Portland Targeted Smith as a Better-Fitting Veteran Wing
The Trail Blazers traded Isaiah Rider and Jim Jackson to Atlanta on August 2, 1999, obtaining Steve Smith and Ed Gray. Portland was already a strong contender and wanted another established wing whose shooting and decision-making could serve a deep rotation. Atlanta accepted two veteran scorers while changing its offensive mix. Both Rider and Smith had substantial résumés, but their reliability and likely roles with the new teams differed. The exchange became a test of whether name recognition or roster fit would produce better results.
Smith Helped Portland Reach the Conference Finals
Smith became an important Portland scorer during the 1999-2000 season and helped the Trail Blazers advance to the Western Conference Finals. They pushed the eventual champion Lakers to seven games but did not win the championship. Smith's perimeter threat complemented the team's established frontcourt, giving the offense an experienced option in high-pressure playoff games. Ed Gray was a much smaller part of the package. The direct Portland value centered on a dependable contributor to a real contender.
Rider's Hawks Tenure Was Disrupted
Rider arrived with demonstrated NBA scoring ability, but disciplinary problems and roster tension undermined his time in Atlanta. He did not become the consistent long-term offensive presence the team needed. Jackson supplied veteran minutes but could not replace everything Smith offered in Portland. It is important to distinguish Rider's achievements with earlier teams from his receiving-team production; his talent made the gamble understandable, but the Hawks did not realize the corresponding sustained benefit. The incoming players failed to establish an equivalent dependable partnership.
The Difference Emerged in Their New Uniforms
The Blazers obtained useful scoring from Smith on a team that reached the league's final four. Atlanta acquired experienced players, but their actual roles were far less stable. The comparison isn't decided by which guard had the stronger career totals before 1999, because both possessed offensive ability. It is about the performance and reliability the two organizations obtained after the trade. Portland's fit and playoff value are the clearest reasons for the large inherited gap in grades.
Final Verdict
Blazers Win. Portland earns A for Steve Smith's productive wing play during its 2000 Western Conference Finals run, with Ed Gray a minor additional piece. Atlanta gets D because Isaiah Rider's turbulent Hawks stay and Jim Jackson's temporary role did not replace Smith's dependable contribution. Portland acquired the more reliable player for its immediate competitive objectives.