1977 NBA Trades

Boston acquired Don Chaney, Kermit Washington and the 1978 first-round pick that became No. 8 Freeman Williams for Charlie Scott on December 27, 1977. Chaney returned to the Celtics for 167 regular-season games across three seasons, while Washington played 32 games at 11.8 points and 10.5 rebounds before both Washington and the Williams draft rights were used in Boston's August 1978 blockbuster with San Diego. Those two this review-derived assets were only part of a four-player Boston package, so the full Tiny Archibald return is not credited to this trade alone. Los Angeles received 48 games from Scott at 11.7 points per game, then traded him to Denver for Ron Boone and two 1979 second-round picks. Boone played 88 Lakers games, and one pick became Ollie Mack, who added 27. Both teams recycled value, but Boston received more direct service plus two assets that helped support a major later transaction.

Houston traded Ron Behagen to Indiana on December 22, 1977 for the rights to Alonzo Bradley. The exchange was far closer in realized value than the legacy grading suggested. Behagen played 51 games for Indiana that season, starting 10 and averaging 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 22.2 minutes before the Pacers waived him the following September. Bradley played 99 regular-season games for Houston across three seasons. He averaged 7.0 points in 18.6 minutes over 43 games in 1977-78, then moved into a smaller reserve role over the next two seasons before Dallas selected him in the 1980 expansion draft. The two branches were strikingly similar in total playing time: Behagen gave Indiana roughly 1,130 regular-season minutes, while Bradley gave Houston roughly 1,140. Indiana received more production per game; Houston received more games and longer roster continuity. The result is best treated as essentially even.

Atlanta traded Ron Behagen to Houston on December 16, 1977 for the Rockets' 1978 and 1979 second-round picks. Six days later, Houston flipped Behagen to Indiana for Alonzo Bradley, so the Rockets received only three Behagen games but converted him into a player who appeared in 99 regular-season games for Houston across three seasons. Atlanta used the 1978 pick at No. 25 on Rick Wilson, who played 66 Hawks games over two seasons, mostly in a reserve role. The 1979 pick became No. 38 Larry Wilson, whose draft record shows no NBA career totals. The original legacy verdict leaned Atlanta because two picks looked deeper than one veteran, but realized team-specific value points the other way: Houston turned Behagen directly into Bradley, while Atlanta's two selections produced one limited rotation player and one non-NBA outcome. The Rockets receive the modest edge.

Indiana traded Adrian Dantley and Dave Robisch to the Lakers on December 13, 1977 for James Edwards, Earl Tatum and cash. Team and league ledgers all confirm the cash component, although the cited sources do not disclose an amount. Edwards became the largest direct return in the deal, playing 303 regular-season games for Indiana across four seasons while averaging between 15.4 and 16.7 points each year. Tatum added 57 Pacers games at 14.4 points per game and was then traded to Boston for a 1980 first-round pick. Los Angeles received 116 Dantley games over two seasons and 135 Robisch games; Dantley was later traded to Utah for Spencer Haywood, while Robisch and a third-round pick went to Cleveland for Jim Chones. Dantley became a Hall of Fame scorer after leaving Los Angeles, but team-specific realized value favors Indiana's longer Edwards-centered return.

Detroit traded Marvin Barnes plus 1978 second- and fourth-round picks to Buffalo on November 23, 1977 for John Shumate, Gus Gerard and Buffalo's 1979 first-round pick. The authoritative Detroit, Buffalo and league ledgers specify a 1979 first, so this review removes the legacy 1979-or-1980 ambiguity. Shumate played 71 Pistons games across two active seasons, including 62 games at 15.5 points and 8.9 rebounds in 1977-78. Gerard played 49 Detroit games, and the first became No. 10 Roy Hamilton, who played 72 games for Detroit. Buffalo received 48 Barnes games before he became part of the large 1978 Boston package. The Braves also traded the incoming second-round pick to the Lakers for Tom Abernethy; when Abernethy signed with Golden State, San Diego received a 1979 second-round compensation pick. The fourth became No. 73 Larry Harris. Detroit's three incoming assets produced the stronger direct return.

Atlanta acquired Tom McMillen from New York on November 14, 1977 for the Hawks' 1978 second-round pick. The transaction ledgers agree on the one-for-one package, and the pick became No. 32 John Rudd. McMillen delivered 416 regular-season games for Atlanta across six seasons, averaging 8.5 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game during his Hawks tenure. Rudd played one NBA season, appearing in 58 games and totaling 184 points, 167 rebounds and 35 assists. Atlanta also retained downstream value: in July 1983, the Hawks traded McMillen with a 1984 second-round pick to Washington for Randy Wittman. Because another pick was included, that entire return cannot be assigned to McMillen alone. Even without that later branch, six seasons of rotation value for one second-round pick produced a clear Atlanta advantage.

