Trade Verdicts
NBA Trade Verdict

Slight Cavaliers Edge

Atlanta acquired Terry Furlow from Cleveland on January 31, 1979 for rookie guard Butch Lee and a 1983 first-round pick. Furlow played 50 regular-season games for the Hawks across parts of two seasons before Atlanta sent him to Utah for two second-round picks. Lee played 36 games for Cleveland before the Cavaliers later included him with a separate 1982 first-rounder in a Lakers trade. Cleveland also retained the 1983 first until October 1980, when it was packaged with Bill Robinzine and another first-round pick in a Dallas deal. Both branches produced usable value, with Cleveland holding the slightly stronger original asset package.

January 31, 1979 Atlanta Hawks / Cleveland Cavaliers Record confidence: High

Atlanta Hawks Received

Cleveland Cavaliers Received

  • Player Butch Lee
  • Future Consideration 1983 first-round pick (No. 11 Derek Harper; later routed to Dallas)

Atlanta Hawks

D

Cleveland Cavaliers

B+

Trade Analysis

The Original Package Favored Cleveland on Asset Depth

Atlanta's transaction log confirms the January 31, 1979 trade: Terry Furlow came to the Hawks, while Cleveland received Butch Lee and a 1983 first-round pick.

Furlow Played 50 Games for Atlanta

Furlow appeared in 29 games for the Hawks after the trade in 1978-79. He averaged 9.9 points, 2.8 assists and 19.9 minutes. He returned for 21 games in 1979-80, averaging 8.4 points and 3.4 assists. That gives Atlanta 50 regular-season games of direct production from Furlow. On November 23, 1979, Atlanta traded Furlow to Utah for a 1981 second-round pick later associated with Eddie Johnson and a 1982 second-round pick later associated with Ricky Frazier. That extended the Furlow branch beyond his own Hawks minutes.

Lee Gave Cleveland a Shorter Playing Return

Butch Lee played 33 games for Cleveland after the 1979 trade and another three games the following season. His first Cleveland stint produced 782 minutes, 379 points and 126 assists. On February 15, 1980, Cleveland traded Lee and a separate 1982 first-round pick to the Lakers for Don Ford and a 1980 first-round pick. Because that transaction required the additional 1982 first, this review does not assign its full downstream result to Lee.

The 1983 First Retained Trade Value

Cleveland held the Atlanta first-rounder until October 30, 1980. The Cavaliers then sent it, Bill Robinzine and a 1986 first-round pick to Dallas for Richard Washington and Jerome Whitehead. Dallas later used the 1983 selection at No. 11 on Derek Harper. That identifies the pick's final draft outcome, but Harper's career belongs to Dallas rather than Cleveland. The proper realized value for Cleveland is the pick's role in the 1980 trade package.

Why Cleveland Gets a Slight Edge

Atlanta received 50 Furlow games and then converted him into two second-round picks. Cleveland received 36 Lee games plus a first-round asset that remained valuable enough to headline part of a later multi-asset deal. Neither side turned the original trade directly into a long-term star. The difference is that Cleveland received both a usable player and a premium future pick, while Atlanta's later Furlow return was two second-rounders.

Final Verdict

Slight Cavaliers Edge, B+/B. Cleveland receives a B+ for Lee's short playing stint plus the retained first-round asset. Atlanta receives a B for 50 Furlow games and the two second-round picks received when he was later moved to Utah.

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