2. Sir Charles opens the Purple Palace
In 1992 Charles Barkley was tired of losing in Philadelphia. Beginning his career playing with the likes of Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks, and Bob McAdoo, by the 1991-92 season Barkley had become the only player of note in the Philadelphia lineup, their best player, and one who could no longer carry the load by himself. Letting the franchise – and the basketball world – know of his discontent, Charles Barkley demanded to be traded to a team with playoff potential, and a supporting cast that could help take some of the weight off his shoulders.
Shopping him for some time, Phoenix had pursued Barkley for over a year by the time the trade finally came to fruition in June 1992. (A little known note is that at one point over that period the Sixers had traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers and for three hours Barkley celebrated at a local bar – until his agent called him back and said that Philadelphia had backed out of the deal).
In the trade discussions with Phoenix, Philadelphia had focused on Kevin Johnson more than any other player on the team. In fact to most outsiders at the time, it did not appear that the two sides would find common ground unless Johnson was involved.
But while this may have been reported to the public, behind the scenes Jerry Colangelo and Cotton Fitzsimmons held tough on one stance – they were not going to trade their superstar point guard. While it appeared that the Suns might be willing to part with KJ for Barkley straight up – a theory that was never confirmed by the Suns – Philadelphia was searching for more of a package to add depth to their roster. For weeks the discussions continued, at times even seemingly entirely un-fruitful, until finally on June 17, 1992, receiving no other offer relative to Phoenix’s, Colangelo received a call from Sixers General Manager Gene Shue, and the deal was done.
Charles Barkley would be traded to the Phoenix Suns, and in return, Jeff Hornacek, Tim Perry, and Andrew Lang would be shipped to Philadelphia – without Kevin Johnson.
Initially some Suns fans had a mixed reaction to the trade as Phoenix had given up a strong package of three starters including the very popular Jeff Hornacek.
Of course Barkley did eventually win everyone over with the team’s Finals run in ’93, as well as four very productive years he led the Suns to the playoffs each season, although losing three times to the league’s eventual Champion.
But by 1996, much like in Philadelphia, Barkley was upset at the Phoenix front office for not keeping enough talent around him and demanded a trade, Championship-less, to the Houston Rockets.
However, while the Charles Barkley trade may have been a huge blockbuster, it was not the best trade in Phoenix Suns history.
In fact, had it not have been for trade #1, Charles Barkley may have never have even come to Phoenix.