NBA Trade Verdict
Lakers Win
New York moved 38-year-old Patrick Ewing through a four-team deal and received a large package of veterans and picks. The decision to move on was defensible, but the return never produced a durable successor core.
September 20, 2000 Los Angeles Lakers / New York Knicks / Phoenix Suns / Sonics Record confidence: Medium
Los Angeles Lakers Received
- Player Luc Longley
New York Knicks Received
- Player Luc Longley
- Player Glen Rice (Sr.)
- Player Travis Knight
- Player Vernon Maxwell
- Player Vladimir Stepania
- Player Lazaro Borrell
- Draft Pick 2001 first round pick (lottery protected) (#27-Jamaal Tinsley)
- Draft Pick 2001 second round pick (#38-Michael Wright)
- Draft Pick 2001 second round pick (#42-Eric Chenowith)
- Draft Pick first round pick (lottery protected) (2002 #20-Kareem Rush)
Phoenix Suns Received
- Player Chris Dudley
- Draft Pick 2001 first round pick (lottery protected) (#18-Jason Collins)
Sonics Received
- Player Patrick Ewing (Sr.)
Sonics
B-
Trade Analysis
New York had legitimate age and roster reasons to move on from 38-year-old Patrick Ewing, but its large return never produced a durable successor core. Across the four-team transaction, Los Angeles finished with the strongest overall realized value, reflected by an A- grade versus Phoenix's B and B- grades for New York and Seattle. That separation supports a Lakers Win without treating the Knicks' decision to transition from Ewing as inherently indefensible.