Atlanta Targeted Williams on Draft Night
The Hawks traded the rights to Cory Carr and two future second-round selections to Chicago for the rights to Shammond Williams in June 1998. Williams had been a productive college guard with shooting and ball-handling appeal. Atlanta chose the known current prospect, while Chicago accepted multiple opportunities from a later stage of the draft. The transaction was rooted in prospect evaluation rather than the established NBA performance of either incoming player.
Williams Did Not Become a Long-Serving Hawk
Williams's professional career eventually included multiple NBA stops, but Atlanta did not receive a long tenure from the rights it acquired that night. His ability to organize an offense made him an intriguing choice, yet the Hawks didn't develop a permanent point guard through this exchange. Evaluating the transaction requires focusing on the original receiving team rather than claiming every subsequent NBA minute Williams played for Atlanta.
Chicago Received Carr and Future Draft Rights
The Bulls added Cory Carr's rights, a 1999 second-round selection associated with Lari Ketner and a 2000 second tied to Khalid El-Amin. The prospects offered different types of upside, but the most important feature of the return was that Chicago held three distinct chances rather than one. The rights could be retained or redirected, and not every later player was necessarily a long-term Bulls contributor. The package still provided more ways to address an aging roster.
The Grade Gap Reflects the Amount Atlanta Paid
Atlanta surrendered several draft opportunities to select one guard whose Hawks career did not repay the full cost. Chicago obtained a wider collection of rights that could help in a transition period. The inherited Bulls Win does not imply the three prospects became foundational Chicago stars; none established that type of immediate return. It recognizes that Atlanta spent too much flexibility on a player it didn't retain, while the Bulls received several assets in return.
Final Verdict
Bulls Win. Chicago receives B+ for acquiring Cory Carr's rights and future second-round choices associated with Lari Ketner and Khalid El-Amin. Atlanta gets D+ for Shammond Williams's draft rights, which didn't yield an enduring Hawks guard. The Bulls obtained the broader development package, while Atlanta's concentrated bet produced little direct playing value.