The 2003 NBA trade deadline.

In the order it happened

The transaction timeline

The draft, major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered chronologically. Complete draft boards, trade packages and free-agent jersey changes are embedded at the moment they happened.

1. Early February · Franchise crossroads

   Seattle and Milwaukee reconsider two signature guards

   Gary Payton approached free agency after twelve seasons in Seattle, while Milwaukee's promising core had eroded since its 2001 conference-finals run.

2. February 20 · Trade

   Ray Allen and Gary Payton change franchises →

   Seattle sent Payton and Desmond Mason to Milwaukee for Allen, Kevin Ollie, Ronald Murray and a first-round pick, moving two eras in opposite directions.

   The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

   00TradeFebruary 20, 2003To SEADraftPICKround asset+1 assetsTo MIL→←Ray Allen–Gary Payton swapSEA receives Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, Ronald Murray + 1 moreMIL receives Gary Payton, Desmond Mason6 original assets · 0 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

3. Deadline week · Long view

   Seattle finds the shooter for its next playoff peak

   Allen became the center of the 2005 division champion Sonics and later the asset that helped Boston assemble its 2008 title core.