Denver acquired Rich Kelley from Phoenix on June 21, 1982 for the No. 15 pick in the 1982 draft, which became David Thirdkill. The simple first-year comparison understates both branches. Kelley played 38 games for Denver before the Nuggets traded him one-for-one to Utah for Danny Schayes and cash; Schayes then played 536 regular-season games for Denver across eight seasons with 229 starts. Thirdkill played 49 games for Phoenix before the Suns traded him one-for-one to Detroit for 1986 and 1987 second-round picks. The 1986 pick became Jeff Hornacek, who played 468 Suns games with 343 starts, became an All-Star and later helped Phoenix acquire Charles Barkley. Both teams built major downstream value, but Hornacek's peak and star-level impact give Phoenix the edge.
Phoenix's media guide and Basketball-Reference transaction records identify the June 21, 1982 trade clearly. Denver received veteran center Rich Kelley, while Phoenix received Denver's 1982 first-round pick. The Suns used No. 15 on David Thirdkill. Evaluating only Kelley against Thirdkill would make the deal look minor and perhaps Denver-favored. The source-backed downstream chains change the picture dramatically.
Kelley appeared in 38 regular-season games for Denver in 1982-83, all off the bench. He averaged 14.9 minutes, 4.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists. On February 7, 1983, Denver traded Kelley one-for-one to Utah for Danny Schayes and cash. Because Kelley was the sole outgoing asset, this review can credit the Schayes branch directly to the original acquisition.
Schayes played 32 Denver games immediately after the trade, then remained with the Nuggets for eight seasons in total. Basketball-Reference credits him with 536 regular-season games and 229 starts for Denver. He became a durable interior rotation player through the 1980s and appeared in 48 playoff games for the franchise. That downstream conversion transforms Denver's side from a 38-game rental into a long-running positive asset chain.
Phoenix selected Thirdkill at No. 15 in the 1982 draft. He played 49 regular-season games for the Suns as a rookie, started twice and averaged 4.0 points in 10.6 minutes. That direct rookie return was modest. Phoenix, however, did not let the asset chain stop there.
On October 17, 1983, Phoenix traded Thirdkill to Detroit for a 1986 second-round pick and a 1987 second-round pick. Thirdkill was the sole outgoing Suns asset, so both picks belong directly to this branch. The 1986 pick became No. 46 Jeff Hornacek. The 1987 pick became No. 46 Bruce Dalrymple, who did not play in the NBA.
Hornacek played 468 regular-season games for Phoenix across six seasons and started 343. He averaged 13.7 points and 5.4 assists across his Suns tenure while shooting 51.0 percent from the field. He developed into an All-Star and averaged 20.1 points in 1991-92. Phoenix then included Hornacek with Andrew Lang and Tim Perry in the 1992 trade for Charles Barkley. This review does not credit the entire Barkley return to Hornacek because Lang and Perry were also part of that package. It does credit Hornacek's six high-level Suns seasons and the fact that he remained a major trade asset at departure.
Denver's branch was genuinely strong. Kelley became Schayes plus cash, and Schayes delivered 536 games and 229 starts over eight seasons. Phoenix's branch produced fewer raw franchise games if Thirdkill and Hornacek are combined, but the quality of Hornacek's peak was much higher. He became a long-term starter, an All-Star and a 20-point scorer while remaining valuable enough to become a central component in a later superstar trade. This is not a one-sided outcome. Both teams turned their original asset into much more than the first-year return.
Suns Win, A+/A. Phoenix receives an A+ because the No. 15 pick became Thirdkill, then directly became the future pick used on Hornacek, who delivered 468 games, 343 starts and All-Star production. Denver receives an A because Kelley was converted one-for-one into Schayes and cash, producing 536 Schayes games and 229 starts across eight seasons. Phoenix wins on peak impact rather than volume.