Chicago Traded Johnson and No. 29 for Banks
The June 17, 1985 exchange brought Gene Banks to Chicago from San Antonio. The Bulls sent Steve Johnson and a 1985 second-round pick, identified in the transaction chain as No. 29 Mike Brittain. The deal combined an immediate player-for-player element with a draft asset, so judging it only as Banks versus Johnson would leave out one piece of the Spurs' compensation. Chicago chose a specific veteran forward; San Antonio had both Johnson and the additional opportunity to use the second-round selection.
The No. 29 Selection Limits the Bulls Edge
The extra second-round pick distinguishes this swap from a simple even-money trade of forwards. San Antonio's return included the opportunity to choose Mike Brittain, while Chicago received no separate draft selection alongside Banks. The review must treat Brittain as the realized selection rather than inflate the pick into the value of a different player whom the Spurs might have drafted. Even if the Bulls' player return is favored in the retained assessment, the added pick keeps the verdict from being framed as a lopsided victory.
Why the Bulls Get a Narrow Edge
The Bulls' side is built around Gene Banks, while the Spurs' side includes Steve Johnson and Mike Brittain's draft selection. Chicago wanted to secure an identifiable forward rather than split its return between another player and a second-round prospect. Giving the Bulls the edge does not erase the cost of trading Johnson and No. 29. Those outgoing assets make this an incremental roster judgment rather than a deal where one side surrendered nothing useful. What San Antonio ultimately made of each piece is the proper check on the grade.
Final Verdict
Bulls Win. Chicago receives C+ and San Antonio C-. Chicago's acquisition of Gene Banks is judged modestly better than the Johnson-plus-No. 29 return. The extra draft asset is the key cost keeping the gap modest. The extra second-round pick is a meaningful cost, which is why this should be read as a narrow Bulls edge.