New Jersey Turned George McCloud Into a First-Round Pick
The Nets traded George McCloud to the Lakers on February 20, 1997, receiving Joe Kleine, a 1997 first-round selection and a conditional future second. McCloud had arrived in New Jersey just three days earlier in the massive Dallas transaction involving Shawn Bradley and Sam Cassell, so this was a rapid second move involving the same player. New Jersey wanted a more valuable future asset while Los Angeles sought outside shooting. The first-round pick became No. 21 in the 1997 draft, used on Anthony Parker. The conditional second did not convey according to both clubs’ transaction ledgers, so it cannot be assigned a fictional eventual prospect.
The First-Round Pick Became Part of a Larger Nets Move
New Jersey selected Parker at No. 21, then packaged his rights with Jim Jackson, Eric Montross and Tim Thomas in a June 27, 1997 deal to Philadelphia for Keith Van Horn, Michael Cage, Lucious Harris and Don MacLean. Parker therefore never provided a Nets regular-season career, but the draft asset contributed to an exchange that delivered a major young scorer in Van Horn. The Nets’ A- grade reflects the option value of acquiring an authentic first-round pick for a player they had held only briefly. Joe Kleine’s presence was additional frontcourt depth, but the pick and its reuse are the central difference. Van Horn’s entire value should not be assigned to one of several outgoing draft and player assets.
McCloud Played Only Twenty-Three Lakers Games
McCloud appeared in 23 regular-season Lakers games after the swap, starting twice and averaging 4.1 points in 12.4 minutes. He was making 42.9 percent of his three-point attempts in that small sample but did not provide a full season or sustained starting production. Los Angeles’ C- grade corresponds to that brief bench role weighed against surrendering a first-round selection. The Nets also obtained Kleine and the unused conditional second, although neither adds a long career of on-court value. The core comparison is a future first with meaningful later trade utility versus an acquired wing who spent only a few weeks as a Lakers reserve.
Final Verdict
Nets Win. New Jersey earns A- for receiving Joe Kleine and the No. 21 first-round choice used on Anthony Parker, whose rights later formed part of the Keith Van Horn acquisition. Los Angeles receives C- after George McCloud played 23 games at 4.1 points per night. The extra conditional second never conveyed.