2003 NBA Trades

New York sent Clarence Weatherspoon to Houston on December 30, 2003 for guards Moochie Norris and John Amaechi. Norris played 36 Knicks games in 2003-04 and 32 in 2004-05, providing reserve point-guard minutes. Amaechi never became a meaningful Knicks contributor. Weatherspoon supplied Houston with frontcourt depth across parts of two seasons. Even Trade, C+ each; the old Knicks A grade overstated two incoming reserve contracts.

Orlando acquired forward-center Robert Archibald from Phoenix on December 26, 2003, for a conditional 2005 second-round choice that never conveyed. Archibald played one Magic game, scoring two points in four minutes, before Orlando moved him to Toronto in a separate January 2, 2004, transaction including a second-round draft-pick swap. Magic Win on low stakes, Orlando C+, Phoenix D+; the inherited Magic B grade exaggerated his immediate playing impact.

Orlando acquired 2004 second round pick (#36-Antonio Burks) from Phoenix Suns for Donnell Harvey.

Orlando acquired Monty Williams; conditional second round pick (2004 #42-Viktor Sanikidze); plus 1 additional asset from Philadelphia 76ers for 2004 conditional second round pick (not exercised); $1M trade exception; plus 1 additional asset.

Boston acquired Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm, Michael Stewart and a second-round selection from Cleveland for Eric Williams, Tony Battie and Kedrick Brown on December 15, 2003. Davis became a useful Celtics scorer and the pick turned into Ryan Gomes. Boston earned the stronger direct return from the four incoming assets.

Chicago exchanged Roger Mason Jr. for Rick Brunson in a transaction with broadly comparable realized value.

Memphis gained a modest hindsight edge over Portland Trail Blazers, receiving Bonzi Wells for Wesley Person; first-round pick (protected top 3 in 2004, top 1 in 2005) (2004 #23-Sergei Monia); cash.

Chicago sent Jalen Rose, Donyell Marshall, Lonny Baxter for Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams, Chris Jefferies, and the outgoing package produced materially greater realized value.

On November 5, 2003, the Phoenix Suns acquired Jahidi White from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Brevin Knight.

On October 20, 2003, Boston sent Antoine Walker and Tony Delk to Dallas in a five-player-plus-pick transaction, receiving Raef LaFrentz, Jiří Welsch, Chris Mills and a 2004 first-round pick later used at No. 24 on Delonte West. Walker and Delk supplied Dallas roster flexibility and veteran offense, while Boston absorbed LaFrentz's contract but gained West as a useful young guard. Mavericks Win, Dallas B, Boston B-; the first-round right and LaFrentz obligation make the deal more balanced than a simple Walker-for-nothing narrative.

The realized outcome leaned slightly toward Utah Jazz: Houston received John Amaechi; 2004 second-round pick (#55-Luis Flores); $6.5M trade exception from Utah Jazz for Glen Rice (Sr.); 2004 first-round pick (#21-Pavel Podkolzine) and additional assets.

Memphis and Phoenix Suns produced broadly comparable realized returns in the exchange of Brevin Knight; Robert Archibald; Cezary Trybanski for Bo Outlaw (Charles Outlaw); Jake Tsakalidis.

Los Angeles acquired Predrag (Peja) Drobnjak from Seattle on September 28, 2003, for a 2004 second-round selection. Drobnjak gave the Clippers 61 games, 949 minutes and 382 points in 2003-04. Seattle used pick No. 35 on Andre Emmett, then traded his rights for the pick later used on Mickaël Gelabale, who played 109 Seattle games. Even Trade, both C+.

Detroit won the deal, acquiring Lindsey Hunter for Michael Curry.

Detroit gave up slightly more value, sending Clifford Robinson, Juan Sanchez for Bob Sura.

Dallas received Antawn Jamison; Danny Forston; Chris Mills; Jiri Welsch from Golden State Warriors and sent Nick Van Exel; Avery Johnson; Ronald Jones; Antoine Rigaudeau; Evan Eschmeyer in return.

On August 5, 2003, Sacramento Kings acquired 2004 second round pick (#48-Ricky Minard) from Utah Jazz in exchange for Keon Clark; 2004 second round pick (#55-Luis Flores); 2006 or 2007 second round pick (2007 #39-Stanko Barac).

