Golden State finished with a modest edge. The Warriors acquired rights to Vonteego Cummings; first round pick (lottery protected) (2001 #14-Troy Murphy) from Indiana Pacers for rights to Jeff Foster.
Golden State sent the draft rights to Jeff Foster to Indiana in June 1999 for the rights to Vonteego Cummings and a lottery-protected future first-round pick. The structure gave Indiana one player it clearly wanted while the Warriors accepted both an immediate prospect and delayed first-round value. That future pick eventually conveyed at No. 14 in 2001 and became Troy Murphy.
Cummings had a limited NBA impact, but the delayed first made the trade work for Golden State. Murphy developed into a starting power forward, became one of the league’s stronger rebounders and produced multiple double-double seasons for the Warriors. He gave Golden State several years of starter-level production from an asset that did not even convey until two drafts after the original transaction.
Indiana also did well. Foster spent his entire NBA career with the Pacers, became a trusted rebounder and interior role player and was part of the franchise through years of playoff contention. His longevity and fit make this a genuinely competitive trade rather than a case where the losing side received little. The difference is that Murphy provided more individual offensive and statistical value at his peak, while Foster supplied durable role value on better teams.
The future first-round selection in this exchange was lottery-protected, so Golden State didn't obtain the right to draft Troy Murphy in June 1999. The Warriors received an obligation that later conveyed at No. 14 in the 2001 draft. That's an important distinction because the best eventual Golden State asset was still two years away when Jeff Foster's rights changed hands. Indiana immediately secured the player it wanted and went on to keep Foster for his NBA career, benefiting from his rebounding and role as a dependable frontcourt option. Golden State ultimately got a higher-scoring and stronger individual statistical peak from Murphy, while Vonteego Cummings did not become a comparable contributor. The slight B+ versus B margin is therefore based on the actual converted first and player outcomes, rather than counting the lottery-protected promise as an instant proven player.
Slight Warriors Edge — Golden State B+, Indiana B. The Warriors turned Jeff Foster’s rights into Vonteego Cummings and the future first that became Troy Murphy, who developed into a productive multi-year starter. Indiana still received excellent value because Foster became a long-tenured Pacer and reliable playoff rotation big. Both franchises found a player who fit their needs; Murphy’s higher individual peak gives Golden State only a modest historical edge.