Atlanta and Los Angeles Swapped Veterans and Draft Rights
Atlanta obtained guard Mike McGee and the rights to Ken Barlow from the Lakers in a June 1986 agreement. Los Angeles received rights to Ron Kellogg and Billy Thompson. McGee was the only named NBA veteran changing teams in this package, while the other assets were rights to players whose next contracts weren't guaranteed. The Hawks were pursuing usable perimeter depth and an additional forward prospect option. The Lakers could refresh their rights inventory without forcing another veteran into a rotation that already had established scoring and playmaking combinations.
McGee Could Be Evaluated in Atlanta Immediately
McGee had contributed NBA minutes in Los Angeles and represented a recognizable outside-scoring option for the Hawks. His arrival allowed Atlanta to test his fit without waiting for a rookie to be selected in a later draft. However, a player bringing NBA experience doesn't mean the receiving team inherits earlier Lakers seasons or playoff achievements. McGee still needed to win minutes and a role alongside Atlanta's established guards and wings. His return should be judged by actual work after the June agreement rather than by career totals spanning different teams.
The Lakers Acquired Two Distinct Rights Claims
Los Angeles received rights to Kellogg and Thompson, two prospects who were not automatically under signed long-term NBA contracts. Such rights could become valuable through negotiations or additional transactions, but claiming immediate NBA production from both would distort the value of the exchange. The Lakers held the option to decide how each prospect fit their personnel plans. The distinction is important because Barlow, the rights asset headed to Atlanta, could likewise carry professional value outside the NBA without necessarily turning into Hawks game statistics.
Asset Flexibility Gives Los Angeles a Narrow Edge
The Lakers took two developmental chances in exchange for McGee and Barlow's rights, while Atlanta obtained a current guard plus a different prospect option. Neither franchise acquired a top-five draft pick or a newly established All-Star. Atlanta's immediate use of McGee had merit, but Los Angeles gained more separate opportunities to evaluate younger talent without an obligation to commit NBA rotation minutes to both. That supports a modest Lakers-winning assessment rather than an overwhelming outcome. Follow-on rights transactions need independent treatment and can't be credited entirely to the original deal.
Final Verdict
Slight Lakers Edge. Los Angeles receives B- for obtaining rights to Ron Kellogg and Billy Thompson, two separate development options. Atlanta earns C+ for veteran Mike McGee and Ken Barlow's rights. A right to negotiate does not guarantee a signed NBA starter, and McGee's pretrade Lakers output isn't newly acquired Hawks performance.