An October Exchange of Backcourt Help for Forward Depth
New Jersey traded Mike O'Koren to Washington for Leon Wood on October 30, 1986. The transaction registers for both organizations identify the same pair of players and no accompanying draft choice. The Nets had watched their offense struggle with ballhandling options and sought a young guard who could manage extended minutes. Washington, still known as the Bullets at the time, received an established forward with several seasons of experience in New Jersey. Wood had been with the Bullets the previous season, but his earlier Washington production wasn't the return New Jersey received. This deal should be assessed using the contributions after the players switched uniforms.
Wood Became a Regular Nets Rotation Guard
Wood appeared in 76 games for New Jersey in 1986-87, including seven starts. He averaged 22.8 minutes, 7.3 points and 4.9 assists, reflecting real responsibility for creating shots and moving the ball. Those aren't All-Star numbers, and the Nets endured a losing season, but a guard who played nearly every night was a useful acquisition. Wood subsequently played for other clubs, and those later contributions belong outside this particular Nets return. The source-supported result is his full New Jersey season, which compares favorably to what the Bullets got from the forward they acquired.
O'Koren's New Washington Role Ended Quickly
O'Koren managed 15 regular-season games for Washington in 1986-87. He averaged 8.2 minutes and only 2.1 points in those appearances, a much smaller role than his established Nets tenure had suggested. Washington waived him in February 1987, which prevented the trade from becoming a longer-term source of frontcourt depth. The former Nets seasons can't be credited as a Washington return. Nor is there an identified draft asset produced by his departure. The Bullets acquired an experienced player, but they received only a brief and lightly used stint rather than a productive rotation regular.
Receiving-Team Minutes Overrule a Familiar-Name Comparison
The players both had NBA experience, which may explain why an earlier archive treated the trade as even. That reasoning doesn't survive a comparison of acquired-team records. Wood logged a useful 76-game campaign with point-guard duties, while O'Koren supplied fifteen brief appearances and left Washington within months. This was not a franchise-altering exchange and New Jersey shouldn't get a superstar grade, but its return was plainly stronger. The proper historical verdict credits what the two organizations actually used, rather than assigning equal value to the players' reputations at the moment of the swap.
Final Verdict
Nets Win. New Jersey earns B+ for Leon Wood's 76 appearances and averages of 7.3 points with 4.9 assists as a regular guard in 1986-87. Washington receives D+ for 15 games and 2.1 points per outing from Mike O'Koren. Neither player became a cornerstone, but the Nets obtained considerably more useful rotation minutes.