1997 NBA Trades

The trade finished close, with a slight edge to 76ers: Detroit received Jerry Stackhouse, Eric Montross, 2003-2005 (76ers option) second round pick (2005 #60-Alex Acker) and sent Theo Ratliff, Aaron McKie, conditional first round pick (2003 #25-Carlos Delfino).

Philadelphia sent Marko Milič to Phoenix for Tom Chambers on November 21, 1997. Chambers played one ten-minute game and scored six points for the 76ers; Milič played 44 games and 216 minutes for the Suns. Suns Win, Phoenix C+ and Philadelphia D+.

Charlotte acquired B.J. Armstrong from Golden State Warriors for Muggsy Bogues; Tony Delk.

Golden State sent B.J. Armstrong to Charlotte on November 7, 1997 for guards Muggsy Bogues and Tony Delk. Bogues played 59 Warriors games with 31 starts in 1997-98, averaging 5.5 assists, while Delk appeared in 74 games and averaged 10.4 points. Armstrong contributed to the Hornets backcourt, but Golden State received two playable guards in the exchange. Warriors Win, Golden State A-, Charlotte B-.

Grizzlies Win. Boston Celtics earns C+; Memphis Grizzlies earns B+. Vancouver acquired a veteran frontcourt option along with another draft opportunity, while Boston took

Houston traded perimeter shooter Sam Mack to Vancouver on October 28, 1997, for a conditional 1999 or 2000 second-round draft pick. Mack started 54 of 57 Grizzlies games in 1997-98 and 15 more in the shortened 1998-99 season, totaling 76 appearances and 858 points. Houston later included the incoming pick in the January 1999 Scottie Pippen trade with Chicago; the Bulls ultimately used No. 33 on Jake Voskuhl. Grizzlies Win, B+ versus Houston B-, with real contributions on both sides.

Golden State realized the stronger long-term return. The Warriors acquired Brian Shaw; David Vaughn (III) from Orlando Magic for Mark Price.

Boston acquired Walter McCarty and three other players from New York in October 1997, with the Knicks getting Chris Mills and two future second-round rights. McCarty became a longtime Celtics contributor. The inherited Even Trade grades both clubs B+.

Cleveland acquired Greg Graham for Sherman Douglas, 2000 second round pick (#37-Eddie House) and other considerations (details unresolved), but the outgoing package produced a modestly stronger realized return.

New York acquired center Chris Dudley and a lottery-protected first-round pick in a 1997 three-team exchange. Portland gained a 1998 first-round right linked to Bryce Drew, while Toronto received forward John Wallace. The Knicks' added size and future first-round flexibility underpin the inherited Knicks Win: New York B+, Portland C and Toronto C-.

Slight Nuggets Edge. Denver’s edge comes from asset depth. Bowen and Elson became NBA players, and Graham was quickly used in another trade that brought Sherman Douglas and an additional second-round pick. Multiple pieces therefore remained useful beyond the initial transaction. Seattle still got what it wanted: Ellis returned as an experienced perimeter scorer and contributed for two seasons. He was later included in the 1999 trade with Orlando that brought Horace Grant, so his value did not simply expire at the end of his second Seattle stint.

Cleveland acquired Wesley Person and Tony Dumas for 2000 or later first round pick (originally lottery protected, removed in a subsequent trade) (2005 #13-Sean May); the completed outcomes give the Cavaliers a modest realized-value edge.

Hawks Win. Atlanta Hawks earns B; Denver Nuggets earns C+. Atlanta converted one center into rights to a different big man and an eventual second-round prospect opportuni

Cleveland acquired Shawn Kemp and Sherman Douglas in the September 25, 1997 three-team deal, Seattle replaced Kemp with Vin Baker, and Milwaukee received Terrell Brandon, Tyrone Hill and a 1998 first-round pick that became Pat Garrity. Kemp remained an All-Star-level scorer in Cleveland and Baker made the 1998 All-Star and All-NBA teams for a 61-win Seattle club. Milwaukee's return had the strongest downstream value because Brandon and Hill later helped bring back Sam Cassell, Tim Thomas and Scott Williams. The trade worked for all three teams, with Milwaukee holding the narrow long-term edge.

Dallas received Dennis Scott; cash from Orlando Magic and sent Derek Harper; Ed O'Bannon; cash in return.

Chicago received Scott Burrell for Dickey Simpkins and finished with a modest realized-value edge.

On September 22, 1997, Chicago traded reserve forward Dickey Simpkins to Golden State for Scott Burrell. Burrell appeared in 80 regular-season games and all 21 Bulls playoff games during the 1997-98 championship run. Simpkins played 19 Warriors games before Golden State waived him in February, and he later re-signed with Chicago. Bulls Win, Chicago B+, Golden State D+.

Nuggets Win. Boston Celtics earns C-; Denver Nuggets earns B+. The Nuggets acquired a current NBA forward and Boston received a pair of future options. Williams offered t

Golden State surrendered the more valuable outcome. The Warriors acquired Erick Dampier; Duane Ferrell from Indiana Pacers for Chris Mullin.

Sacramento Kings held the better side in the 1997-08-12 transaction with Miami, which received Duane Causwell for Gary Grant; Matt Fish; 1999 conditional second-round pick (outcome unknown); future considerations (details unresolved) (not per P).

