Los Angeles Lakers finished with a modest realized-value edge in the 1988-11-02 transaction with San Antonio Spurs, receiving 1990 second-round pick (#51-Tony Smith (Anton)) for Mike Smrek.
The Lakers sent Mike Smrek to San Antonio on November 2, 1988 for a 1990 second-round draft choice. That pick eventually became No. 51 Tony Smith. The deal exchanged an existing frontcourt player's NBA rights for a later, comparatively low draft opportunity, not a player of equal professional standing. Los Angeles was trading away a center who had already been part of its roster in favor of a future backcourt or roster development chance.
Los Angeles eventually used the received 1990 selection on Tony Smith at No. 51. That was a real draft outcome rather than a conditional choice that was never exercised. Smith developed into an NBA guard and had a playing role with the Lakers, giving the franchise some recognizable return for surrendering Smrek. The late position of the choice limited its expected value, which makes the B grade a credit for a useful conversion rather than a claim of exceptional draft capital.
Smrek had NBA championship-era experience when the Spurs acquired him. He provided San Antonio a frontcourt option instead of a prospect waiting for a future draft. That was a legitimate reason to make the deal, but the recorded comparison assigns his Spurs return less value than the Lakers obtained from their No. 51 selection. The Spurs' C grade acknowledges a real acquired player while the Lakers' higher mark reflects turning the later pick into an NBA contributor.
Lakers Win. Los Angeles gets B for the 1990 No. 51 draft choice that became Tony Smith, who provided identifiable guard value for the team. San Antonio receives C for veteran center Mike Smrek. Both incoming pieces had NBA uses, but the Lakers' eventual draft outcome gave them the better completed return.