Both Teams Received Useful but Modest Value
The February 15, 1983 trade sent Rickey Brown from Golden State to Atlanta for a 1984 second-round pick and cash. The pick later landed at No. 35, where the Warriors selected Virginia guard Othell Wilson.
The legacy team perspectives leaned in opposite directions. Atlanta's source called the exchange a slight partner edge, while Golden State's source called it a slight Warriors edge. The completed player outcomes explain why neither side has a decisive advantage.
Brown Gave Atlanta Three Seasons of Frontcourt Depth
Brown played 26 regular-season games for Atlanta after the trade in 1982-83 and made no starts. He averaged 4.7 points and 3.4 rebounds in 11.7 minutes.
He returned for 68 games in 1983-84, starting three, then appeared in 69 games with five starts in 1984-85.
Across his Hawks tenure, Brown played 163 regular-season games and started eight. He was primarily a reserve center, but three seasons of usable depth is a meaningful return from one second-round pick plus cash.
Wilson Had a Larger Starting Role in His One Warriors Season
Golden State used the No. 35 pick on Othell Wilson in the 1984 NBA Draft.
Wilson appeared in 74 regular-season games for the Warriors in 1984-85 and started 23. He averaged 17.0 minutes, 4.4 points, 2.9 assists and 1.0 steal.
He did not play in the NBA in 1985-86 and later returned with Sacramento in 1986-87. This review credits Golden State only with the 74 games and 23 starts produced for the Warriors.
The Cash Amount Is Unknown
Golden State also received cash in the original transaction. The reviewed public sources do not identify the amount, so the cash is treated as a tangible but unquantified part of the Warriors' return.
That component prevents the games-played comparison from being the entire verdict, but it also cannot justify a large Golden State advantage without a documented figure.
Why the Deal Grades Even
Atlanta received more than twice as many direct regular-season games from Brown, but almost all came in a reserve role. Golden State received fewer games from Wilson but substantially more starts and an additional cash component.
Neither player became a long-term starter or major franchise piece. Brown's duration and Wilson's larger one-season role offset each other closely enough that forcing a winner would overstate a small difference.
Final Verdict
Even Trade, B/B. Atlanta receives a B for 163 games of multi-year frontcourt depth. Golden State receives a B for 74 games, 23 starts and cash. The teams extracted different kinds of value from a minor transaction, but neither completed return clearly dominates the other.