Chart: NBA stars changing markets

The Timberwolves' forthcoming trade that will send Kevin Love to Cleveland is the NBA's fifth in the last three years in which an unhappy star forced his way to a bigger market or better team before he could leave as a free agent. Here's a look at the four previous deals:

Traded awayThe dateThe details

Chris PaulDec. 15, 2011From N. Orleans to L.A. Clippers

Just days after the NBA vetoed a three-way trade with the Lakers and Houston that would have brought, among others, an unsung guard named Goran Dragic, the Hornets sent their All-Star guard to the other L.A. team for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and an unprotected pick from the Wolves they used to select Austin Rivers. The trade turned out lopsidedly in the Clippers' favor due most to Gordon's many injuries and max contract.

Carmelo AnthonyFeb. 22, 2011From Denver to New York in three-way trade that also

included the Timberwolves.

Comment: The Nuggets chose, then coach George Karl now says, to reload rather than rebuild by choosing quantity – Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Ray Felton, Timofey Mozgov, draft picks and cash – over quality and won 57 games their second full season without him. But they still lost in the playoffs' first round with or without him.

After failing to acquire Anthony from Denver while the rival Knicks did, the Nets turned around and swung a sudden deal that sent away former No. 2 overall pick Derrick Favors, guard Devin Harris and first-round picks the Jazz used to draft No. 3 overall pick Enes Kanter as well as obtain No. 9 overall pick Trey Burke. Williams, due in part to a bad ankle, never had played for the Nets like he did in Utah before he drove legendary coach Jerry Sloan into retirement.

Dwight HowardAug. 11, 2012From Orlando to the L.A. Lakers in a four-way trade

with Philadelphia, Denver.

Comment: As Billy Hoyle's girlfriend once said, sometimes when you lose you actually win. As unlikely as it seemed on trade day, the Magic now look like the deal's only winner with Nikola Vucevic, Moe Harkless, Evan Fournier, Elfrid Payton to show for it and two future first-round picks still owed while Howard is long gone from Los Angeles, as are Andrew Bynum from Philadelphia and Andre Iguodala from Denver.