1990 NBA Trades

Seattle received Eddie Johnson (Lee); 1991 first round pick (#22-LeRon Ellis); 1993 or 1994 first round pick (1994 #6-Sharone Wright) and sent Xavier McDaniel. Seattle finished with the modest hindsight edge.

Minnesota acquired Bob Thornton while sending out 1991 second round pick (#44-Alvaro Teheran) in the 1990-11-10 transaction with 76ers.

Orlando traded Sidney Green to San Antonio for Mark McNamara and a 1991 first-round pick.

On October 30, 1990, Sacramento Kings acquired Steve Colter from Baltimore Bullets in exchange for Byron Irvin.

Philadelphia acquired Phoenix's draft rights to 1990 first-rounder Jayson Williams on October 28, 1990 for a future first-round pick that ultimately became the No. 6 selection in 1994. Williams gave the 76ers 102 regular-season games across two seasons, mostly as a reserve, before Philadelphia traded him to New Jersey for two second-round picks. Phoenix never used the eventual No. 6 pick itself, but only forty days after acquiring it the Suns packaged that first with Eddie Johnson and another first for Xavier McDaniel. The stronger realized asset value sits with Phoenix.

Denver acquired Avery Johnson from Seattle SuperSonics for 1997 conditional second-round pick (not exercised?).

Chicago sent Jeff Sanders to Miami for a conditional future second-round pick that did not convey.

Denver acquired Anthony Cook from Detroit Pistons for 1995 second-round pick (#44-Anthony Pelle).

Phoenix traded guard Mike Morrison to Washington on September 28, 1990 for a conditional 1993 second-round pick. The condition never triggered. Washington waived Morrison on October 22 before the regular season, so he played no Bullets games, and Basketball-Reference records that the 1993 pick did not convey to Phoenix. Morrison's only NBA season had already occurred with the Suns in 1989-90. In hindsight, Washington received only a training-camp look and Phoenix received no realized draft asset. With neither franchise generating regular-season value from the exchange, the source-backed result is an Even Trade rather than the legacy slight Washington edge.

Houston acquired Kenny Smith and Roy Marble from Atlanta for John Lucas, Tim McCormick and a future first-round pick. Smith became Houston’s starting point guard and an important floor spacer on consecutive championship teams.

Los Angeles acquired Terry Teagle from Golden State on September 25, 1990, surrendering its 1991 first-round draft pick, eventually No. 25 Shaun Vandiver. Teagle appeared in 164 regular-season Lakers games over two seasons and scored 1,695 points, plus postseason minutes during their 1991 Finals appearance. Vandiver never played an NBA regular-season game for the Warriors. Lakers Win, Lakers B+, Warriors D.

Denver acquired Orlando Woolridge from Los Angeles Lakers for 1993 second-round pick (outcome unknown); 1995 second-round pick (outcome unknown).

Denver acquired rights to Terry Mills from Milwaukee Bucks for Danny Schayes.

The realized-value outcome ultimately favored Warriors. The Warriors acquired 1991 first round pick (#16-Chris Gatling) from Philadelphia 76ers for Manute Bol.

Milwaukee acquired Frank Brickowski while sending out Paul Pressey in the 1990-08-01 transaction with Spurs.

On August 1, 1990, Portland acquired Danny Ainge from Sacramento Kings in exchange for Byron Irvin; 1991 first round pick (#27-Pete Chilcutt); 1992 second round pick (#54-Brett Roberts); cash.

Atlanta exchanged 1990 draft positions with Golden State: the Hawks acquired the No. 10 selection used on Rumeal Robinson plus two second-round selections, while the Warriors received No. 11 Tyrone Hill and No. 28 Les Jepsen. Hill became the more productive NBA player, although much of his later career occurred away from Golden State. The inherited Warriors Win B+ versus Hawks C- follows the stronger player outcome.

Atlanta acquired John Lucas Jr., Tim McCormick, and the 1994 first-round pick that became Charlie Ward from Houston for Kenny Smith, Roy Marble, and future considerations.

Cleveland exchanged rights to Stefano Rusconi for rights to Miloš Babić, with broadly comparable realized returns.

Houston Rockets received the draft rights to Dave Jamerson and Carl Herrera from Miami for the draft rights to Alec Kessler. Houston wins the completed-value comparison because Herrera became a four-season rotation forward on both Rockets championship teams while Jamerson added two seasons of reserve minutes; Kessler gave Miami four seasons but did not match the combined Houston return.

