The Exchange
Pro Sports Transactions records the September 19, 1972 exchange as New York sending Milt Williams to Golden State for an undisclosed draft pick or future draft consideration in the 1973 draft. RealGM independently records Williams moving from the Knicks to the Warriors that day. Basketball-Reference's team transaction pages are less complete for this specific exchange, so the specialist transaction database and RealGM supply the strongest direct evidence for the trade mechanics. The exact draft round, pick number and eventual selected player remain unresolved, which prevents this archive from assigning New York a specific draft outcome.
Golden State's Intended Return
Williams had a small NBA résumé before the deal. He appeared in five games for New York in 1970-71 and ten for Atlanta in 1971-72 after the Hawks claimed him from the Knicks on waivers. New York later reacquired his rights before sending him to Golden State. The Warriors were therefore acquiring a veteran fringe point guard rather than a proven rotation player. That can still have practical roster value in training camp, but hindsight grading depends on what actually reached the regular-season court.
Zero Warriors Games
Golden State received no regular-season production from Williams. RealGM and Pro Sports Transactions both record the Warriors waiving him on October 9, 1972, less than three weeks after the trade and before the regular season began. Basketball-Reference lists Williams as playing in another professional league during 1972-73, and he does not appear on Golden State's 47-35 roster. The Warriors reached the Western Conference Finals without him. For this transaction, Golden State's realized return is therefore zero NBA games, minutes, points or assists.
Williams' Later Career
Williams did return to the NBA, but not through Golden State. Seattle signed him in October 1973, and he played 53 games for the SuperSonics in 1973-74, averaging 3.1 points and 1.9 assists in 9.5 minutes. He later appeared briefly in the ABA. Those later games confirm that Williams still had professional ability, but they cannot be credited to the Warriors because Golden State had already waived him and received no compensation when he left. Hindsight grading must follow the asset chain actually retained by each team.
New York's Unresolved Consideration
The Knicks' return is harder to value. Pro Sports Transactions labels it an undisclosed draft pick or future draft consideration in the 1973 draft, but the reviewed sources do not resolve the round, selection number or player produced by that consideration. The archive therefore does not attach one of New York's 1973 picks to this deal without evidence. That uncertainty caps the Knicks' grade: they clearly received a contractual asset, but the realized basketball payoff cannot be measured with the same precision as a known draft selection.
Final Verdict
Slight Knicks Edge, D/C. Golden State receives a D because Williams never played a regular-season game for the Warriors and was waived before opening night. New York receives a C because the Knicks obtained future draft consideration, but the exact 1973 asset and downstream player remain unidentified. The gap stays modest because an unresolved future consideration cannot be treated as a successful draft return merely because Golden State received zero games. Confidence is medium-high on the player movement and waiver, but only medium on New York's complete return because the pick identity is still unknown. The verdict reflects only verified transaction terms and realized team value.