Phoenix Preferred Two Future Draft Chances
On October 9, 1973, Phoenix traded veteran center Walt Wesley to the Capital Bullets for two future third-round selections. The 1974 choice later appeared at No. 49, associated with Earl Williams, and the 1975 selection at No. 54 with Bayard Forrest. This transaction happened when the NBA draft extended well beyond two rounds, so third-round rights were legitimate prospects rather than modern undrafted-free-agent invitations. Phoenix opted to create two new chances to find frontcourt talent rather than commit another roster season to Wesley, who already had several years of league experience.
Washington Pursued Immediate Center Depth
The Bullets, indexed under the modern Washington Wizards franchise lineage, acquired Wesley as a veteran interior option. They were not receiving an unproven college player or an extra draft selection. The club's established lineup could use him in practices and roster combinations without waiting through two future drafts. His previous seasons elsewhere should not be treated as fresh Capital Bullets performance, however, and the transaction itself did not guarantee a prominent long-term starting role. The relevant return was the player on his new contract, set against the two picks Washington relinquished.
Third-Round Rights Did Not Guarantee NBA Careers
Earl Williams and Bayard Forrest provide names and slots for the selections Phoenix acquired, but those historical draft identities require separate roster verification. A player being selected at No. 49 or No. 54 didn't establish that he became a regular Suns center. The value of the package was the pair of attempts to identify talent or use the rights in another personnel agreement. Counting both picks as fully successful drafted starters would overstate the return. At the same time, treating third-round selections as nonexistent because today's draft only has two rounds would erase genuine 1970s capital.
The Suns Had a Slightly Broader Set of Options
The Suns ended the trade with two separate future selections while Washington gained a known center who could serve its immediate roster. Neither club obtained a top overall draft pick, and Wesley was a useful veteran rather than a dominant star by 1973. Phoenix has the stronger asset count, especially because its draft rights were held in different years. A measured Suns win captures those development opportunities without borrowing Williams's or Forrest's entire later careers. Washington's choice remains reasonable for a contender trying to staff its frontcourt with established professional experience.
Final Verdict
Suns Win on draft flexibility. Phoenix earns B for two third-round selections, which later corresponded to 1974 No. 49 Earl Williams and 1975 No. 54 Bayard Forrest. The Capital Bullets, historically grouped under Washington's franchise record, get C+ for veteran Walt Wesley. The Suns' incoming rights weren't automatically two productive NBA roster players.