The July 14 Blockbuster Is Straightforward
Basketball-Reference's Denver, Virginia and ABA transaction ledgers agree that Denver acquired George Irvine and the rights to David Thompson on July 14, 1975, sending Mack Calvin, Mike Green and Jan van Breda Kolff to the Squires. The timing is essential: Atlanta had selected Thompson first overall in the 1975 NBA draft, but Denver controlled the ABA route that ultimately secured his professional services. This was therefore not an ordinary veteran swap. It was a bet that Thompson could become the face of Denver basketball.
Thompson Immediately Justified the Price
Thompson's 1975-76 rookie season made the deal's direction obvious almost immediately. He averaged 26.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists for Denver, made the ABA All-Star team and earned All-ABA First Team honors. He remained with the franchise through the ABA-NBA merger and became one of the NBA's most explosive scorers. In 1977-78 he averaged 27.2 points and finished third in NBA MVP voting. Thompson later entered the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. No other asset in this transaction approached that combination of peak value, franchise importance and longevity.
Irvine Added Real Secondary Value
George Irvine was not merely attached to Thompson's rights. He gave Denver two useful seasons, appearing in 76 games in 1975-76 and 74 more in 1976-77. His scoring role was modest, but 150 regular-season appearances strengthened the return beyond the star acquisition. That matters for grading because Denver did not simply trade three rotation players for one prospect; it received one of the era's most important young stars plus a functional veteran wing who helped bridge the ABA and NBA versions of the franchise.
Virginia Received Proven Talent
The Squires did receive meaningful players. Mack Calvin had just made the 1975 ABA All-Star team for Denver and finished third in MVP voting. Mike Green was also a 1975 ABA All-Star and had produced two strong Denver seasons. Jan van Breda Kolff had played all 84 games for Denver in 1974-75. On paper, Virginia was acquiring immediate veteran competence in exchange for rights and a role player. The problem is that the franchise's financial instability and short remaining life prevented those assets from generating a durable return comparable to Thompson.
The Squires' Collapse Limits the Realized Return
Virginia finished 15-68 in 1975-76 and folded before the ABA-NBA merger. Calvin, Green and van Breda Kolff therefore could not become long-term Squires assets. Their careers continued elsewhere, but those later seasons do not count as Virginia return once the franchise ceased operations. The trade should not be graded as though the Squires received worthless players; Calvin and Green in particular were high-level ABA veterans. Hindsight evaluation, however, must use realized franchise value, and the short runway of the Squires sharply limits what their side produced.
Final Verdict
Nuggets Win, A+/C+. Denver receives an A+ because Thompson became a franchise-defining superstar and Hall of Famer while Irvine added 150 useful games. Virginia receives a C+ because it acquired three established players, including recent All-Stars Calvin and Green, but the franchise collapsed after one season and could not convert that talent into lasting value. The grade gap reflects realized organizational outcome rather than dismissing the quality of the veterans sent to Virginia. Confidence is high on the transaction structure, Thompson rights chain and player outcomes. The verdict reflects only verified transaction terms and realized team value.