The Kings Sent a Veteran Scorer to the Spurs for a Young Center
On December 11, 1984, Kansas City traded Billy Knight to San Antonio for Mark McNamara. This was the Kings' final season in Kansas City before their move to Sacramento, so the modern archive team name shouldn't obscure which franchise made the decision. Knight was a veteran wing with a long ABA and NBA scoring history, while McNamara was a younger center whose size appealed to a team needing different bench options. The trade was a direct two-player exchange. Neither franchise acquired a draft selection, extra cash, or another contractual asset as part of the recorded terms.
Knight Added Measurable Depth to San Antonio
Knight played 52 regular-season games for the Spurs in 1984-85, averaging 11.8 minutes and 6.0 points, according to San Antonio's season ledger. He also appeared five times in the playoffs, though his scoring and minutes were modest there. The Spurs didn't gain an All-Star or a new full-time starter. They did obtain an experienced small forward who could fill a real reserve shift for most of the year. Their A- grade in the canonical record is a favorable relative verdict on the exchange, not an assertion that those minutes constituted franchise-level value. The near-term contribution was clear enough to establish an advantage over the alternative.
McNamara's Kansas City Rotation Opportunity Stayed Small
McNamara suited up for 33 Kings games following the move, playing 6.4 minutes per appearance and averaging 2.4 points and 1.7 rebounds. He didn't start a game for Kansas City during that stint. The club briefly gained another available center but received little frontcourt production and no enduring role from the acquisition. San Antonio had received 52 games of veteran wing depth in return, a more tangible one-season contribution. Kansas City's D+ reflects that limited outcome rather than blaming McNamara for every difficulty the team faced that year. Both players were complementary roster pieces, yet Knight provided materially more regular playing time after the trade.
Final Verdict
Spurs Win. San Antonio gets A- for Billy Knight's 52 games of reserve work and five postseason appearances. The Kansas City Kings earn D+ after Mark McNamara managed 33 games at only 6.4 minutes per night. The Spurs received the stronger short-term return in a modest veteran-for-center exchange.