Boston acquired Jumaine Jones from Cleveland in July 2003 for J.R. Bremer, Bruno Šundov and a future second-round selection. Jones offered veteran forward depth, while Cleveland gained guard and center options plus the pick later linked to No. 50 Ryan Gomes. The inherited slight Celtics edge gives Boston B- and Cleveland C+.

Minnesota converted Terrell Brandon and Marc Jackson into Latrell Sprewell, who became a central scorer on the 58-win 2004 conference-finalist. New York received Keith Van Horn. Atlanta received Brandon, Randy Holcomb and a conditional 2007 first that did not convey, with cash substituted, while sending Glenn Robinson and a 2006 second that became No. 42 Daniel Gibson to Philadelphia. The 76ers received Robinson, Jackson and that 2006 second. Minnesota produced the strongest realized competitive return.

Minnesota acquired Sam Cassell and Ervin Johnson from Milwaukee for Joe Smith and Anthony Peeler, adding the lead guard who helped produce a franchise-record 58 wins and the 2004 Western Conference finals.

Philadelphia acquired Kyle Korvers draft rights from New Jersey for cash, receiving immediate rotation shooting and a future All-Star without surrendering a player or draft asset.

In the June 26, 2003 NBA draft, Boston sent the rights to Troy Bell (No. 16) and Dahntay Jones (No. 20) to Memphis, collecting the rights to Marcus Banks (No. 13) and Kendrick Perkins (No. 27). Banks gave Boston early guard depth, but Perkins became the indispensable long-term center and started on the Celtics' 2008 championship team. Jones developed a useful NBA defensive-wing career after his time in Memphis, while Bell's NBA impact was limited. Celtics Win, Boston A+, Memphis C+.

Chicago acquired second round pick (2004 #38-Chris Duhon) from Raptors for rights to Matt Bonner, producing a clear realized-value win.

Dallas received 2004 second-round pick (#50-Vassilis Spanoulis) from Denver Nuggets and sent Yuyang Xue in return.

Milwaukee acquired cash considerations while sending out rights to Keith Bogans in the 2003-06-26 transaction with Magic.

On June 26, 2003, the Phoenix Suns acquired rights to Leandro Barbosa from the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for 2004 first-round pick (protected top 25 in 2004, top 21 in 2005-2009) (2005 #30-David Lee).

Seattle received rights to Paccelis Morlende; cash and sent rights to Willie Green. Seattle finished with the modest hindsight edge.

Sacramento acquired the draft rights to Lithuanian forward Darius Songaila from Boston in June 2003, sending two second-round selections that became No. 56 Brandon Hunter in 2003 and No. 53 Orien Greene in 2005. Songaila developed into a useful Kings reserve, while neither Boston draftee had the same enduring team role. Kings Win, Sacramento B versus Boston C+.

Slight Celtics Edge. boston-celtics: B-; denver-nuggets: C+. Boston obtained the type of usable size it needed, particularly through Blount's receiving-team service, while Den

Seattle traded Gary Payton and Desmond Mason to Milwaukee for Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie, Ronald Murray and a first-round pick that became Luke Ridnour. Payton played only the rest of the season for the Bucks before leaving, while Allen became a perennial All-Star in Seattle and led a 52-win team. Mason was productive, but Seattle secured the superior age, control and asset package.

On February 20, 2003, New Orleans sent veteran center Elden Campbell to Seattle for point guard Kenny Anderson. Anderson gave the Hornets 23 games, 446 minutes, 139 points and 77 assists, while Campbell played 15 Seattle games, 184 minutes and scored 48 points. The receiving-team split favors the Hornets rather than the inherited SuperSonics win. Hornets Win, New Orleans B- and Seattle C-.

On February 20, 2003, New Orleans traded veteran center Elden Campbell to Seattle for guard Kenny Anderson. Anderson played 23 Hornets regular-season games with 139 points and 77 assists and appeared in five postseason games. Campbell played 15 SuperSonics games, scoring 48 points in 184 minutes before leaving for Detroit. Charlotte Win is the legacy site verdict for the Hornets franchise, but the event occurred when the club was in New Orleans. The Hornets' acquired reserve minutes justify B-, Seattle D+.

Memphis clearly won the completed-value comparison with Orlando Magic, receiving Mike Miller; Ryan Humphrey; 2003 first-round pick (#27-Kendrick Perkins); 2004 second-round pick (#49-Sergei Lishchuk) for Drew Gooden; Gordan Giricek; cash.