Denver Collected Eric Washington and a Future Second
On June 25, 1997, Denver acquired the rights to guard Eric Washington from Orlando, plus a 1999 second-round draft pick. Orlando received the rights to center Jason Lawson. The later second-round selection became No. 55 in 1999, associated with forward Kris Clack. The agreement was a modest swap of draft rights and a future selection rather than a move that sent an established veteran scorer across the country. Both franchises were looking for inexpensive development options after difficult seasons. Denver chose a guard prospect and another chance to draft, while Orlando favored a young interior player. The 1999 pick requires its own downstream history; acquiring a draft right does not automatically mean the selected player spent an NBA season with the original club.
Washington Offered a Prospect, Not an Immediate Lead Guard
Washington came from Alabama after a productive college career, but the transition to the NBA was difficult. He did not become a franchise-defining Denver starting guard, and the Nuggets still faced a difficult rebuilding period. His rights were a real asset, however, and the club could evaluate whether he offered depth behind its established guards. Denver’s inherited C+ grade credits the combination of two developmental opportunities rather than proven scoring from Washington alone. The 1999 second-rounder gave the front office flexibility in a later draft when the roster might have different needs. That additional selection made Denver’s asset position somewhat stronger than the one prospect moved to Orlando. It should not be inflated into a guaranteed 1999 star because the pick was in the late second round.
Lawson Did Not Establish a Lasting Magic Center Role
Lawson was a center prospect coming out of Villanova, and Orlando gained his NBA rights instead of giving up an active starting big man. He did not become a lasting Magic first-team contributor. The club’s C- grade reflects an understandable search for inexpensive interior size that did not yield the substantial playing return a young rebuilding organization would hope for. The inherited Even Trade label, despite Denver C+ against Orlando C-, represents a generous neutral conclusion and should not be presented as equal numerical grading. Denver acquired both Washington and another second-round option; Orlando received one center right. Neither side obtained a proven high-level NBA regular, limiting the transaction’s historical impact. The late-pick uncertainty is more important here than either prospect’s college scoring statistics.
Final Verdict
Even Trade in the inherited verdict, though Denver grades C+ against Orlando C-. Denver received Eric Washington rights and the 1999 No. 55 second-round pick tied to Kris Clack. Orlando acquired the rights to Jason Lawson. None of the prospects became a long-term starting NBA contributor for the acquiring club.