Atlanta acquired the draft rights to No. 22 pick Randy Wittman from Washington on June 29, 1983 for veteran Tom McMillen and a 1984 second-round pick that became No. 34 Tony Costner. Wittman played at least 353 regular-season games for the Hawks across his first five seasons, starting 249, and developed into a full-time starter who averaged 12.9 points in 1985-86 and 12.7 in 1986-87. McMillen gave Washington three useful seasons totaling 187 games and 27 starts, while Costner never appeared in an NBA regular-season game. The Bullets received real veteran depth, but Wittman's longer tenure and multi-year starting role give Atlanta the stronger realized return.
The June 29, 1983 exchange sent Randy Wittman's draft rights from Washington to Atlanta. The Bullets received Tom McMillen and Atlanta's 1984 second-round pick, later No. 34 Tony Costner. The legacy archive record originally called the outcome even. Completed player production gives Atlanta a clearer advantage.
Wittman played 78 regular-season games for Atlanta as a rookie in 1983-84, mostly off the bench. His role increased in 1984-85, when he started 22 of 41 games and averaged 9.9 points. By 1985-86, Wittman was a regular starter. He appeared in 81 games, started 79 and averaged 12.9 points while shooting 53.0 percent from the field. He followed with 71 games and 65 starts in 1986-87, then played all 82 games and started all 82 in 1987-88. Across those first five Hawks seasons alone, Wittman totaled 353 regular-season games and 249 starts. That span also included repeated playoff participation as Atlanta developed into a strong Eastern Conference team.
Tom McMillen was already an established veteran when Washington acquired him. He played 62 games for the Bullets in 1983-84, starting five and averaging 9.2 points. He returned for 69 games and 21 starts in 1984-85, then added 56 games and one start in 1985-86. Across three Washington seasons, McMillen produced 187 regular-season games and 27 starts. That is meaningful depth and keeps the Bullets side from being graded as a poor return.
Washington used the incoming 1984 second-rounder at No. 34 on Saint Joseph's center Tony Costner. Basketball-Reference lists Costner as a drafted player with no NBA regular-season statistical line. His professional career continued outside the NBA, so the pick branch produced zero direct Bullets games.
Washington received three useful seasons from McMillen, but the pick added nothing at the NBA level. Atlanta received a younger wing who grew from reserve minutes into a multi-year starting role. Wittman's first five Atlanta seasons alone produced nearly twice as many games as McMillen's Washington tenure and more than nine times as many starts. His strongest years also aligned with Atlanta's playoff rise.
Hawks Win, A/B. Atlanta receives an A because Wittman became a durable multi-year starter and productive rotation piece for a rising playoff team. Washington receives a B because McMillen gave the Bullets three useful seasons, but Costner produced zero NBA games and the total return did not match Wittman's longevity or starting value.