San Antonio acquired Mike Green from Seattle on November 12, 1977 for 1978 and 1979 second-round picks. Green gave the Spurs 139 regular-season games across two seasons, averaging 7.5 points and 4.7 rebounds, then was traded to Kansas City for the 1980 second-round pick used on Michael Wiley. Wiley added 33 Spurs games. Seattle's 1978 pick became No. 42 Keven McDonald, who never played an NBA regular-season game. The 1979 pick has an unusual route: Basketball-Reference identifies it as the No. 40 Andrew Fields selection and shows Seattle sending that same future pick to Portland one day earlier in the Wally Walker trade. Fields was ultimately drafted by Portland and never played an NBA game. Seattle therefore received a pick that functioned as part of the Walker transaction chain rather than a retained draft asset. That indirect value matters, but San Antonio's 139 Green games plus the Wiley return give the Spurs the stronger realized outcome.

Seattle acquired Wally Walker from Portland on November 11, 1977 for a 1978 first-round pick and a 1979 second-rounder. Walker became a durable SuperSonics rotation forward, playing 350 regular-season games across five seasons and contributing to the 1979 NBA championship team. Portland used the first-rounder at No. 7 on Ron Brewer, who played 192 Trail Blazers games and averaged 13.3 points as a rookie and 15.7 in his second season. Portland then traded Brewer to San Antonio in December 1980 for Mike Gale and a 1982 first-round pick that became No. 18 Ricky Pierce, extending the asset branch beyond Brewer's direct tenure. The second-round pick became No. 40 Andrew Fields, who never played an NBA regular-season game. Walker's championship contribution keeps Seattle's return strong, but Portland received a productive lottery-level scorer and then recycled him into another first-round asset. The Blazers get the narrow hindsight edge.

New Jersey sent Al Skinner and two second-round picks to Detroit on November 7, 1977 for Howard Porter, Kevin Porter and cash. The Nets received strong immediate production: Howard Porter played 55 games at 12.8 points per game, while Kevin Porter played 74 at 16.2 points and a league-leading 10.8 assists in his New Jersey portion of the season. Kevin Porter was then traded back to Detroit for Eric Money, who gave the Nets 47 games at 16.7 points before another trade. Detroit's return proved more durable. Skinner played 69 Pistons games, and the 1978 second-rounder became No. 23 Terry Tyler, who played 574 Detroit games across seven seasons, made the 1979 All-Rookie team and became one of the league's better shot blockers. The 1979 second became Tony Price, who never played for Detroit. The Nets got real short-term value, but Tyler's seven-year Pistons tenure gives Detroit the stronger realized result.

Houston traded John Johnson to Seattle on October 22, 1977 for two second-round picks. Seattle received the overwhelming direct return: Johnson played 333 regular-season games across five SuperSonics seasons, scored 3,608 points and started all 82 games for the 1978-79 championship team. Houston's 1979 pick became No. 42 Paul Mokeski, who played 12 Rockets games before being traded to Detroit for a 1982 second-round pick. Houston later used that pick in the deal that brought Joe Bryant and No. 42 Jeff Taylor; Bryant and Taylor combined for 125 Rockets games, though the transaction also sent the pick itself to San Diego. The 1980 second-rounder became No. 43 Billy Williams, who never played an NBA regular-season game. Houston did create a useful downstream branch from Mokeski, but Seattle turned Johnson into five seasons of rotation value and a championship starter. The SuperSonics clearly earned the stronger realized outcome.

Chicago acquired Glenn Hansen from New Orleans on October 18, 1977 for the Bulls' 1978 fourth-round pick, which became No. 75 Jeff Covington. Hansen's Chicago stay was far smaller than the legacy grade suggested: he appeared in only two regular-season games, played four total minutes and went scoreless before his NBA career ended. New Orleans exercised the pick in the 1978 draft on Covington, but Covington never appeared in an NBA regular-season game. The transaction therefore produced almost no realized basketball value for either side. Chicago at least received two NBA appearances from Hansen, while the Jazz's draft asset reached selection but generated no NBA minutes. That supports only a tiny Bulls edge, not the previous B+/C+ framing. The source-backed grade is intentionally low because neither asset produced durable rotation value, a downstream trade return or a meaningful second asset cycle.

