Portland Exchanged Tyshawn Taylor Rights for Cash
On the night of the 2012 NBA draft, Brooklyn obtained the draft rights to Kansas point guard Tyshawn Taylor from Portland for cash considerations. Portland had selected Taylor in the second round before moving his rights, and Brooklyn was building a low-cost developmental backcourt for its debut season after relocating from New Jersey. Taylor had helped Kansas reach the 2012 NCAA championship game, giving him experience in high-pressure college contests, but second-round rookies do not come with a guaranteed NBA starting role. The historical transaction ledger contains no future first-rounder or active Brooklyn veteran being sent to Portland. Cash was the sole immediate Blazers return. This was a rights purchase separate from the Nets other second-round deal for international forward Tornike Shengelia on the same draft night.
Taylor Reached the Nets Roster but Had Few Minutes
Taylor joined Brooklyn and appeared in regular-season NBA games, generally in reserve assignments behind experienced point guards Deron Williams and C.J. Watson. His value was as emergency ballhandling and a young player the team could evaluate in limited minutes. He did not develop into a regular Nets starting point guard or high-volume scorer. The franchise later moved him in a separate transaction, further limiting the original period of direct playing benefit. The Nets C inherited grade accounts for having acquired an actual rostered NBA guard rather than an unsigned draft right. Yet it also recognizes that his on-court role remained small and did not justify describing the transaction as a major backcourt upgrade. His college performances are useful background, not Brooklyn NBA statistics to be added to the return.
The Blazers Converted a Late Draft Selection into Money
Portland chose financial compensation for the second-round rights instead of attempting to develop Taylor on a roster with other guard prospects. That was a normal late draft strategy, especially if the franchise valued roster space for higher-priority young players. The cash sum is not specified in the inherited asset record, so assigning an exact amount would be speculative. The Blazers received no NBA player through the agreement, while the Nets obtained one whose direct NBA contributions were limited. Both sides receive C under the canonical Even Trade evaluation, a defensible result for a minor draft-right sale. The distinction between realized NBA minutes and cash-only flexibility remains important, even though neither asset turned into an established All-Star.
Final Verdict
Even Trade with C grades for both Brooklyn and Portland. The Nets paid cash for Tyshawn Taylor draft rights and used him as a reserve guard during the early Brooklyn seasons. Portland obtained immediate financial compensation but no incoming player. Neither return turned into a long-term starting NBA contributor.