Atlanta traded longtime star Lou Hudson to the Lakers on September 30, 1977 for Ollie Johnson. Johnson gave the Hawks one full season, appearing in all 82 games and averaging 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 20.8 minutes. Atlanta waived him on October 4, 1978, so the Hawks received no later trade return. Hudson was older at 33, but Los Angeles still received two productive seasons. He played all 82 games in 1977-78 and averaged 13.7 points on 49.7% shooting, then added 78 games at 9.8 points on 51.7% shooting in 1978-79. Hudson also appeared in nine Lakers playoff games across the two seasons. His 160-game Los Angeles tenure comfortably exceeded Johnson's one-year Atlanta return. The Hawks did get reliable rotation minutes from Johnson, but the Lakers acquired the more productive player for twice as long without surrendering a pick or additional asset.
Atlanta, Los Angeles and the league transaction ledger all record the September 30, 1977 deal the same way: the Hawks sent Lou Hudson to the Lakers for Ollie Johnson. There were no picks, cash terms or later considerations attached to the original exchange. That makes this review a relatively simple realized-value comparison. The question is how much useful basketball each team received before the asset cycle ended.
Johnson played all 82 games for the Hawks in 1977-78. He averaged 20.8 minutes, 8.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field and 85.4% from the line. That was a legitimate rotation season, not a negligible return. Johnson gave Atlanta dependable availability and enough scoring to contribute to a young Hawks roster that was being rebuilt around players such as John Drew and Tree Rollins. The problem is duration. Atlanta waived Johnson on October 4, 1978, before the next regular season began. Chicago signed him later that month. Because the Hawks waived him instead of trading him, there was no downstream Atlanta asset return from the original deal.
Hudson was 33 when Los Angeles acquired him, so this was not a trade for his All-Star prime. Even so, he immediately gave the Lakers more production than Johnson gave Atlanta. Hudson played all 82 games in 1977-78, averaging 27.8 minutes and 13.7 points while shooting 49.7%. He also added 2.4 assists and 2.3 rebounds per game. In the playoffs, he appeared in three games and averaged 11.7 points. He returned for 78 regular-season games in 1978-79. His role declined to 21.6 minutes, but he still averaged 9.8 points and shot 51.7%. He then played six more playoff games. Across the two seasons, Hudson appeared in 160 regular-season Lakers games and nine playoff games. Basketball-Reference lists an 11.8-point average across his Los Angeles tenure.
The trade could have backfired if Hudson's decline had accelerated immediately. Instead, the Lakers got two useful seasons from an older scorer while giving up a younger forward who lasted only one season in Atlanta. Neither side created a downstream trade tree. Johnson was waived by Atlanta, and Hudson finished his NBA career after the 1978-79 season. That leaves the direct production comparison as the decisive evidence.
Lakers Win, A-/B-. Los Angeles receives an A- because Hudson delivered 160 regular-season games, efficient scoring and two playoff appearances. Atlanta receives a B- because Johnson gave the Hawks a complete 82-game rotation season, but the team waived him before year two and received no later asset return. The Lakers' advantage comes from both higher production and twice the team-specific longevity. Confidence is high.