The Exchange
Basketball-Reference's New York, Floridians and ABA transaction logs agree that The Floridians sent Tom Washington to the Nets on May 14, 1971 for a draft choice. Pro Sports Transactions identifies that asset as New York's 1972 third-round ABA pick and also lists cash going to Florida. The 1972 ABA draft-trade ledger places the transferred selection in the Floridians' third-round slot, but the drafted player is not identified. The source-backed record therefore treats the pick outcome as unresolved rather than assigning a player by inference, and it preserves the additional cash as real but unpriced consideration.
New York Return
Washington became an immediate rotation starter-level frontcourt piece. In 1971-72 he played 80 games, averaged 31.4 minutes, 11.0 points and 9.4 rebounds, and shot 57.1 percent from the field. He also appeared in all 18 playoff games as New York beat Kentucky and Virginia before losing to Indiana in the ABA Finals. Washington returned for 76 games in 1972-73, giving the Nets 156 regular-season games across two seasons after the trade. That is substantial realized value from a third-round selection and cash, especially because the acquired player filled a major role during a Finals run rather than merely providing end-of-roster depth.
Florida Return
The Floridians received the Nets' 1972 third-round ABA pick and, according to Pro Sports Transactions, cash. The draft ledger confirms that the transferred pick reached Florida's third-round position, but no player is identified for the selection. That missing player outcome matters because the franchise folded after the 1971-72 season, making later asset tracing unusually difficult. The cash component also lacks a preserved amount. Florida therefore received legitimate transaction consideration, but the surviving record does not establish a realized on-court return comparable to Washington's two New York seasons.
Hindsight Comparison
The measurable gap favors New York. Washington gave the Nets 156 regular-season games, a strong first season, and a full 18-game postseason run to the 1972 ABA Finals. Florida's known return was a third-round pick with no identified player outcome plus unpriced cash. That does not make the Floridians' side literally worthless, and the grade should not pretend the unknown cash had no value. It does mean the source-backed basketball outcome is one-sided enough to move beyond the older 'slight edge' language. The Nets acquired a productive two-year frontcourt piece for a low-round selection and cash while preserving their higher draft assets.
Final Verdict
Nets Win, B+/C-. New York receives a B+ because Washington became a high-minute, efficient frontcourt contributor and played a meaningful role during the 1972 ABA Finals run. The Floridians receive a C- because the third-round pick is verified but its player outcome remains unidentified, while the cash amount is unknown. Confidence is medium-high: the transaction, Washington's production and the transferred pick round are well supported, but the cash amount and final player attached to the 1972 third-round selection are unresolved. The verdict reflects only verified transaction terms and realized team value.