Detroit came out slightly ahead, acquiring conditional first round pick (#2 – #18) between 1998 and 2003 (Grizzlies choice) (2003 #2-Darko Milicic) for Otis Thorpe.

The New Jersey Nets acquired Keith Van Horn's draft rights, Michael Cage, Don MacLean and Lucious Harris from Philadelphia in June 1997, sending Jim Jackson, Eric Montross and the rights to Tim Thomas and Anthony Parker to the 76ers. Van Horn became a prominent Nets scorer, giving the inherited Nets Win a B against Philadelphia's C+.

Dallas received draft rights to Chris Anstey; cash from Portland Trail Blazers and sent draft rights to Kelvin Cato in return.

Denver received Johnny Newman; Joe Wolf; rights to Danny Fortson from Milwaukee Bucks, sending Ervin Johnson in return.

Denver acquired rights to Bobby Jackson from Seattle SuperSonics for James Cotton; 1998 second-round pick (#32-Rashard Lewis).

Denver acquired rights to Eric Washington; 1999 second-round pick (#55-Kris Clack) from Orlando Magic for rights to Jason Lawson.

On June 25, 1997, Minnesota acquired center Stanley Roberts from the Clippers in exchange for Stojko Vranković. Roberts played 74 Timberwolves regular-season games during 1997-98, with 44 starts, 1,328 minutes, 457 points, 363 rebounds and 72 blocks; he also appeared in one playoff game. Vranković played 65 Clippers regular-season games in 1997-98 plus two more in 1998-99, totaling 1,008 minutes and 197 points. Wolves Win, Minnesota B, Clippers C.

The Clippers acquired 1997 No. 36 draft rights to James Collins from Philadelphia for a 1998 second-round pick. Collins played 23 Los Angeles games and 103 minutes in 1997-98, scoring 59 points. The 76ers sent the incoming 1998 selection to Seattle on January 18, 1998 for Eric Snow, who became a long-serving defensive point guard on Philadelphia's 2001 Finals team. Philadelphia Win, A versus Clippers C; No. 33 Jelani McCoy was drafted by Seattle, not Philadelphia.

Vancouver selected guard C.J. Bruton in the 1997 draft and sold his rights to Portland for cash on June 25. Bruton enjoyed a long Australian basketball career but never played an NBA regular-season game for the Trail Blazers. Vancouver obtained financial compensation and surrendered no actual NBA rotation player. Grizzlies Win narrowly, Vancouver C+ and Portland D+; the modern Memphis ID represents the Vancouver franchise.

Miami and Boston Celtics produced broadly comparable realized value in the 1997-05-27 exchange: 1997 second-round pick (#30-Mark Sanford); Celtics' right to sign Heat director of player personnel Chris Wallace as general manager for 1997 second-round pick (#55-Ben Pepper); Celtics' right to sign Heat director of player personnel Chris Wallace as general manager.

The Nets acquired Joe Kleine; 1997 first-round pick (#21, Anthony Parker); conditional second-round pick (not exercised) from Lakers in exchange for George McCloud.

Charlotte acquired Donald Royal from Golden State Warriors for Scott Burrell.

Charlotte acquired Ricky Pierce from Denver Nuggets for Anthony Goldwire; George Zidek.

Pacers Win. Jackson immediately restored the organizing guard Indiana needed. He remained a major part of the Reggie Miller-era core that reached repeated Eastern Conference finals and the 2000 NBA Finals. Denver received veteran depth and two second-round picks, but none of those pieces created a comparable multi-year team result. The return was functional rather than franchise-shaping.

Denver acquired Jerome Allen from Indiana Pacers for Darvin Ham.

On February 20, 1997, Charlotte sent Scott Burrell to Golden State for Donald Royal. Burrell played 29 Warriors games that spring, totaling 457 minutes and 143 points. Royal played 25 Hornets games in 1996-97 and 29 more in 1997-98, totaling 625 minutes and 144 points for Charlotte. Golden State subsequently traded Burrell to Chicago for Dickey Simpkins in September 1997, but that separate move produced only 19 Simpkins Warriors games. Even Trade, both C+.

Milwaukee acquired Shawn Respert while sending out Acie Earl in the 1997-02-20 transaction with Raptors.

The Nets acquired Sam Cassell; Chris Gatling; Jim Jackson; George McCloud; Eric Montross from Mavericks in exchange for Shawn Bradley; Ed O'Bannon; Robert Pack; Khalid Reeves.

Miami acquired Jamal Mashburn for Kurt Thomas, Sasha Danilovic and Martin Muursepp, adding the large scoring wing that helped the Heat reach the 1997 conference finals and win three division titles. Dallas found a legitimate long-term player in Thomas but moved him before realizing most of that value.

Detroit acquired Aaron McKie; Randolph Childress; Reggie Jordan from Portland Trail Blazers for Stacey Augmon.

Los Angeles acquired Robert Horry and Joe Kleine from Phoenix on January 10, 1997 for Cedric Ceballos and Rumeal Robinson. Ceballos gave the Suns immediate scoring, averaging 15.3 points in 42 games after the trade, but his second Phoenix stint lasted only into the following season. Horry became a long-term Lakers role player and a member of the 2000, 2001 and 2002 championship teams. His postseason role included one of the defining shots of the 2002 Western Conference finals. The enduring playoff value makes this a clear Lakers win despite useful short-term Phoenix production.