The Exchange
The Los Angeles Lakers sent Mel Counts to the Phoenix Suns for Gail Goodrich in May 1970. The package itself is unanimous across the reviewed sources, but the exact date is not. Basketball-Reference's Lakers, Suns and league transaction ledgers all list May 20, and RealGM also uses May 20. Pro Sports Transactions lists May 21, which matches the existing TradeVerdicts route date. This review preserves the May 21 canonical route and records the one-day source conflict rather than silently changing a live identifier.
Los Angeles Return
Goodrich returned to the franchise that had drafted him in 1965 after Phoenix had selected him in the 1968 expansion draft. His first season back was already productive: 79 games, 17.5 points and 4.8 assists per game in 1970-71. One year later he became the leading scorer on one of the most famous teams in league history. Goodrich averaged 25.9 points in all 82 games for the 1971-72 Lakers, narrowly leading Jerry West in scoring as Los Angeles won 69 games, produced a 33-game winning streak and captured the NBA championship.
The return lasted far beyond that title season. Goodrich made four consecutive All-Star teams from 1972 through 1975 and led the Lakers in scoring for four straight seasons from 1971-72 through 1974-75. He averaged 23.9 points in 1972-73, 25.3 in 1973-74 and 22.6 in 1974-75, then added 19.5 points and 5.6 assists in his final Lakers season in 1975-76. The franchise later retired his No. 25, and Goodrich was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Phoenix Return
Counts gave Phoenix legitimate frontcourt depth rather than disappearing after the trade. He played 80 games in 1970-71, averaging 11.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 20.9 minutes. In 1971-72 he appeared in 76 more games, although his role fell to 11.9 minutes and 5.2 points per game. Across the two Suns seasons, Counts supplied 156 regular-season appearances and more than 2,500 minutes.
That production keeps Phoenix from receiving a failing grade. Counts was a veteran seven-footer who could score and rebound in a reserve role, and he remained available nearly every night. But Phoenix had just received two strong Goodrich seasons before making the deal, including a 20.0-point, 7.5-assist campaign in 1969-70. Trading that 27-year-old guard for a useful but lower-impact veteran center created a large long-term opportunity cost.
Hindsight Comparison
The direct realized return is decisive. Counts gave Phoenix two useful seasons; Goodrich gave Los Angeles six, four All-Star selections and the highest scoring average on the 1972 champions. In the 1972 postseason he averaged 23.8 points across all 15 games as the Lakers won the title. The Lakers then continued to receive high-volume scoring from him through the middle of the decade.
This is also a case where no elaborate downstream chain is needed to establish the result. The acquired player himself produced the value. Phoenix's return was real, but the difference in role, longevity and championship contribution is too large to call the trade close.
Final Verdict
Lakers Win, A+/C+. Los Angeles receives an A+ for reacquiring a Hall of Fame guard who became a four-time All-Star during his second Lakers tenure, led the 1972 champions in regular-season scoring and remained a major offensive piece for six seasons. Phoenix receives a C+ for 156 games of useful center depth from Counts, with the grade recognizing that he was productive even though the Suns surrendered the much more valuable player. Confidence is high on the package and player outcomes and medium-high overall because the historical transaction ledgers disagree by one day on the date. The verdict reflects only verified transaction terms and realized team value.