New York Acquired a Former All-Star for Its Stretch Run
The Knicks sent Herb Williams and Ron Grandison to Philadelphia on February 19, 1998, acquiring veteran power forward Terry Cummings. Cummings was no longer the high-volume scorer he had been earlier in his career, but the Knicks were looking for bench help behind a roster that expected to reach the postseason. Philadelphia was reorganizing several veteran contracts during the same month. The exchange involved three named forwards, without a draft pick or cash consideration, making the subsequent playing time particularly useful for judging each side.
Cummings Logged Thirty Knicks Games and More Than Five Hundred Minutes
Cummings appeared in thirty Knicks regular-season games after the deal, starting once and logging 529 minutes. He scored 234 points, collected 135 rebounds and shot 47.7 percent from the field. That worked out to 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per appearance, useful numbers in a reserve frontcourt position. The 44 games he had played for Philadelphia before the trade cannot be added to New York's return. His Knicks stint ended after the season, so this was an immediate veteran rental rather than a long-term acquisition.
Philadelphia Waived Both Incoming Players Within Two Days
Philadelphia received two players but neither became an NBA contributor for the 76ers. Contemporary news reporting states that the club waived both Herb Williams and Ron Grandison two days after the exchange. The two players' earlier Knicks careers are not Philadelphia production, and they did not log a Sixers regular-season appearance after the deal. The waivers indicate that the transaction served immediate roster management more than a strategy to develop either incoming veteran. Philadelphia received no demonstrated playing return from the two named players.
The Realized Receiving-Team Difference Reverses the Verdict
Cummings was a declining player, and the Knicks should not earn credit for his earlier All-Star years in San Diego, Milwaukee or San Antonio. Nevertheless, New York obtained 529 minutes of functional frontcourt help while Philadelphia released both incoming forwards almost immediately. On a team-specific evaluation, that is a straightforward advantage for the Knicks. The original 76ers-win grade appears to have attributed value to a package of names without checking whether those players ever appeared for their new club. A solid, not spectacular, New York grade is justified by the actual games.
Final Verdict
Knicks Win. New York receives B for Terry Cummings's thirty regular-season games, 529 minutes, 234 points and 135 rebounds after his arrival. Philadelphia receives D+ because Herb Williams and Ron Grandison were both waived within two days and provided no 76ers playing time. The incoming veteran was useful only for New York, contradicting the inherited Philadelphia-favored grade.