Portland Sent Steve Smith for Three San Antonio Assets
In late July 2001, the Trail Blazers agreed to send veteran shooting guard Steve Smith to San Antonio for Derek Anderson, Steve Kerr and a 2003 second-round draft selection. Basketball-Reference lists the transaction on July 25, while a contemporaneous transaction archive dates agreement activity July 24. The distinction does not change the asset flow: Portland acquired two experienced guards plus a future draft option, while the Spurs took a proven shooter who could help stretch the floor around Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Anderson had just completed a productive San Antonio season and was re-signed before being sent to Portland. Contemporary reports described his six-year, $48 million arrangement. The deal was a major perimeter rotation change between two established Western Conference playoff franchises.
Anderson Became a Regular Portland Scoring Guard
Anderson was not a speculative overseas player or inactive salary piece. He took a large scoring and starting role for Portland in the following seasons, supplying slashing offense while the club continued reaching the postseason. Steve Kerr was an accomplished three-point shooter but had a smaller immediate Blazers role and returned to San Antonio in a separate 2002 transaction. The acquired future second eventually became No. 58 in the 2003 draft, connected to Andreas Glyniadakis, but that pick also moved through later trades. His later NBA minutes should not be mechanically assigned to Portland. The Blazers B+ inherited grade reflects the combination of an active scoring guard, experienced bench shooting and a future asset. It does not rest solely on the total number of named people acquired.
Smith Fit San Antonio Without Reproducing His Earlier Peak
Smith had been a prominent scorer for Portland and Atlanta, and San Antonio used his experience beside its established championship core. He was a regular rotation shooter in 2001-02, then his role became smaller as the Spurs adjusted their wing rotation ahead of the 2003 championship. His presence on that roster was a legitimate benefit, but the title was driven largely by Duncan and other starters; assigning the entire success of 2003 to Smith would overstate this transaction. San Antonio C inherited grade is substantially lower than Portlands B+, reflecting the larger quantity and longer usable career of Portland’s return. The direct trade must remain separate from the 2002 Spurs–Portland deal that sent Kerr and the same 2003 pick in another direction.
Final Verdict
Blazers Win. Portland earns B+ for Derek Anderson, Steve Kerr and a 2003 second-round pick later associated with No. 58 Andreas Glyniadakis. San Antonio gets C for Steve Smith, a veteran shooter who contributed to the Spurs rotation and was present during the franchises 2003 title season. Multiple Portland assets yielded more enduring direct value.