NBA Has Nearly Doubled Frequency Of Multi-Team Trades Over Past Four Seasons

Over the past four seasons, there have been an average of eight trades that included three or more teams, which is nearly double the amount over the previous decade. From 2009 until 2019, there were an average of 4.5 multi-team trades per season.

Since the current league calendar started on July 1st, 2023, there have been five such deals including future Hall of Famers Damian Lillard and James Harden.

Because of the NBA’s more restrictive new collective bargaining agreement, cap strategists are preparing for even more three- and four-team trades.

“There’s an understanding that if you want to get business done,” one general manager told Yahoo Sports, “sometimes there’s another team that can get business done.”

Teams are more creative in this era and there is also a far more conversational environment from front office to front office.

“It seems like there’s more strategic thinking and planning in the NBA than there was 15 years ago,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “People are offering solutions.”

There are more open secrets than truly classified intel amongst teams.

“Three-team trades will absolutely be more common under the new CBA,” said another team strategist.