Miami came out ahead in the 1990-06-27 transaction with Sacramento Kings, receiving rights to Bimbo Coles for Rory Sparrow.

On June 27, 1990, Orlando delivered second-round picks for 1993 and 1995 to Seattle in exchange for the SuperSonics agreeing not to take Dennis Scott with the No. 2 pick. Seattle selected Gary Payton, while Orlando got Scott at No. 4. The consideration was Seattle's draft-day promise, not a direct trade of Scott's NBA contract or rights. The picks later resolved to No. 42 Adonis Jordan and No. 55 Michael McDonald, with the latter pick subsequently traded onward. Magic Win: Orlando A, Seattle C+.

The Nets acquired 1990 first-round pick (#22, Tate George); 1991 second-round pick (#53, Von McDade); 1992 second-round pick (most favorable of Bulls picks) (#29, P.J. Brown) from Bulls in exchange for Dennis Hopson.

Dallas received Rodney McCray; 1990 second-round pick (#49-Phil Henderson); 1991 second-round pick (#35-Mike Iuzzolino) from Sacramento Kings and sent Bill Wennington; 1990 first-round pick (#14-Travis Mays); 1990 first-round pick (#18-Duane Causwell) in return.

The Nets acquired Reggie Theus from Magic in exchange for 1993 second-round pick (#42, Adonis Jordan); 1995 second-round pick (#38, Rashard Griffith).

Minnesota acquired Scott Brooks while sending out 1990 second round pick (#32-Brian Oliver) in the 1990-06-25 transaction with 76ers.

Denver received 1990 first-round pick (#3-Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) from Miami Heat, sending 1990 first-round pick (#9-Willie Burton); 1990 first-round pick (#15-Dave Jamerson) in return.

Dallas received Lafayette Lever from Denver Nuggets and sent 1990 first-round pick (#9-Willie Burton); 1991 first-round pick (#19-LaBradford Smith) in return.

Charlotte acquired 1991 second round pick (#39-Jimmy Oliver) from New York Knicks for Stuart Gray.

Charlotte acquired Randolph Keys from Cleveland Cavaliers for 1991 second round pick (#39-Jimmy Oliver).

Golden State acquired 1990 second round pick (#34-Kevin Pritchard); 1992 second round pick (#43-Sasha Danilovic) from Los Angeles Clippers for Winston Garland.

On February 22, 1990, Golden State acquired Chris Welp from San Antonio for Uwe Blab. Welp contributed 14 Warriors games, 142 minutes and 50 points; Blab played seven Spurs games, 50 minutes and scored 15. Slight Warriors Edge: Golden State C+, San Antonio C.

Minnesota traded veteran center Steve Johnson to Seattle for forward Brad Sellers on February 22, 1990. Sellers played only 14 Timberwolves games, 113 minutes and 47 points in the remainder of 1989-90; Johnson gave Seattle 21 games, 242 minutes and 117 points. The imported reference to a 1991 conditional second is not supported as a conveyed pick in either contemporaneous team ledger. SuperSonics Win narrowly, Seattle C+, Minnesota D+.

The Nets acquired Chris Dudley from Cavaliers in exchange for 1991 second-round pick (#51, Zan Tabak); 1993 second-round pick (#46, Richard Petruska); cash.

Cleveland acquired Derrick Chievous for 1991 second round pick (#51-Zan Tabak), 1992 second round pick (#53-Curtis Blair) and 2 additional assets, but the outgoing package produced a modestly stronger realized return.

Denver acquired Joe Barry Carroll from the New Jersey Nets for Michael Cutright.

Houston found championship-level value in a minimal cash transaction.

New York acquired Maurice Cheeks from Spurs for Rod Strickland. The partner captured substantially more realized value than New York.

In February 1990, Atlanta acquired guards Kenny Smith and Mike Williams from Sacramento for Antoine Carr, Sedric Toney and a second-round pick. Smith supplied the Hawks with another skilled ball handler during a short tenure, but Sacramento received a useful veteran big man in Carr. The Hawks' inherited B+ and Kings' C reflect Atlanta's preference for guard talent and short-term roster flexibility.

Milwaukee Bucks received Brad Lohaus; Timberwolves' option to swap 1991 or 1992 second round picks with Bucks (1992 #36-Duane Cooper). Minnesota Timberwolves received Randy Breuer; Timberwolves' option to swap 1991 or 1992 second round picks with Bucks (1992 #34-Chris Smith (G.)).