Kansas City sold Reggie Johnson's player rights to Philadelphia on February 15, 1983 for cash. The reviewed public ledgers do not identify the sale amount. Johnson played 29 regular-season games for the 76ers, started eight and averaged 5.5 points in 18.9 minutes, then appeared in six playoff games during Philadelphia's 1983 championship run. The 76ers later traded him to New Jersey for Horace Owens, Eddie Phillips and a 1987 second-round pick, preserving additional asset value beyond that title season. Kansas City realized cash for a departing player, but without a known large amount the direct and downstream basketball return favors Philadelphia.
Basketball-Reference's Kansas City, Philadelphia and league transaction ledgers describe the February 15, 1983 move as a sale of Reggie Johnson's player rights to the 76ers. The canonical record correctly records cash going to Kansas City. None of the reviewed public ledgers identifies the dollar amount, so this review does not assign a speculative financial value to the Kings' return.
Johnson had played 50 games for Kansas City earlier in 1982-83. After the rights sale, he appeared in 29 regular-season games for Philadelphia and started eight. He averaged 18.9 minutes, 5.5 points and 3.1 rebounds while providing another frontcourt option behind the 76ers' established stars. Philadelphia finished 65-17 and swept through the 1983 NBA Finals. Johnson also appeared in six playoff games during that championship run.
Johnson did not stay in Philadelphia beyond that season. On October 25, 1983, the 76ers traded him to New Jersey for Horace Owens, Eddie Phillips and a 1987 second-round pick that later became Andrew Kennedy. This review does not assign the entire later value of those assets to the original cash purchase without qualification, but the transaction matters because it shows Philadelphia retained trade utility after receiving 29 regular-season games and championship-season depth from Johnson.
The Kings received cash rather than a player or draft pick. Selling a player who was leaving the roster created real economic value and should not be treated as zero. The problem is evidentiary: the reviewed sources do not state the amount. Without a documented large payment, there is no basis to claim the cash outweighed the basketball value Philadelphia received.
The 76ers obtained 29 regular-season games, eight starts and six playoff appearances from Johnson during a championship season. They then converted him into another multi-asset package before the following season. Kansas City received an unquantified cash return. That is tangible value, but the known realized outcome is stronger on Philadelphia's side.
76ers Win, B/C. Philadelphia receives a B because Johnson supplied useful championship-season depth and still carried trade value afterward. Kansas City receives a C because selling the rights produced cash, but the amount is unknown and no additional basketball asset entered the franchise through the documented transaction. Confidence is medium because the cash figure is unresolved.