Charlotte Quickly Traded a Newly Acquired Second for Randolph Keys
Charlotte obtained forward Randolph Keys from Cleveland on February 22, 1990, in exchange for its 1991 second-round draft selection that would become the No. 39 choice used on Jimmy Oliver. The Hornets had obtained this exact pick earlier the same date in a separate deal sending Stuart Gray to New York. Those two steps are central to the transaction story: the club converted a future draft asset into a player it could audition at once, without waiting until 1991. Cleveland preferred draft flexibility over keeping Keys in its crowded wing group. The asset was not an additional Hornets first-round pick or a deal involving multiple players.
Keys Supplied 32 Immediate Hornets Games and Another Season
Keys had played 48 Cavaliers games earlier in 1989-90, averaging 7.6 points, before the February move. Charlotte gave him a larger role over 32 remaining games, including five starts, and he averaged 10.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He returned to the Hornets for 44 appearances in 1990-91, when his playing time declined to 10.8 minutes and 3.2 points per night. That decline limits the upside of the bargain but should not erase the initial 32-game offensive contribution. Charlotte’s C grade recognizes a practical short-term acquisition rather than a sustained starter.
Cleveland Used the Pick as Part of Another Draft Chain
The 1991 No. 39 choice was ultimately exercised by Cleveland on guard Jimmy Oliver. His eventual professional career should not be confused with an established Cavaliers rotation stint: the incoming pick was a speculative second-round asset at the time of the 1990 deal. The Cavaliers’ C grade reflects the value of converting a reserve forward into a shot at a younger player, balanced against the immediate production that Keys supplied Charlotte. Neither club landed an elite starter or multiple years of premium player development. The equal grades reflect a modest choice between short-term wing minutes and an uncertain future draft result.
Final Verdict
Even Trade. Charlotte receives C for Randolph Keys, who averaged 10.5 points over 32 Hornets games after the move and played 44 more the next season. Cleveland also gets C for the 1991 second-round selection eventually used at No. 39 on Jimmy Oliver. Each obtained a limited but identifiable return.