Orlando Spent a Future Second-Rounder on Steve Kerr
On December 2, 1992, the Magic acquired Steve Kerr from the Cleveland Cavaliers for a 1996 second-round draft selection. The choice eventually became No. 56 and was used on Reggie Geary. Cleveland had a veteran playoff roster with limited opportunities for a small reserve guard; Orlando wanted another ball handler who could compete for bench minutes alongside its young players. The transaction was a direct pick-for-player exchange, with no additional swap right or veteran attached. Both the Magic and Cavaliers transaction histories date the deal to December 2. The draft choice took almost four years to mature, leaving Cleveland with a speculative future asset while Orlando received a player immediately.
Kerr Played 47 Magic Games Before Finding His Later Role Elsewhere
Kerr appeared in 47 games for Orlando in 1992-93 without a start, averaging 9.4 minutes, 2.6 points and 1.3 assists. His three-point shooting was just 25 percent in that small sample, which makes it important not to project his future success backward onto the Magic. He joined Chicago as a free agent before the 1993-94 season and eventually became an elite spot-up shooter on three Bulls championship teams. That later role was genuine but does not belong to Orlando’s realized return from this trade. The Magic B+ grade therefore reflects obtaining an experienced reserve on inexpensive draft-pick terms, while the limited 47-game stint prevents describing the move as a franchise-transforming acquisition.
Cleveland Kept the Future Selection Until the 1996 Draft
The Cavaliers received a second-round choice and used it on Reggie Geary at No. 56 in the 1996 NBA Draft. Geary did not become a regular Cleveland NBA rotation player; the franchise’s reward was the opportunity to select a developmental prospect at low cost rather than meaningful on-court production. The four-year wait also meant the draft right could not help Cleveland’s immediate 1992-93 playoff plans. Cleveland’s C grade records that speculative benefit without claiming Geary’s later career for the Cavaliers. Orlando gained a short-term backup guard and Cleveland kept a lottery-independent late pick. The difference between B+ and C reflects the more direct availability of a player at the time of the trade, not the championships Kerr won after leaving Orlando.
Final Verdict
Slight Magic Edge. Orlando earns B+ for acquiring Steve Kerr and using him in 47 games during 1992-93. Cleveland receives C for the deferred second-rounder that became the No. 56 selection of Reggie Geary. Kerr’s subsequent Chicago championships are not credited to Orlando.