Buffalo traded Johnny Neumann to Indiana on October 18, 1977 for the 1978 third-round pick that became No. 48 Mike Santos. Basketball-Reference's Buffalo, Indiana and league ledgers, plus the Pacers' 1979 media guide, list only the draft pick. Pro Sports Transactions adds future considerations/cash, so this review preserves that term as source-specific and leaves the amount unspecified. Neumann played 20 regular-season games for Indiana, starting once and averaging 4.2 points in 10.8 minutes, before the Pacers waived him on December 22. Buffalo used the third-round pick on Santos, but Basketball-Reference records no NBA regular-season career for him. The Braves therefore received no realized on-court value from the draft outcome, although the unspecified consideration prevents the return from being treated as literally zero. Indiana gets the small edge because Neumann at least supplied 20 games; neither side created meaningful long-term value.

Atlanta acquired Tony Robertson from the Lakers on October 17, 1977 for a 1979 fourth-round pick that became No. 79 Ray White. Robertson gave the Hawks 63 regular-season games as a rookie, averaging 5.9 points, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 14.7 minutes. Atlanta waived him in September 1978, and he later signed with Golden State, so there was no downstream Hawks return after that season. The Lakers held the pick until the 1979 draft and selected White, but White never appeared in an NBA regular-season game. The transaction therefore produced modest but real rotation value for Atlanta and no realized NBA playing value for Los Angeles. Because the outgoing asset was only a future fourth-round pick, the Hawks did not sacrifice premium draft capital to get that season of production. The source-backed record favors Atlanta clearly, even though Robertson's tenure was short and the trade remained low stakes.

Cleveland traded Gary Brokaw to Buffalo on October 17, 1977 for future considerations. Cleveland, Buffalo and the league transaction record all preserve the return only as future considerations, and the historical Clippers/Buffalo media guide does the same, so this review leaves the asset unresolved instead of inventing cash or a draft pick. Brokaw played 13 regular-season games for the Braves, totaling 130 minutes and 54 points while averaging 4.2 points and 1.5 assists. Those were the final NBA games of his career. No reviewed source identifies what Cleveland ultimately received from the future-considerations clause, so the Cavaliers cannot be credited with a specific realized asset. Buffalo therefore gets only a narrow documented-value edge: it received a short reserve guard stint, while Cleveland's return remains real but untraceable. The verdict reflects only verified transaction terms and realized team value.

Denver acquired Bo Ellis from Washington on October 11, 1977 for the Nuggets' 1978 first-round pick, which became No. 18 Dave Corzine. Ellis gave Denver 168 regular-season games across three seasons, totaling 613 points and 482 rebounds while serving mostly as a reserve forward. Washington received the more durable long-term asset. Corzine played 137 regular-season games for the Bullets over two seasons, then was traded to San Antonio in September 1980 for 1981 and 1982 second-round picks that became Claude Gregory and Dwight Anderson. Corzine himself went on to a 13-year NBA career, though only his Washington tenure and the two-pick return belong to the Bullets' realized trade value. Denver received useful frontcourt depth, but Washington converted one future first into two seasons of center play plus two additional draft assets. The source-backed record therefore favors the Bullets without turning a serviceable Denver return into a failure.

Atlanta sent Buffalo's 1978 second-round pick to Portland on October 5, 1977 for Rich Laurel. The legacy archive entry also listed future considerations, but Portland, Atlanta, the league and Harry Glickman ledgers all show a one-for-one exchange, so this review removes the unsupported extra term. Atlanta released Laurel on November 28 before he played an NBA game for the Hawks; Milwaukee signed him four days later, and his entire NBA career lasted 10 games. Portland kept the pick through draft night and selected Keith Herron at No. 24, but Herron never played for the Trail Blazers. Atlanta claimed him on waivers from Portland on October 16, 1978, and he played 14 Hawks games before being waived the following September. Because that waiver claim was separate from the original trade, Atlanta's Herron games are not credited as the direct Laurel return. Portland gets a narrow edge for controlling a real second-round asset through the draft, but both original team-specific returns were limited.

