The 10 Best trades in Sacramento Kings history

6. Wayman Tisdale

How could a player whose first love wasn’t even basketball rank so high on this list? That just speaks to the impact Wayman Tisdale had on the Kings and those around him.

After a stellar collegiate career at Oklahoma, Tisdale was selected with the second pick in the 1985 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. He would have a strong enough start to his career but found himself on the outs in his third season as the Pacers effectively chose Rik Smits to man the post. Tisdale would be traded to Sacramento for LaSalle Thompson and Randy Whitman.

Following the move, Tisdale quickly made a name for himself, finishing the 1998-90 season averaging 19.8 points and 9.6 rebounds in 31 games played in a Kings uniform. He would go on to play the next five seasons in Sacramento, eventually forming one of the most dynamic duos in Kings’ history with Mitch Richmond.

Tisdale averaged 18.4 points and 7.2 rebounds over 370 games in Sacramento. While the Kings failed to make the playoffs during his time there, the Wayman Tisdale brought entertainment to a franchise that had just lost Reggie Theus and Otis Thorpe.

Younger fans may not know or remember the name Wayman Tisdale, but he is a member of Kings’ history who deserves recognition. As a player and, more importantly, as a person, Tisdale was an absolute joy who provided many with wonderful memories up until his passing in 2009.