The Verified October 8 Transaction
Basketball-Reference's Milwaukee, New Orleans and league transaction ledgers agree on the structure and date. The Bucks sent Russ Lee and their 1975 first-round pick to the expansion Jazz for Steve Kuberski and New Orleans' 1975 second-round pick. Wayne Embry's Milwaukee executive record and Bill Bertka's New Orleans executive record independently match the package. The archive maps the historical New Orleans Jazz to the modern Utah Jazz franchise key, so the transaction remains under utah-jazz even though every contemporary source uses New Orleans.
Russ Lee Was a Short-Term Jazz Piece
The legacy archive entry called him Russell Lee, but the verified player identity is Russ Lee, Basketball-Reference ID leeru01. New Orleans used him in only 15 regular-season games in 1974-75. He averaged 9.3 minutes, 4.3 points and 2.1 rebounds, then the Jazz waived him on November 27. Lee therefore supplied little direct value and did not create a later trade asset. His part of the package matters mostly because it accompanied the first-round pick that became the trade's dominant Jazz return.
Rich Kelley Became the Difference Maker
New Orleans used Milwaukee's 1975 first-round pick at No. 7 on Rich Kelley. He immediately became a productive center, playing 75 games as a rookie and averaging 7.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 assists. His role grew each season. Kelley played 76 games in 1976-77, all 82 in 1977-78 and 80 in 1978-79. In that final New Orleans season he averaged about 15.7 points and 12.8 rebounds, giving the franchise 313 regular-season games across four years from the acquired pick.
Kelley's Value Continued After the Move to Utah
The franchise moved to Utah in 1979, and Kelley still carried trade value. On October 2, the Jazz sent him to New Jersey for Bernard King, John Gianelli and Jim Boylan. That downstream return should not be credited entirely as if the original Milwaukee pick alone created every later win, but it demonstrates that Kelley remained a substantial asset after four productive seasons. The trade therefore generated both direct on-court value and a later three-player return for the Jazz franchise.
Milwaukee Received Useful but Limited Depth
Steve Kuberski appeared in 59 games for Milwaukee in 1974-75 and averaged 2.8 points and 2.1 rebounds in 8.8 minutes. The Bucks kept him into the next preseason, but Buffalo claimed him on waivers on October 16, 1975. Milwaukee's draft return was No. 22 Clyde Mayes. Mayes played 65 games for the Bucks in 1975-76, averaging 4.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 14.6 minutes. He did not become a long-term Milwaukee rotation piece, and his later NBA appearances came with other franchises.
Final Verdict
Jazz Win, A+/C+. The Jazz franchise receives an A+ because Milwaukee's first-round pick became Rich Kelley, who supplied four productive seasons and later brought back Bernard King, John Gianelli and Jim Boylan. Russ Lee added only 15 games, but the pick outcome alone makes the return excellent. Milwaukee receives a C+ because Kuberski and Mayes combined to provide one season each of reserve depth, but neither became a durable asset. Confidence is high on the October 8 date, player identities, draft outcomes and downstream Kelley trade. The verdict reflects only verified transaction terms and realized team value.