Celtics Win
Boston acquired Bill Walton from Clippers in exchange for Cedric Maxwell; 1986 first-round pick (#24 Arvydas Sabonis); cash.
Boston Celtics Received
- Player Bill Walton
LA Clippers Received
- Player Cedric Maxwell
- Draft Pick 1986 first-round pick (#24 Arvydas Sabonis )
- Cash cash
LA Clippers
Trade Analysis
Boston Celtics Perspective
Walton stayed healthy for one magical year, won Sixth Man of the Year, and was the best passing big man on the 1986 champions — arguably the greatest team ever (67-15). Maxwell was beloved but past his peak, and Sabonis never came to the NBA until 1995. A perfect one-year championship rental that delivered a title.
LA Clippers Perspective
Boston converted Cedric Maxwell, a first-round pick and cash into Bill Walton, whose healthy 1985-86 season produced Sixth Man of the Year honors and a championship. The Clippers' return did not match that peak. The Clippers franchise received Cedric Maxwell; 1986 first-round pick (#24-Arvydas Sabonis); cash and sent Bill Walton. The downstream player and draft outcomes created a clear value gap in the counterpart's favor. Because this was a franchise-level transaction, the evaluation gives extra weight to star-level production, years of control, playoff impact and identifiable downstream draft conversion rather than treating the assets as interchangeable.