Butch Carter Was Worth the Immediate Knicks Rotation Spot
New York obtained Butch Carter from Indiana on October 19, 1984 for a second-round pick in the 1985 draft. The outgoing asset was a future choice rather than another established NBA guard, which made the transaction a direct decision between immediate minutes and a development opportunity. Carter appeared in 69 games for the Knicks in 1984-85, starting 11 and averaging 7.9 points with 2.4 assists. Five additional New York appearances followed in 1985-86 before he moved on. This isn't a long multi-season star acquisition, but it supplied a substantial share of one season's backcourt minutes at a limited draft cost.
Indiana Used the Pick at No. 27
The 1985 second-round selection became the No. 27 pick, used by Indiana to select Dwayne McClain. McClain played 45 NBA regular-season games for the Pacers, including four starts, and averaged 3.5 points in 10.2 minutes. His NBA career did not continue past that season. The selection therefore produced actual games but no long rotation tenure or traceable subsequent transaction asset of similar magnitude. McClain's limited Pacers stint should be evaluated on its own terms, not against an imaginary future player Indiana could have selected with the same pick. Carter was the larger direct player return in the completed comparison.
A Narrow but Verifiable Difference in Playing Time
New York's Carter return and Indiana's McClain return were both short, which limits the appropriate gap between grades. Carter contributed 69 games in his first Knicks season and five more the next, while McClain delivered 45 over his single Indiana campaign. Carter held a larger game-to-game role and offered more assists as a guard. There were no premium first-round choices, hidden player packages or later star transactions attached to the original agreement. This is a useful example of a small trade where identifiable playing time, rather than a complicated multi-team draft chain, is enough to establish the winner without overstating the stakes.
Final Verdict
Knicks Win. New York earns B+ for Carter's 74 games and stronger rotation role, while Indiana receives C- for the No. 27 pick used on McClain and his 45 games. Both returns were modest in the wider league history, but the Knicks secured more immediate useful minutes for the one second-round choice they surrendered.