Cleveland traded its 1981 and 1983 first-round picks to Philadelphia on October 3, 1977 for Terry Furlow. Furlow gave the Cavaliers 102 regular-season games across two seasons and was then traded to Atlanta for Butch Lee plus a 1983 first-round pick that eventually became No. 11 Derek Harper. Cleveland later packaged that Atlanta pick with Bill Robinzine and a 1986 first to Dallas, so Harper's career is not a Cavaliers return. Philadelphia converted Cleveland's 1981 first into Lionel Hollins, who played 190 regular-season games for the 76ers and started 81 games in 1981-82. The Cleveland 1983 first became the No. 3 pick and was sent with Caldwell Jones to Houston for Moses Malone. That pick cannot receive full credit for Malone because Jones was also outgoing, but it was premium currency in a championship-defining transaction. Philadelphia clearly won the realized asset cycle.

Atlanta traded longtime star Lou Hudson to the Lakers on September 30, 1977 for Ollie Johnson. Johnson gave the Hawks one full season, appearing in all 82 games and averaging 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20.8 minutes. Atlanta waived him on October 4, 1978, so the Hawks received no later trade return. Hudson was older at 33, but Los Angeles still received two productive seasons. He played all 82 games in 1977-78 and averaged 13.7 points on 49.7% shooting, then added 78 games at 9.8 points on 51.7% shooting in 1978-79. Hudson also appeared in nine Lakers playoff games across the two seasons. His 160-game Los Angeles tenure comfortably exceeded Johnson's one-year Atlanta return. The Hawks did get reliable rotation minutes from Johnson, but the Lakers acquired the more productive player for twice as long without surrendering a pick or additional asset.

Buffalo sold the player rights to Bird Averitt to New Jersey on September 16, 1977. The Buffalo and league transaction ledgers explicitly describe the move as a sale, confirming cash consideration even though no cited source states the amount. Averitt played 21 regular-season games for the Nets, averaging 8.3 points and 3.2 assists in 19.5 minutes before New Jersey waived him on December 12. The later twist belongs outside the original asset chain: Buffalo signed Averitt as a free agent on January 31, 1978, and he then played 34 games for the Braves, but that reacquisition was not part of the September sale. New Jersey therefore received a short but measurable rotation return, while Buffalo received cash of unknown amount. With no traceable downstream cash use, the Nets hold only a modest edge on documented realized basketball value rather than a decisive win.

Atlanta traded Bill Willoughby to Buffalo on September 13, 1977 for a 1978 second-round pick. Willoughby gave the Braves 56 regular-season games that year, averaging 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds in 19.3 minutes. Atlanta did not keep the pick until the draft. On October 5, 1977, the Hawks sent it to Portland for rookie guard Rich Laurel. Atlanta released Laurel on November 28 before he appeared in an NBA game for the Hawks; Milwaukee later signed him, and he played only 10 NBA games. Portland kept the second-rounder and used it at No. 24 on Keith Herron, whose NBA career lasted 124 games, but that production belongs to Portland and later teams rather than Atlanta because the Hawks had already moved the asset. Buffalo therefore received the only meaningful direct on-court value from the original trade, while Atlanta’s pick briefly functioned as trade currency but produced no Hawks games.

Buffalo traded Ernie DiGregorio to the Lakers on September 7, 1977 for future considerations. The legacy archive entry labeled that return as possible cash, but the Lakers, Braves, league and executive transaction ledgers all use only “future considerations,” so this review removes the unsupported cash characterization. DiGregorio played 25 regular-season games for Los Angeles, averaging 3.9 points and 2.8 assists in 13.3 minutes per game. The Lakers waived him on January 30, 1978, and Boston signed him as a free agent two days later. No cited ledger identifies what Buffalo ultimately received from the future-considerations clause, so that side remains unresolved rather than being scored as confirmed cash or a specific draft asset. Los Angeles at least received a half-season of reserve guard service, but the return was short-lived. The Lakers receive the modest edge on documented realized value, with medium confidence because Buffalo’s consideration outcome is still unidentified.

Indiana traded Don Buse to Phoenix for Ricky Sobers on September 6, 1977. Both guards produced real value, but Phoenix received the longer and more durable return. Sobers started all 160 games he played for Indiana across two seasons, averaging 18.2 points and 7.4 assists in 1977-78 and 17.3 points and 5.6 assists in 1978-79. He was then sent to Chicago as veteran-free-agent compensation after Indiana signed Mickey Johnson. Buse played 245 regular-season games for Phoenix across three seasons, starting 164 and earning All-Defensive First Team recognition in each season. In November 1980 Phoenix traded Buse back to Indiana for 1981 and 1982 second-round picks. The Suns later sent those two picks, plus a separate first-round swap concession, to Indiana for Dudley Bradley. Indiana got the better scorer for two years; Phoenix got three seasons of elite perimeter defense plus downstream draft value, giving the Suns a modest overall edge.

