Atlanta traded Pete Maravich and a 1980 third-round pick to the expansion New Orleans Jazz for Bob Kauffman, Dean Meminger, first-round picks in 1974 and 1975, and second-round picks in 1975 and 1976.
Atlanta sent Pete Maravich and a 1980 third-round pick to the expansion New Orleans Jazz. The Hawks received Bob Kauffman, Dean Meminger, first-round picks that became Mike Sojourner and David Thompson, and second-round picks that became Bill Willoughby and Alex English. Those are the directly tied pieces that matter for this retrospective grade; the evaluation does not need hypothetical value from assets the franchises never realized.
New Orleans received the proven star in Pete Maravich, and the retrospective outcome strongly favored the Jazz. Atlanta's enormous-looking draft haul did not turn into comparable franchise value. That evidence is more important than simply counting how many names changed hands, because the grade is meant to measure franchise value actually created by the transaction.
Atlanta's process was understandable because the package contained premium draft capital and multiple players. The No. 1 pick that became David Thompson and the later selection of Alex English made the return look enormous on paper. Giving the other side full credit for those benefits keeps the verdict proportional instead of turning a clear edge into an exaggerated one.
The realized outcomes are what drive the F/A- split. Thompson never played for Atlanta, Sojourner had limited production, Willoughby had a modest career, Kauffman and Meminger were short-term pieces, and English was traded after one season. The letter grades therefore track both the quality of the return and the scale of the gap between the two teams, not just which side technically won.
Jazz Win. Atlanta Hawks receive F, while New Orleans Jazz receive A-. The realized outcomes are what drive the F/A- split. Thompson never played for Atlanta, Sojourner had limited production, Willoughby had a modest career, Kauffman and Meminger were short-term pieces, and English was traded after one season. The trade is a reminder that sound acquisition process and successful realization are different questions. Atlanta assembled a package that could have worked, but the historical grade follows what the franchise actually received and retained.