Fifa World Cup Trophy

Looking back at the 2020 NBA trade landscape, I can't help but reflect on how certain moves felt like following a system's flow—much like that Filipino saying "Sumabay na rin ako kung saan ako dinala ng sistema." Sometimes you just ride where the current takes you, and several franchises did exactly that during that transformative period. The 2020 season presented unique circumstances with the pandemic disruption and bubble environment, creating a perfect storm for franchise-altering decisions. Having covered the league for over a decade, I've rarely seen a single year produce such concentrated transactional drama with lasting consequences.

The James Harden blockbuster to Brooklyn stands out as the defining move of that cycle, though personally I've always questioned whether stacking three ball-dominant stars would actually work long-term. The Nets sent out a staggering package—four first-round picks, four pick swaps, plus Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen—to form what looked like an unstoppable offensive juggernaut. Allen's subsequent impact in Cleveland proves how much depth Brooklyn sacrificed. That trade exemplified high-risk team building, betting everything on top-heavy talent. The numbers were astronomical: Harden was coming off a season averaging 34.3 points per game, but the fit alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving always felt theoretically brilliant yet practically awkward. Watching them play, I noticed they never quite developed the defensive cohesion needed for championship basketball, despite their obvious offensive fireworks.

Meanwhile, the Chris Paul to Phoenix move gets my vote for the most underrated transaction of that year. Oklahoma City received Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Rubio, and what became the 2024 first-round pick, while the Suns acquired the veteran leadership that would transform their franchise. Paul's impact on Devin Booker's development and the Suns' culture can't be overstated—they jumped from 34-39 the previous season to reaching the Finals. At 35 years old, many thought Paul was declining, but his basketball IQ and clutch performance proved otherwise. What fascinates me about this trade is how it demonstrates the value of veteran presence versus accumulating draft capital. The Thunder collected future assets, but Phoenix got immediate transformation.

The Jrue Holiday acquisition by Milwaukee often gets overshadowed by the Harden megadeal, but in terms of championship impact, this was arguably the most successful move. The Bucks gave up three first-round picks and two pick swaps to New Orleans, plus Eric Bledsoe and George Hill. While that seemed like an overpay at the time, Holiday's two-way play became the missing piece for Giannis Antetokounmpo's championship quest. His defense against opposing guards in the playoffs was absolutely crucial, particularly in the Finals series against Phoenix. From my perspective, Holiday provided exactly what Milwaukee needed—a reliable secondary creator who didn't need plays called for him and could lock down the perimeter.

Several other moves created interesting ripple effects. The Gordon Hayward sign-and-trade to Charlotte for $120 million raised eyebrows across the league, including mine—that contract seemed excessive for a player with his injury history. Yet Hayward's veteran presence actually helped stabilize the young Hornets roster when healthy. The Dennis Schröder to Lakers trade, sending Danny Green and the 28th pick to Oklahoma City, looked like a solid move initially but never quite delivered the expected bench scoring punch in the playoffs. These secondary moves remind me that not every transaction needs to be earth-shattering to impact team dynamics.

Reflecting on that trade period now, what strikes me is how teams were navigating unprecedented uncertainty. The financial implications of the pandemic created strange market conditions where some teams became unusually aggressive while others retreated. The most successful franchises balanced present competitiveness with future flexibility—Milwaukee and Phoenix nailed this balance perfectly. Meanwhile, teams that went all-in without considering chemistry and fit, like Brooklyn, ultimately faced disappointing outcomes despite assembling incredible talent on paper.

The 2020 trade period taught me that in basketball, as in that Filipino saying, sometimes you have to go with the flow of circumstances, but the best organizations navigate those currents with clear vision rather than simply drifting. The moves that worked best addressed specific team needs rather than just accumulating big names. Three years later, we can clearly see which franchises understood their own systems and which were just following trends. The championship rings for Milwaukee and sustained success for Phoenix validate their approaches, while other teams are still recovering from shortsighted decisions made during that frantic period.