Even Trade

Miami received 1988 second-round pick (#35-Sylvester Gray) and sent Heat's agreement not to select Dennis Johnson in the expansion draft in the 1988-06-23 transaction with Boston Celtics. The realized player production, draft outcomes and transaction context did not create enough durable separation to justify a directional verdict. The C+/C+ grade pairing reflects comparable realized value rather than artificial symmetry. The review weighs actual NBA contribution, pick conversion, contract context, timing and downstream asset use, including whether either side converted the original return into something more valuable. Neither side created a sufficiently durable advantage to support a directional verdict, so the transaction is retained as a genuine even rather than pushed into a win or loss bucket to shape the overall curve.