The Nets Exchanged Eddie Griffin for Three First-Round Choices
New Jersey selected Seton Hall forward Eddie Griffin with the seventh overall pick on June 27, 2001. Houston obtained his rights by sending the draft rights to Richard Jefferson at No. 13, Jason Collins at No. 18 and Brandon Armstrong at No. 23. The Houston transaction ledger, contemporary Washington Post reporting and the draft histories of both teams corroborate the entire four-player rights exchange. This was not an ordinary trade of veterans who had already played NBA minutes for the participating clubs: each side was swapping the opportunity to sign newly selected prospects. The Nets chose three roster chances over the single highest pick.
Jefferson and Collins Became Fixtures on Nets Finals Teams
Jefferson played 79 games as a rookie, then started 80 in 2002-03 and averaged 15.5 points. He developed into a central scorer alongside Jason Kidd and remained with New Jersey for seven seasons. Collins supplied a different form of value: a physical center and rotation defender who started 81 games in 2002-03 and was used on both the Nets teams that reached the 2002 and 2003 NBA Finals. Armstrong played much less, but the strongest two picks already exceeded ordinary replacement value. The Nets’ A- grade reflects two real long-term contributors rather than counting the later careers of players the franchise never signed.
Griffin’s Houston Tenure Was Much Shorter
Griffin played 73 games for Houston as a rookie, averaging 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds with 1.8 blocked shots. He followed with 77 appearances in 2002-03 and was seen as a talented young shot blocker, but his Rockets career ended after only two seasons. Houston never obtained the prolonged scoring, rebounding and Finals-rotation combination New Jersey received through Jefferson and Collins. Griffin’s subsequent career and tragic death in 2007 warrant accurate treatment but should not be used to substitute a later narrative for his actual two Houston years. The Rockets’ C- grade is a hindsight assessment of limited tenure relative to the three incoming picks the Nets kept.
Final Verdict
Nets Win. New Jersey earns A- for Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins, major contributors to consecutive Finals teams, plus Brandon Armstrong. Houston receives C- after Eddie Griffin produced two Rockets seasons, averaging 8.8 points as a rookie, but did not match the long-term return from the three traded first-round rights.