Buffalo traded John Gianelli to Milwaukee on September 2, 1977 for the Bucks' 1979 first-round pick. The legacy archive entry described the asset as a 1979-or-1980 first and also listed cash, but Buffalo, Milwaukee and the league transaction ledgers all specify a 1979 first and do not show cash; this review removes the unsupported cash term. Gianelli gave Milwaukee 164 regular-season games across two seasons, totaling 1,277 points, 917 rebounds and 352 assists. The Bucks later packaged Gianelli with the 1979 first-round pick used on Calvin Natt to acquire Harvey Catchings from New Jersey, so that downstream return cannot be credited to Gianelli alone. Buffalo did not keep Milwaukee's first until draft night. On November 23, 1977, the Braves sent the pick with Gus Gerard and John Shumate to Detroit for Marvin Barnes plus 1978 second- and fourth-round picks. Detroit ultimately used the 1979 selection at No. 10 on Roy Hamilton. Milwaukee gets the slight realized-value edge.

New Jersey traded Tiny Archibald to Buffalo on September 1, 1977 and received center George Johnson plus two first-round picks. The legacy archive entry had omitted Buffalo's 1978 first, so this review restores the missing asset from the Nets, Braves and league transaction ledgers. Johnson played 240 regular-season games for New Jersey across three seasons. The 1978 pick became the No. 4 slot later used on Michael Ray Richardson, but the Nets traded that pick with another 1979 first to New York for Phil Jackson and the No. 13 pick used on Winford Boynes; Jackson and Boynes combined for 208 Nets games. Buffalo's 1979 first became No. 11 Cliff Robinson, who played 133 Nets games before being traded for Otis Birdsong and a second-round pick. Archibald never played a regular-season game for Buffalo because an Achilles injury cost him all of 1977-78, and his rights were later included in a multi-asset trade to Boston. The realized return decisively favored the Nets.

Indiana sent Billy Knight to Buffalo on September 1, 1977 for Adrian Dantley and Mike Bantom. Knight gave the Braves immediate star production, averaging 22.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in 53 games and making the 1978 All-Star team. Indiana still extracted the larger team-specific return. Dantley played only 23 Pacers games, but averaged 26.5 points and 9.4 rebounds before being moved with Dave Robisch to the Lakers for James Edwards, Earl Tatum and cash. Bantom became the durable core of the deal, playing 240 regular-season games for Indiana across three seasons while averaging 15.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists over that span. Buffalo later included Knight in the large August 1978 Boston trade with Tiny Archibald, Marvin Barnes and two second-round picks, so the full return from that deal cannot be credited to Knight alone. Buffalo got an excellent season; Indiana got three years of Bantom plus a valuable Dantley downstream branch.

Portland acquired Tom Owens from Houston on August 10, 1977 for Robin Jones and cash. Basketball-Reference's Houston, Portland and league transaction ledgers list the player-for-player exchange without cash, while Pro Sports Transactions independently records cash moving to Houston; the amount is not specified. Owens became a major Trail Blazers contributor, playing 319 regular-season games across four seasons and totaling 4,437 points and 2,310 rebounds. Portland then traded him to Indiana in June 1981 for a 1984 first-round pick that became No. 2 Sam Bowie, who played 139 games for the Trail Blazers. Houston received only 12 regular-season games from Jones before waiving him on December 5, 1977. The unspecified cash provides some value but has no traceable downstream basketball conversion in the cited sources. Portland turned a reserve plus cash into four productive Owens seasons and a premium first-round asset, creating a decisive long-term return.

Phoenix traded Dale Schlueter to Portland on July 15, 1977 for a 1978 fourth-round pick that became No. 88 Wayne Smith. Phoenix's contemporary media guide adds a conditional term: if Schlueter remained on Portland's active roster on December 1, the Suns would receive a third-round pick instead. Pro Sports Transactions records that conditional third as not exercised, while Basketball-Reference lists only the fourth-round pick. Portland received limited but real NBA production. Schlueter appeared in 10 Trail Blazers games in 1977-78, totaling 109 minutes, before retiring on April 24, 1978. Phoenix used No. 88 on Smith, but Basketball-Reference records no NBA regular-season career for him. Neither side generated meaningful long-term value, and the conditional pick created no second asset. Portland gets the slight edge because Schlueter at least supplied 10 games; the overall return was small for both teams.

