Milwaukee Swapped a Reserve Forward for a Former All-Star Center
The Bucks received Kevin Duckworth from the Washington Bullets on October 18, 1995, sending Bob McCann back to the nation's capital. Duckworth had twice made the All-Star team during his Portland years, but he was no longer the productive offensive center of the late 1980s. Milwaukee was testing whether veteran frontcourt size could help a team with a thin center rotation. Washington wanted a player who could cover forward minutes while its roster waited for Chris Webber to return from injury. The player-for-player terms and transaction date are documented in the teams' season registers, without an attached pick or cash.
Duckworth Managed Only Eight Bucks Games
Duckworth's past recognition brought almost no 1995-96 playing return for Milwaukee. He appeared in eight Bucks regular-season games, started one and logged 58 minutes. His entire statistical contribution was nine points, seven rebounds and two assists. Milwaukee finished 25-57, but the trade cannot be blamed for that record any more than Duckworth can be credited with improving it. His Portland and earlier Washington totals are not Bucks production, and he subsequently played for the Clippers rather than remaining a useful Milwaukee frontcourt fixture. The acquired veteran had reached the end of his ability to sustain rotation minutes.
McCann Played 62 Washington Games Despite a Waiver
McCann's Washington stint was more substantial, although the club did not keep him continuously on a standard contract. He appeared in 62 regular-season games for the 1995-96 Bullets, totaling 653 minutes with no starts. Washington waived him on January 5, re-signed him to a ten-day deal January 10 and brought him back for the rest of the season February 3. That sequence matters because it explains how his roster status briefly changed without ending his 1995-96 playing return. McCann remained a deep reserve, averaging approximately 10.5 minutes per appearance, but he supplied many more usable games than Duckworth managed for Milwaukee.
Washington Got Functional Bench Coverage Instead of a Name
At the time of the exchange, Duckworth carried the stronger career reputation. Yet the actual receiving-team contribution went the other way: Washington used McCann in 62 games, while Milwaukee received eight short Duckworth appearances. McCann's temporary release and later return do not create a separate trade, and the earlier careers of both players are irrelevant to what the acquiring clubs received. The Bullets still did not secure a starter or a playoff berth, so the grade should stay measured. The difference between hundreds of frontcourt reserve minutes and a 58-minute rental is enough, however, to overturn the inherited Milwaukee-favored verdict.
Final Verdict
Bullets Win. Washington gets B for 62 Bob McCann games and 653 minutes during 1995-96, including the reserve's post-waiver return. Milwaukee receives D+ for just eight Kevin Duckworth games, 58 minutes and nine points. Duckworth's former All-Star status did not translate into Bucks playing value.