

11. Carmelo Anthony To the New York Knicks

Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks

11. Carmelo Anthony To the New York Knicks

Carmelo Anthony New York Knicks — This trade isn't a shock because of the player, but because of where he ended up. In 2011, it was a forgone conclusion that Carmelo Anthony was going to be traded by the Denver Nuggets, but all of the rumors of where he would land revolved around the New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. Then, to the surprise of all, the Knicks pulled off a deal with Denver. Anthony has been there ever since, but has not led the Knicks to any titles.

10. Frank Robinson To the Baltimore Orioles

Frank Robinson Baltimore Orioles

10. Frank Robinson To the Baltimore Orioles

Frank Robinson Baltimore Orioles — Frank Robinson is an all-time baseball great, but was also part of a shocking trade. He was a star for the Cincinnati Reds for a decade, but in 1965, the Reds sent him to the Baltimore Orioles, claiming he was "an old 30" and out of his prime. The real reason for the trade was general manager Bill DeWitt being jealous of Robinson's popularity. Robinson proved he was not out of his prime and helped lead the Orioles to the World Series in 1971.

9. Shaquille O'Neal To the Miami Heat

Shaquille O'Neal Miami Heat

9. Shaquille O'Neal To the Miami Heat

Shaquille O'Neal Miami Heat — Much like the Carmelo Anthony trade years later, it was obvious that Shaquille O'Neal was going to be traded. He requested a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers after the 2004 season, but where he ended up was not expected. All rumors believed O'Neal would end up with the Dallas Mavericks in a trade involving Dirk Nowitzki. However, the Heat ended up adding O'Neal in a surprise and he was able to help Miami win the NBA title in 2006.

8. Tom Seaver To the Cincinnati Reds

Tom Seaver Cincinnati Reds

8. Tom Seaver To the Cincinnati Reds

Tom Seaver Cincinnati Reds — Tom Seaver is one of the most famous New York Mets to ever play for the team, but at one time, he was hated by the city. In 1978, Seaver was coming off of a star season and wanted to renegotiate his contract. The New York media tore Seaver apart for being greedy to the point that he couldn't deal with it. He then requested a trade and was surprisingly sent to the Reds for a few seasons before returning to the Mets a few years later.

7. Matt Williams To the Cleveland Indians

Matt Williams Cleveland Indians

7. Matt Williams To the Cleveland Indians

Matt Williams Cleveland Indians — Before becoming the manager of the Washington Nationals, Matt Williams was a part of one of the most surprising trades in MLB history. The hometown kid grew up in San Francisco and was beloved by the fans. But in 1996, new GM Brian Sabean cleaned house and sent Williams to the Indians for a bunch of no name players. Sabean would have never been forgiven had one of those players, Jeff Kent, panned out and became a star for the Giants.

6. Ricky Williams To the New Orleans Saints

Ricky Williams New Orleans Saints

6. Ricky Williams To the New Orleans Saints

Ricky Williams New Orleans Saints — In 1999, Ricky Williams was a stud running back coming out of Texas. Mike Ditka and the New Orleans Saints showed a lot of interest in him, but had no chance to draft him. So, the Saints did the unthinkable and traded every one of their picks in the 1999 NFL Draft, but also two more picks in the 2000 NFL Draft for the right to take Williams. Williams disappointed as a Saint and was eventually shipped off to the Miami Dolphins a few years later.

5. Herschel Waker To the Minnesota Vikings

Herschel Walker Minnesota Vikings

5. Herschel Waker To the Minnesota Vikings

Herschel Walker Minnesota Vikings — This trade was shocking because the Dallas Cowboys traded their star running back, but more shocking was the number of pieces involved. When the Cowboys traded Walker in 1989 to the Vikings, the trade involved a whopping 18 different players and multiple draft picks. Some of the players included in this trade were Emmitt Smith, Walker and Darren Woodson. Without this trade, the Cowboys may have never become the dynasty they were in the 1990's.

4. Alex Rodriguez To the New York Yankees

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez

4. Alex Rodriguez To the New York Yankees

New York Yankees Alex Rodriguez — This trade is a shock for many reasons. First of all, the Texas Rangers had just signed A-Rod to a mega deal to make him the center of their franchise. But they decided to move him, believing the contract wouldn't be worth it in the long run. However, when Rodriguez was on the trade block, the Boston Red Sox were the obvious fit. But the New York Yankees, who already had Derek Jeter, swooped in and shocked their rival by acquiring the star SS.

3. Brett Favre To the New York Jets

Brett Favre New York Jets

3. Brett Favre To the New York Jets

Brett Favre New York Jets — This trade was in the making, but still shocked everyone. Brett Favre was everything for the Green Bay Packers for years and was the face of the franchise. But with young star Aaron Rodgers waiting on the bench, the Packers needed Favre to retire of move on. No one thought it would come to Favre being traded out of Green Bay, but they sent him to the Jets in 2008, where he played one season, followed by two with the rival Minnesota Vikings.

2. Joe Montana To the Kansas City Chiefs

Joe Montana Retireme

2. Joe Montana To the Kansas City Chiefs

Joe Montana Retireme — Believed by many to be the best quarterback to ever play the game, Joe Montana was not a lifetime San Francisco 49er. Near the end of his career, Montana was being outplayed by young star Steve Young, and the 49ers decided to part ways with their Super Bowl winning quarterback in 1993, trading him to the Kansas City Chiefs. Montana played two seasons with the Chiefs, leading them to the AFC Championship in 1994, before retiring from the league.

1. Wayne Gretzky To the Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles Kings Wayne Gretzky

1. Wayne Gretzky To the Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles Kings Wayne Gretzky — Undeniably the best hockey player to ever grace the ice, Wayne Gretzky is partly famous for his shocking trade in 1988. After winning the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers, Gretzky was on top of the world, but two hours after the victory, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings for financial reasons. The timing of this trade was shocking in itself, but Gretzky persevered, playing 11 more seasons with the Kings, Blues and Rangers.

Justin Broyles is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @Tweets_ByJ, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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