Chicago moved up from the 1977 No. 24 pick to No. 13 by sending Buffalo the second-round slot plus $150,000 in cash. Basketball-Reference confirms the pick-for-pick exchange, while Pro Sports Transactions supplies the cash component. The Bulls used No. 13 on Tate Armstrong, who played 92 games across two Chicago seasons and scored 350 points. Armstrong then retained downstream value in 1979 when Chicago sent him with cash to San Antonio as veteran-free-agent compensation for Coby Dietrick. Dietrick played 235 regular-season games for the Bulls across three seasons, although this review does not credit all of that return to Armstrong because cash was also part of the compensation. Buffalo used No. 24 on Larry Johnson, whose entire NBA career consisted of four Braves games, 38 minutes and six points. The Braves also received the documented $150,000, but the player outcome was minimal. Chicago gets the stronger realized return.

Houston traded John Johnson to Boston on June 9, 1977 for two second-round picks, then somehow kept the picks and regained Johnson's rights before the next season. The first pick became No. 34 Larry Moffett, who played 20 Rockets games. The second became No. 28 Buster Matheney, who never played an NBA game. On October 18, Boston sold Johnson's rights back to Houston while the Rockets retained both picks. Four days later Houston sent Johnson to Seattle for two more second-round picks. Those became No. 42 Paul Mokeski and No. 43 Billy Williams. Mokeski played 12 Houston games, then was traded for the 1982 second-round pick later used in a deal that brought Joe Bryant and Jeff Taylor to Houston; Bryant played 81 Rockets games and Taylor 44. Boston received no regular-season games from Johnson before selling his rights back for undisclosed cash. The full chain strongly favors Houston.

The legacy archive entry is dated June 9, 1977, but Buffalo, Los Angeles and the league transaction ledgers all place the deal on June 10. The Braves sent a 1977 third-round pick to the Lakers for Johnny Neumann. Los Angeles used the pick at No. 46 on James Edwards, who immediately played 25 Lakers games at 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. In December, the Lakers packaged Edwards with Earl Tatum and cash for Adrian Dantley and Dave Robisch; Dantley then played 116 regular-season games for Los Angeles across the next two seasons, though that full downstream value cannot be assigned to Edwards alone. Buffalo received no post-trade regular-season games from Neumann. The Braves moved him to Indiana in October for a 1978 third-round pick that became No. 48 Mike Santos, who never played an NBA regular-season game. The realized value strongly favors the Lakers.

This June 7, 1977 Cleveland-Buffalo record is not a supported NBA transaction. The legacy archive record says Cleveland sent Jim Cleamons to Buffalo for John Gianelli and a 1977 first-round pick, but the Cavaliers, Braves and league transaction ledgers record no such exchange. Cleamons remained a Cleveland player until October 10, 1977, when he signed with New York as a veteran free agent and the Cavaliers received Walt Frazier as compensation. Gianelli likewise remained with Buffalo until September 2, 1977, when the Braves traded him to Milwaukee for a 1979 first-round pick that became Roy Hamilton. Cleveland's 1977 draft history contains no first-round selection; its first pick was No. 33 Eddie Jordan in round two. Buffalo's documented June 7 move was its separate first-round-pick exchange with Milwaukee. The legacy Cleamons-Gianelli-pick record is therefore retained only as provenance and receives no winner or grades.

Buffalo moved the 1977 No. 3 pick to Milwaukee on June 7, 1977 for Swen Nater and the first-round pick that would land at No. 13. The Bucks used No. 3 on Marques Johnson, who played 524 regular-season games for Milwaukee across seven seasons, made four All-Star teams and earned three All-NBA selections before retaining major trade value in the 1984 package for Terry Cummings, Craig Hodges and Ricky Pierce. Buffalo also received substantial value. Nater played 78 games for the Braves and 348 more after the franchise moved to San Diego, giving the franchise 426 games of elite rebounding production before he was included with Byron Scott in the 1983 Norm Nixon trade. Buffalo did not keep the No. 13 pick: three days after this deal it sent that pick to Chicago for No. 24 Larry Johnson, whose NBA career lasted four Braves games. Milwaukee still owns the stronger peak and long-term return, but Buffalo's Nater branch makes this far better than a lopsided loss.

