Revisiting the Insane 4-Team Trade Involving Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bynum

In August of 2012, just a few months before the start of the new NBA season, a wild four-team, eight-player, multi-draft pick trade was completed.

What made the blockbuster deal all the more captivating was the fact that it involved four playoff squads: the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers. It's proven to be one of the most stunning trades in league history, so let's dive into how things panned out for all parties involved.

Blockbuster 4-Team Trade Details

Lakers acquire: Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon, and Earl Clark

Magic acquire: Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Afflalo, Moe Harkless, and one protected future first-round draft pick from the other three teams

76ers acquire: Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson

Nuggets acquire: Andre Iguodala

In terms of losers, you have to immediately point out the Lakers, who actually looked like the biggest winner at the time of the trade. As we know, things didn't come close to working out considering Howard's first stint in Los Angeles was as forgettable as it gets. Los Angeles was swept in the first round of the playoffs by San Antonio and Howard signed with Houston that offseason.

Luckily for the Lakers, the Sixers ultimately proved to be the biggest losers here. Bynum never played a game for Philly and Richardson appeared in just 52 games. The 76ers had nothing to show for after giving up one of the best players in franchise history in Iguodala.

Who Won the Trade?

The Nuggets made out fine here, but they didn't win. The Iggy acquisition contributed to a 57-win season and Denver leading the league in points per game, however, the team lost in the first round of the playoffs and didn't qualify for the postseason again until 2018-19.

In our eyes, Orlando won this trade. The Magic realized their window of success had closed, embraced a rebuild by stockpiling draft capital, and have since developed Vucevic into an All-Star.

That's how you conduct business.