![DeMarcus Cousins was acquired by the Pelicans from the Kings during last season. Image Source: - [Flickr | Matthew Addie]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/1/30/660x290/b_502x220x82/demarcus-cousins-was-acquired-by-the-pelicans-from-the-kings-during-last-season-image-source-flickr-matthew-addie_1806505.jpg "DeMarcus Cousins was acquired by the Pelicans from the Kings during last season. Image Source: - [Flickr | Matthew Addie]")
Monday brought the surprising news that Blake Griffin was traded from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Detroit Pistons. With the NBA trade deadline on February 8, it remains to be seen if he will be the best player that changes addresses around the trade deadline. Here are the best players that have been shipped off to a different team within a month of the trade deadline since 2010. This list is clearly subjective which is why honorable mentions are included each year. Also, the list is for the best player at the time they were traded.
2017 - DeMarcus Cousins
On February 20, 2017, Cousins was traded from the Sacramento Kings along with Omri Casspi to the New Orleans Pelicans for Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Buddy Hield, a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2017 second-round pick.
Cousins, who was selected for his third straight All-Star Game in the 2016-17 season, was averaging 27.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game in 55 appearances with Sacramento at the time of the trade.
Honorable mentions: Jusuf Nurkic, Serge Ibaka, Tyreke Evans, and Lou Williams.
2016 - Tobias Harris
Harris was traded from the Orlando Magic to the Detroit Pistons for Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings.
In 49 games with the Magic before the trade in the 2015-16 season, Harris was averaging 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
Honorable mention: Markieff Morris.
2015 - Goran Dragic
The Phoenix Suns traded Dragic along with his brother Zoran to the Miami Heat in a three-team trade that saw Miami give up (along with others) Norris Cole to the New Orleans Pelicans and a 2017 and 2021 first-round pick to Phoenix.
Dragic played in 52 games for Phoenix prior to the trade and averaged 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
Honorable mentions: Arron Afflalo, Isaiah Thomas, Thaddeus Young, Brandon Knight, Michael Carter-Williams, and Enes Kanter.
2014 - Evan Turner
Turner was traded by the Philadelphia 76ers along with Lavoy Allen to the Indiana Pacers for Danny Granger and a 2015 2nd round pick.
Turner was putting up impressive numbers (albeit on a bad 76ers team) that season up until the trade as he was averaging 17.4 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
Honorable mention: Spencer Hawes.
2013 - Rudy Gay
In his eighth season with the Memphis Grizzlies, Gay was traded to the Toronto Raptors along with Hamed Haddadi. The Grizzlies received Ed Davis, Austin Daye, Tayshaun Prince, and a 2013 second-round pick.
Gay was posting per game averages of 17.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.3 steals for Memphis on the season before being traded.
Honorable mentions: Jose Calderon, Patrick Patterson, and J. J. Redick.
2012 - Monta Ellis
The Golden State Warriors shipped off Ellis, Kwame Brown and Ekpe Udoh to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson.
Ellis appeared in 37 games for the Warriors in the 2011-12 season before being traded and had per game averages of 21.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.5 steals.
Honorable mentions: Gerald Wallace, Nene, and Nick Young.
2011 - Carmelo Anthony
Anthony came to the New York Knicks in a blockbuster three-team deal from the Denver Nuggets. Part of the Knicks' package involved giving up two first-round picks as well as established players like Wilson Chandler, Danilo Gallinari, and Raymond Felton.
At the time of the trade, Anthony played in 50 games for Denver on the season and had been named to his fifth All-Star team. He was averaging 25.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.
Honorable mentions: Chauncey Billups, Danilo Gallinari, Deron Williams, Devin Harris, and Gerald Wallace.
2010 - Antawn Jamison
Jamison was involved in a three-team deal that saw him go from the Washington Wizards to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jamison, a 20,000+ career point scorer, was averaging 20.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game for Washington prior to being traded in the 2009-10 season.
Honorable mentions: Caron Butler, Marcus Camby, and Kevin Martin.
