A look at the top 10 who left, either by trade, or free agency.
1. Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets
For years the Nuggets were the joke of the NBA. The 19-year-old from Syracuse made an immediate impact and put together a string of seven consecutive playoff appearances.
2. Matt Holliday, Rockies
Was nearing his prime as a slugger after he helped get the Rockies to the World Series in 2007. A year later, he was shipped to Oakland. The good news? Colorado got Carlos Gonzalez in return.
3. Peter Forsberg, Avs
An NHL MVP, he led the Avs to two Stanley Cups before leaving as a free agent to sign with Philadelphia.
4. Clinton Portis, Broncos
Was one of the NFL’s best running backs when Denver traded him, in his prime, to the Washington Redskins for cornerback Champ Bailey. That trade also worked out well, as Bailey remains at the top of his game, and Portis is hanging on.
5. Jay Cutler, Broncos
Had gained the “franchise” tag when new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels sent him packing to Chicago.
6. Shannon Sharpe, Broncos
Broncos didn’t need him, apparently. So he went to Baltimore and won another Super Bowl before returning.
7. Dikembe Mutombo, Nuggets
Part of Bernie Bickerstaff’s nearly unfathomable scuttling of the Nuggets.
8. Chris Drury, Avs
The Avalanche’s most clutch playoff scorer was sent to Calgary. The Avs haven’t been the same since.
9. David Thompson, Nuggets
On the downside of his career when the Nuggets traded him to the Seattle SuperSonics.
10. Brandon Marshall, Broncos
After years of turmoil off the field, the Broncos sent him to the Dolphins last year for a second-round pick.
