Portland Acquired Eddie Jordan for a Conditional Third
Portland's September 28, 1984 transaction brought guard Eddie Jordan from the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers received the right to a conditional third-round choice in the 1985 draft. The draft's additional rounds meant this was a real option, although its potential value was substantially below the first round. Portland pursued a named NBA veteran to assess during the upcoming season, while Los Angeles moved a guard who wasn't central to its established championship-contending rotation. The pick's particular conveyance condition remains important because it determines whether the Lakers actually received and used a final draft slot.
Jordan Offered Veteran Ball Handling to Portland
Jordan had previous experience with NBA offenses and could provide backcourt competition as the Trail Blazers adjusted their roster. His service should be assessed from the date Portland obtained him rather than by importing appearances for the Lakers or another team before September. The trade did not suggest Jordan was a new perennial All-Star, but acquiring a working veteran could still be valuable to a club needing depth. His usefulness depended on the minutes actually awarded and on later personnel choices. This gives Portland a concrete personnel asset instead of a purely hypothetical future chance.
Los Angeles Held a Conditional Rather Than Guaranteed Pick
The Lakers' compensation was described as a conditional 1985 third-round selection, not an unprotected first or a confirmed high second. Without more definitive evidence of the condition's satisfaction and the final selected player, a retrospective must avoid assigning a particular eventual draftee to Los Angeles. Moving Jordan provided room to manage an already strong group of guards, and a future selection offered additional flexibility if it conveyed. That is a reasonable resource choice for a contender, even if the basketball value of a conditional late draft slot is harder to document than Portland's incoming veteran.
The Blazers Had the Clearer Near-Term Basketball Return
Portland acquired a specific guard with professional experience, while the Lakers accepted a contingent lower-round position and the ability to rearrange their roster. Because the future pick's final outcome isn't established in the canonical agreement, Jordan is the more tangible asset to value. That supports a narrow Blazers-winning result rather than a sweeping endorsement. The Lakers' decision fits their roster context and their conditional rights should not be dismissed. Both sides received comparatively small forms of value, and neither club's larger postseason accomplishments were produced exclusively by this exchange.
Final Verdict
Slight Blazers Edge. Portland earns B- for acquiring veteran guard Eddie Jordan and the chance to use him immediately. The Lakers receive C+ for a conditional 1985 third-round selection, whose final conveyance and draft identity aren't established here. Jordan's prior Los Angeles games cannot be counted as new Portland production.