Los Angeles traded Lucius Allen to Kansas City on June 1, 1977 for Ollie Johnson plus the Kings' 1978 first- and second-round picks. The Lakers never used the first-rounder on Purvis Short themselves: six weeks later they sent that pick and cash to Golden State as veteran-free-agent compensation for Jamaal Wilkes. Wilkes became a core Lakers scorer on the 1980 and 1982 championship teams. Johnson also became a downstream asset before playing for Los Angeles, going to Atlanta for Lou Hudson, who gave the Lakers 160 games and 1,891 points across two seasons. The second-round pick became No. 26 Ron Carter, who played 46 Lakers games. Kansas City received useful immediate production from Allen, who played 108 games across two seasons and averaged 11.9 points and 4.7 assists in 1977-78, but his NBA career ended after 1978-79. The Lakers' three-branch return produced far more lasting value.

Denver sent Tom Burleson and a 1977 second-round pick to Kansas City on May 25, 1977 for Brian Taylor and the 1977 first-round pick that became No. 9 Tom LaGarde. Taylor gave Denver 39 games and an All-Defensive Second Team season before his 1979 veteran-free-agent departure returned two second-round compensation picks; one became Gary Garland, who played 78 games for the Nuggets. LaGarde played 77 Denver games, then was traded to Seattle for the 1978 first-round pick used on Rod Griffin, who never played an NBA regular-season game. Kansas City received 169 games from Burleson and later received a 1981 second-round compensation pick when he signed with Atlanta. That pick became No. 29 Eddie Johnson, who played 483 games and scored 9,027 points for the Kings franchise through 1986-87. The second-round-pick side has conflicting historical ownership ledgers, so this review does not credit Kansas City with Steve Sheppard's Chicago career. Kansas City still wins on realized value.

Denver and Seattle completed a six-asset trade on May 24, 1977. The Nuggets received Tom Burleson, Bob Wilkerson and the 1977 second-round pick that became No. 30 Steve Sheppard; Seattle received Paul Silas, Marvin Webster and Willie Wise. Denver quickly recycled two incoming assets, sending Burleson and the Sheppard pick to Kansas City the next day for Brian Taylor and the No. 9 pick used on Tom LaGarde. Wilkerson then played 236 regular-season games for Denver across three seasons. Seattle's side had the higher peak. Silas played all 82 games in three consecutive seasons and was part of the 1979 championship team. Webster played all 82 games in 1977-78 and 22 playoff games during Seattle's run to the NBA Finals, then his 1978 free-agent departure triggered an arranged compensation exchange that brought Lonnie Shelton and the 1979 first-round pick used on Vinnie Johnson. Seattle gets the stronger hindsight grade.

Phoenix acquired Bayard Forrest's rights from Seattle on March 18, 1977 for the Suns' 1979 second-round pick, with Pro Sports Transactions also recording cash going to Seattle. Forrest remained unsigned for the rest of 1976-77, then played 139 regular-season games for Phoenix across the next two seasons, totaling 569 points and 565 rebounds before a back injury wiped out 1979-80 and ended his NBA career. Seattle did not use the incoming pick itself. The No. 42 selection eventually became Paul Mokeski after the SuperSonics bundled that pick with a 1980 second-rounder to Houston for John Johnson in October 1977. Johnson then played 333 regular-season games for Seattle, including all 82 games as a starter on the 1979 championship team. Because the Forrest-derived pick was only one component of the Johnson package, Seattle receives partial downstream credit rather than Johnson's full value. That still gives Seattle the stronger realized result.

The Nets sent John Williamson to Indiana on February 1, 1977 for the Pacers' 1977 first-round pick and a player to be named later, identified as Darnell Hillman when the deal was completed in April. The pick became No. 7 Bernard King. King was immediately an elite scorer for New Jersey, averaging 24.2 points and 9.5 rebounds as a rookie and 21.6 points the next season. Hillman later added 45 Nets games at 13.1 points and 7.5 rebounds. Indiana also received real value. Williamson averaged 20.7 points in 30 games that season and 19.1 in 42 games the next year before the Pacers traded him back to New Jersey for Bob Carrington plus 1980 and 1981 second-round picks. The 1980 pick became Louis Orr, who played 162 useful Pacers games. New Jersey still owns the stronger peak-value return because King became a top-line scorer, but Indiana's downstream branch makes this far closer than a one-sided loss.

