Atlanta acquired Johnny Davis from Indiana on December 31, 1982 for a 1983 second-round pick that became No. 40 Jim Thomas plus cash. Davis played 128 regular-season games for the Hawks across two seasons, starting 105 and averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 assists in 1982-83 before adding 75 games and 72 starts the next year. Thomas gave Indiana 152 games across two seasons, starting 67, and developed from a 6.3-point rookie into an 11.1-point scorer in 1984-85. With both teams receiving two useful seasons and Indiana also receiving an unquantified cash component, the realized value is balanced enough for an even verdict.
Basketball-Reference's Atlanta transaction ledger records the December 31, 1982 deal as Johnny Davis to the Hawks for Atlanta's 1983 second-round pick, later No. 40 Jim Thomas. The legacy canonical source package also includes cash going to Indiana. The reviewed public transaction ledger does not identify the cash amount, so this review preserves it as part of Indiana's return without assigning a speculative dollar value.
Davis played 53 regular-season games for Atlanta after the trade in 1982-83 and started 33. He averaged 27.6 minutes, 12.9 points and 5.9 assists. The Hawks went 43-39 and reached the playoffs. Davis also appeared in all three first-round games against Boston and averaged 17.0 points and 9.0 assists in the series. He returned for 75 games in 1983-84, starting 72 while averaging 12.3 points and 4.3 assists. Across the two Atlanta seasons, Davis played 128 regular-season games and started 105.
The Pacers used the No. 40 selection in the 1983 NBA Draft on Indiana University guard Jim Thomas. Thomas played 72 games as a rookie in 1983-84, started 15 and averaged 6.3 points in 16.9 minutes. His role grew substantially in his second season. In 1984-85 he appeared in 80 games, started 52 and averaged 25.7 minutes, 11.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists. That gives Indiana 152 regular-season games and 67 starts from the pick across two seasons.
Indiana also received cash. Because the amount is not identified in the reviewed public sources, this review does not let that unknown figure dominate the verdict. It still matters as a realized asset, particularly because the player returns themselves are close enough to compare rather than one side receiving nothing.
Atlanta received the better immediate starter. Davis logged 105 starts, handled a meaningful playmaking role and contributed to a playoff team. Indiana received more total games from Thomas, watched him grow into a 52-game starter in his second season and also collected cash. Neither return became a long-term franchise cornerstone, but both generated multiple seasons of usable value.
Even Trade, B/B. Atlanta receives a B for 128 games, 105 starts and two seasons of starting-caliber guard play from Davis. Indiana receives a B for 152 games, 67 starts from Thomas plus an additional cash return whose amount cannot be verified. The strengths differ, but the completed value is too close to force a winner.