Knicks Win
Boston acquired Bob McAdoo from Knicks in exchange for 1979 first-round pick (#3 Bill Cartwright); 1979 first-round pick (#9 Larry Demic); 1979 first-round pick (#21 Sylvester Williams); Tom Barker (player to be named later).
Boston Celtics Received
- Player Bob McAdoo
New York Knicks Received
- Draft Pick 1979 first-round pick (#3 Bill Cartwright )
- Draft Pick 1979 first-round pick (#9 Larry Demic )
- Draft Pick 1979 first-round pick (#21 Sylvester Williams )
- Player Tom Barker (player to be named later)
Trade Analysis
Boston Celtics Perspective
Red Auerbach's rare disaster. McAdoo was a former MVP but clashed with the team and lasted only 20 games. The Knicks turned #3 into Bill Cartwright, a 3-time All-Star center and key piece of Chicago's first three-peat. Three firsts for a 20-game rental is one of the worst processes in franchise history.
New York Knicks Perspective
Trading Bob McAdoo meant giving up the best player in the deal at that moment, but New York converted an expensive veteran into a large block of draft capital at a time when the roster needed to reset. The Celtics sent three 1979 first-round picks plus a player to be named later. The most important result was Bill Cartwright at No. 3, who became an All-Star as a rookie and spent nearly a decade as the Knicks' starting center. The other selections became Larry Demic and Sly Williams, while Tommy Barker completed the package. McAdoo remained a major scorer and later found championship success elsewhere, so Boston still acquired substantial talent. For New York, the realized value of multiple firsts and a long-term starter makes the trade a clear win.