Buffalo sold the player rights to Claude Terry to Atlanta on February 1, 1977. Basketball-Reference's Braves, Hawks and league transaction ledgers all record the move as a rights sale, while Atlanta's canonical import represents the return as cash. The amount is not specified in the primary ledgers used for this review. Terry played 12 games for Atlanta after the transaction, averaging 9.3 points in 20.1 minutes while shooting 54.0 percent. He returned for 27 more games in 1977-78, giving the Hawks 39 regular-season appearances and 171 points across two seasons before his NBA career ended. Buffalo therefore received financial consideration for a player it had used in only 33 games, while Atlanta obtained modest but real rotation production without surrendering a player or draft pick. The Hawks earn a slight realized-value edge, but the limited tenure and unknown cash amount keep the grades close.

The New York Nets acquired Mike Bantom from Seattle on January 27, 1977 for the Nets' 1979 fourth-round pick plus cash, according to the Nets' own media guide. That pick became No. 73 James Donaldson. Basketball-Reference encodes the draft-asset side as New York selling Donaldson's rights to Seattle, while RealGM independently records Bantom joining the Nets that day. Bantom gave New York an excellent 33-game stretch, scoring 614 points and grabbing 285 rebounds, but he left as a veteran free agent after the season. Seattle waited for the pick to convey, then received three NBA seasons from Donaldson: 232 regular-season games from 1980-81 through 1982-83, including consecutive 82-game seasons. Donaldson also retained trade value when Seattle included him in the 1983 Tom Chambers package. The Sonics therefore earn the stronger long-term result, although Bantom's immediate production keeps New York's return useful.

Atlanta and Washington exchanged starting-caliber players and 1977 first-round picks on January 20, 1977. The Hawks received Truck Robinson and the pick that became No. 14 Tree Rollins; the Bullets received Tom Henderson and the pick that became No. 4 Greg Ballard. Robinson was immediately excellent for Atlanta, averaging 22.4 points and 12.8 rebounds in 36 games, while Rollins became a long-term Hawks center, later leading the NBA in blocks and earning two All-Defensive selections. Washington's return was just as durable and carried championship value. Henderson played 186 regular-season games for the Bullets, including their 1978 title season, and Ballard played 643 Washington games across eight seasons after joining that championship roster as a rookie. Henderson's 1979 free-agent departure also returned a 1980 first-round pick as compensation. Washington gets a narrow hindsight edge because both incoming assets contributed to a championship core and produced another first-round asset.

Buffalo traded its 1977 first-round pick to Golden State on January 18, 1977 for center George Johnson. The pick landed at No. 18 and became Wesley Cox, who played 74 games across two Warriors seasons while averaging 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds. Johnson immediately started all 39 of his games for Buffalo after the trade and averaged 7.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. The Braves then used Johnson as one component of the September 1977 package that acquired Tiny Archibald from the Nets, along with 1978 and 1979 first-round picks. Because Johnson supplied stronger direct production and retained meaningful trade utility, Buffalo's franchise received the better realized return. Golden State did convert the pick into an NBA player, which keeps the Warriors' side from being empty, but Cox's two-year role was limited.

Cleveland acquired Elmore Smith and Gary Brokaw from Milwaukee on January 13, 1977 for Rowland Garrett plus the Cavaliers' 1977 and 1978 first-round picks. Smith became the centerpiece of Cleveland's return, playing 141 regular-season games across three seasons and averaging 10.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks for the Cavaliers. Brokaw added 39 games before Cleveland moved him for future considerations. Milwaukee received only 33 games from Garrett, but the two first-rounders became Ernie Grunfeld at No. 11 in 1977 and George Johnson at No. 12 in 1978. Grunfeld played 155 games for Milwaukee over two seasons before being traded, while Johnson added 67 games as a rookie before the Bucks sold his rights. The two useful first-round outcomes give Milwaukee the stronger realized package, but Smith's multi-year Cleveland production keeps the gap moderate.

Houston traded Dave Wohl to the New York Nets on January 8, 1977 for the Nets' 1978 fourth-round pick. Basketball-Reference's Houston, Nets, league and executive ledgers all place the transaction on January 8, correcting the canonical record's prior January 7 date. Wohl played 37 games for the Nets after the trade, averaging 7.4 points and 3.4 assists, then returned for 10 games in 1977-78 before being waived in November. Houston used the No. 67 pick on Jackie Robinson in the 1978 draft, but the Rockets waived Robinson on October 11, 1978 before he made his NBA debut. Robinson later played 22 NBA games for other teams, so that production is not credited to Houston. The Nets therefore received the only direct NBA production created by the transaction, giving Brooklyn's franchise the modest hindsight edge.