The Original Deal Was Marin for Chicago's 1977 First-Round Pick
Basketball-Reference's Chicago, Buffalo and NBA transaction ledgers agree on the November 27, 1975 structure: Buffalo sent Jack Marin to the Bulls for Chicago's 1977 first-round draft choice. The pick ultimately landed at No. 13 in the 1977 draft and Tate Armstrong was selected there, but Buffalo did not hold the pick continuously until draft night. That distinction is important because the legacy archive entry made Armstrong look like a direct Braves draft return when the actual asset chain was more complicated.
Marin Gave Chicago 121 Regular-Season Games
Marin immediately stepped into a real role for the Bulls. He played 67 games after the trade in 1975-76, averaging 11.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 24.3 minutes. He returned for 54 games in 1976-77 and averaged 6.8 points in 16.1 minutes. Across the two Chicago seasons he supplied 121 regular-season appearances and more than 2,400 minutes. He was not a star by that stage of his career, but Chicago received dependable veteran wing production rather than a short rental.
Buffalo Converted the Pick Into Jim Price, Then Gerard and Williams
On November 2, 1976 Buffalo traded the 1977 first-round pick to Milwaukee for Jim Price. Price played 20 games for the Braves before Buffalo moved him to Denver on December 15 for Gus Gerard and Chuck Williams. Gerard then appeared in 41 Buffalo games that season, while Williams played 44. That chain gave the Braves 105 combined regular-season appearances from Price, Gerard and Williams during 1976-77. The original pick therefore produced tangible roster value even before the asset later returned to Buffalo.
The No. 13 Pick Later Returned to Buffalo and Then Back to Chicago
Milwaukee held the pick until June 7, 1977, when the Bucks sent Swen Nater and the No. 13 selection to Buffalo for the No. 3 pick that became Marques Johnson. Three days later Buffalo traded the No. 13 pick back to Chicago for the No. 24 second-round pick that became Larry Johnson; a secondary draft-transaction ledger also reports $150,000 cash going to Buffalo. Chicago then used No. 13 on Tate Armstrong. Because Buffalo had to surrender the No. 3 pick to reacquire No. 13, that later return cannot be credited solely to the 1975 Marin transaction, but it explains why Armstrong was ultimately a Bull rather than a Brave.
Armstrong's Career Should Not Be Treated as Buffalo's Direct Realized Outcome
Armstrong played 92 NBA games, all for Chicago, averaging 3.8 points per game across two seasons. His modest career is relevant to the value of the No. 13 selection, but Buffalo never rostered him. The Braves' directly traceable basketball return from the original asset was the Price-to-Gerard-and-Williams chain, plus whatever value Buffalo received when the reacquired No. 13 pick was moved back to Chicago. That makes the transaction more competitive than a simple Marin-versus-Armstrong comparison.
Final Verdict
Slight Bulls Edge, B+/B. Chicago receives a B+ because Marin gave the club 121 regular-season games and meaningful veteran production over parts of two seasons without requiring another player in the original package. Buffalo receives a B because the first-round pick became a useful trade asset: it brought back Jim Price, who was then converted into Gus Gerard and Chuck Williams, producing substantial 1976-77 roster value. The later No. 13 pick loop is documented but not over-credited because Buffalo spent the No. 3 selection to reacquire it. Confidence is high on the original transaction, Marin's Chicago production and the pick's documented path through Milwaukee and back to Chicago. The verdict reflects only verified transaction terms and realized team value.