NBA Trade Verdict

Wizards Win

Washington Wizards captured the stronger long-term value in the 1981-08-05 transaction; Los Angeles Lakers' return of Bullets' agreement not to exercise their right of first refusal on veteran free agent Mitch Kupchak did not match Jim Chones; Brad Holland; plus 2 additional assets.

August 5, 1981 Los Angeles Lakers / Washington Wizards Record confidence: Medium

Los Angeles Lakers Received

  • Other Bullets agreed to not exercise their right of first refusal on veteran free agent Mitch Kupchak

Washington Wizards Received

Trade Analysis

Los Angeles Lakers received Bullets' agreement not to exercise their right of first refusal on veteran free agent Mitch Kupchak and sent Jim Chones; Brad Holland; 1982 second-round pick (#44-Mike Gibson); 1983 first-round pick (#22-Randy Wittman) in the transaction with Washington Wizards. Mitch Kupchak ultimately contributed to championship-caliber Lakers teams, but Washington received Jim Chones, Brad Holland and meaningful draft capital including the pick used on Randy Wittman. The counterpart retained a clear realized-value edge, reflected in the C+/A- grade pairing. The evaluation is retrospective: it weighs what the players and draft assets actually became, while still considering role, age, contract timing, competitive-window fit and identifiable downstream asset conversion.