Top Eight Sports Trades That Nearly Happened or Vetoed
Summary
In a surprising reversal, the Baltimore Ravens recently backed out of an agreed trade for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby, reportedly due to issues with a physical. Such rescinded deals are rare, especially involving high-profile players.
Several other major trades nearly happened. Eric Lindros was famously traded to both the Flyers and Rangers in 1991 before an arbitrator sent him to Philadelphia. In 2003, Alex Rodriguez’s move to the Red Sox was vetoed by the players’ union, and in 2007, Kevin Garnett nearly joined the Lakers. Other notable near-misses include Chris Paul’s blocked trade to the Lakers in 2011 and a 2007 deal that would have sent Kobe Bryant to the Bulls. One failed trade even saved a life, as a voided 2011 deal led to the discovery of Jerome Harrison’s brain tumor.
In a shocking turn, the Baltimore Ravens backed out of a trade for star edge rusher Maxx Crosby. The blockbuster move sent two first-round picks to the Raiders but Baltimore nixed the deal with rumors suggesting there were issues with a physical. It’s rare any trade gets rescinded and even more uncommon when it involves high-profile players. Here’s our look at the top ten trades that were either vetoed or nearly happened.
Eric Lindros Traded Twice on Same Day
Eric Lindros was chosen first overall by the Nordiques in 1991 but refused to play for them. So Quebec traded him….twice within 80 minutes. Management said yes to the Flyers and the Rangers. The NHL sent in an arbitrator and the five-day hearing was resolved with Lindros going to Philadelphia for The finalized trade had the Nordiques receive Ron Hextall, Steve Duchesne, Mike Ricci, Kerry Huffman, Peter Forsberg, a first-round pick in the 1993 NHL entry draft, $15 million, and future considerations. The Rangers reportedly offered Sergei Nemchinov, Tony Amonte, Alexei Kovalev, James Patrick, and either John Vanbiesbrouck or Mike Richter, as well as multiple first-round draft picks, and $20 million.
Alex Rodriguez Almost Traded to Red Sox
In December 2003, the Texas Rangers agreed to trade Alex Rodriguez to Boston for Manny Ramirez and Jon Lester. But the MLB Players Association nixed the deal due to a required salary reduction. The failed deal could have changed the course of both franchises for decades, but instead, A-Rod would be traded to the Yankees second baseman Alfonso Soriano with Texas agreeing to pay $67 million of the $179 million remaining on Rodriguez’s deal. But A-Rod one day wore a Red Sox uniform, but it was after losing a bet with David Ortiz in 2018.
Kevin Garnett Nearly Goes Hollywood
In 2007, Kevin Garnett was very close to becoming a Laker and paired with Kobe Bryant. After three straight seasons of missing the playoffs, Garnett wanted a change. The deal would have involved trading Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum for KG. But Minnesota owner Glen Taylor was reluctant to trade Garnett within the Western Conference and decided L.A. was not a fit. Garnett would end up in Boston to form their “Big Three” and win a title, while the Lakers later acquired Pau Gasol, leading to back-to-back championships.
Marc-Andre Fleury Almost a Maple Leaf
At the 2022 trade deadline, Marc-Andre Fleury was going to be traded to Toronto from Chicago. But the deal collapsed and Fleury was dealt to Minnesota instead. The failed deal was in place, according to agent Allan Walsh but was shot down by a senior executive from the Maples Leafs front office, likely Brendan Shanahan, despite GM Kyle Dubas’ interest in Fleury, who would play three seasons in Minnesota before retiring in 2025.
Chandler Blocked by Toe
One of the more bizarre reasons for a trade being axed happened in 2009 when Tyson Chandler was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Chris Wilcox, Joe Smith and the draft rights to DeVon Hardin. But everything changed when OKC’s medical staff checked out Chandlers’ big left toe. Staff deemed the risk of reinjury was too high and Chandler was sent back to the Hornets. The Thunder staff was right as Chandler played just 45 games, missing 29 of the team’s final 44 games due to left ankle injuries. That summer, Chandler would be traded, but not to OKC, instead to Charlotte for Emeka Okafor.
Kobe Bryant is almost to the Bulls
In 2007, Kobe Bryant was miffed at the lack of success with the Lakers. He demanded a trade and his preferred destination was Chicago. The Bulls would send Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, and Ben Wallace to L.A. But the Lakers didn’t want Wallace and Bryant wanted to play with Deng with the Bulls. The deal was off. Phil Jackson and management convinced Bryant to stay, and shortly after, they added Pau Gasol, leading to championships in 2009 and 2010.
Chris Paul to LaLa Land….Almost
This is perhaps one of the most famous non-trades in sports history. In 2011, the New Orleans Hornets (owned by the NBA at the time) made a deal to send Chris Paul to the Lakers. The proposed three-team trade would send Pau Gasol to the Rockets and give New Orleans Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Lamar Odom, Goran Dragic and a first rounder. But here comes commissioner David Stern who would void the trade, calling it “basketball reasons,” as he felt the return was inadequate for New Orleans. Chris Paul would eventually end up in Los Angeles, just with the Clippers instead.
Non-Trade That Saved a Life
In 2011, The Detroit Lions traded Jerome Harrison to the Eagles for Ronnie Brown and a seventh-round draft pick. But the deal was voided the following day after Harrison failed a physical. But that result essentially saved Harrison’s life. In that physical doctors found a brain tumor and Harrison had surgery but the tumor was benign, however, surrounded by blood vessels. Teammates had said he suffered from seizures. In a documentary the following year, Harrisons’ family said Jerome was expected to be a quadriplegic but in his tenacious recovery, he regained many of his motor skills. To think, if this trade didn’t happen, Harrison could have died without that physical that truly saved his life.
