New Jersey Acquired Veteran David Wesley for Three Assets
On October 29, 2007, New Jersey acquired veteran guard David Wesley from the New Orleans Hornets franchise. The Hornets received Bernard Robinson, center Mile Ilić and cash considerations. Wesley had enjoyed some of his best NBA seasons earlier with Charlotte and New Orleans, but by 2007 he was close to the end of his career. The Nets were seeking an inexpensive option behind an experienced backcourt led by Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. New Orleans accepted two younger roster opportunities and financial compensation instead of retaining the veteran. The deal was not a one-for-one veteran swap; the cash and two separate players are necessary to reconstruct the true agreement. The inherited date places the transaction before the 2007-08 regular season and both clubs’ transaction ledgers identify the same general exchange.
Wesley Did Not Become a Nets Rotation Regular
Wesley did not recreate his earlier Hornets scoring years in New Jersey. His career ended without a meaningful new Nets regular-season campaign, so the return is best viewed as a veteran rights and payroll transaction rather than the acquisition of a reliable reserve scoring season. New Jersey’s C- inherited grade reflects this small realized basketball impact. The Nets had experienced starters in place but needed available younger depth as those players aged; acquiring Wesley did not solve that larger structural problem. Using his former Charlotte Hornets or New Orleans totals as if they had been scored in New Jersey would give readers a misleading sense of trade success. The fact that the Nets were still competitive in the preceding years does not change the limited outcome of this specific October 2007 agreement.
The Hornets Received Cash and Two Player Options
Bernard Robinson had appeared as a Charlotte wing and a New Jersey reserve, while Mile Ilić was a young center who had not established an important NBA playing role. New Orleans obtained the ability to evaluate or redirect both players as well as the documented cash consideration. Those assets were not guaranteed long-term starters, and the inherited Pelicans B+ grade might look generous if measured only by later box scores. The economic value and roster flexibility explain some of the grade advantage over New Jersey C-. At this stage the Hornets were preparing to build around Chris Paul and David West, so even modest contract adjustments could be useful. The Pelicans Win wording is supported most clearly by receiving actual assets for Wesley, who did not go on to give the Nets sustained on-court production.
Final Verdict
Pelicans Win. The New Orleans franchise receives B+ for Bernard Robinson, Mile Ilić and cash. New Jersey gets C- after acquiring David Wesley, who did not establish a substantive Nets regular-season role. The Hornets obtained additional roster options instead of holding a guard whose most productive NBA seasons were already over.