New Jersey acquired Reggie Johnson from Philadelphia on October 25, 1983 for Eddie Phillips, Horace Owens and a 1987 second-round pick that became No. 43 Andrew Kennedy. Johnson gave the Nets 72 games, four starts, 818 minutes and 346 points in 1983-84, helping a 45-win team reach the second round of the playoffs. Philadelphia waived both Phillips and Owens two days after the trade, and Kennedy never appeared in an NBA regular-season game. With all three Philadelphia branches producing zero NBA games for the 76ers, the Nets won by securing one useful season from Johnson.
Basketball-Reference's New Jersey and Philadelphia transaction ledgers agree on the October 25, 1983 terms. The Nets acquired Reggie Johnson and sent Eddie Phillips, Horace Owens and a 1987 second-round pick to the defending champion 76ers. The trade happened three days before the regular season began, which makes Philadelphia's roster decisions especially important to the outcome.
Johnson joined a New Jersey team that won 45 games and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. He appeared in 72 regular-season games, started four and logged 818 minutes. Basketball-Reference credits him with 346 points, 138 rebounds and 40 assists. Johnson averaged 4.8 points and 1.9 rebounds in 11.4 minutes while shooting 49.6 percent from the field. The role was not large, but it was real. He gave New Jersey frontcourt depth across almost the entire season and appeared on a playoff team that eliminated Philadelphia in the first round. That 1983-84 season was Johnson's final NBA campaign, so the Nets did not receive a long-term asset. The value is best described as one dependable reserve season.
The 76ers acquired Phillips and Owens on October 25 and placed both on waivers on October 27. Phillips had played 48 games for New Jersey as a rookie in 1982-83, but he never appeared in a regular-season game for Philadelphia. RealGM's transaction log lists him becoming a free agent on October 31. Owens, a 1983 second-round pick from Rhode Island, also never played an NBA regular-season game. Philadelphia waived him in the same final roster cut. That left the future draft pick as the only remaining path for the 76ers.
Philadelphia held the 1987 second-round pick and used it at No. 43 on Virginia forward Andrew Kennedy. Basketball-Reference's draft record lists Kennedy with no NBA regular-season career. He never produced a game for Philadelphia. The three assets Philadelphia received therefore combined for zero NBA regular-season games for the franchise.
The Nets did not acquire a star or a multi-year starter, so this is not an elite-grade win. They simply converted two players outside their plans and a future second-rounder into a reserve who helped immediately. Philadelphia received no realized NBA production from either incoming player or the eventual draft selection. That creates a clear result even though the total stakes were modest.
Nets Win, B/D. New Jersey earns a B for obtaining 72 games and a full season of useful reserve minutes from Johnson. Philadelphia receives a D because Phillips and Owens were waived before the season and Andrew Kennedy never appeared in the NBA. Confidence is high because the trade, waiver dates, Johnson's Nets statistics and Kennedy's draft outcome are documented in primary transaction and statistical records.