An Unusual Rights Deal Brought John Paxson to Chicago
John Paxson was a veteran free agent rather than a player who arrived through a conventional exchange of contracts. On October 29, 1985, the Bulls signed Paxson after the San Antonio Spurs accepted cash compensation instead of exercising their right of first refusal. League and franchise transaction registers agree on the sequence. The amount of cash was not disclosed, so it cannot be compared with a specific payroll number. Chicago effectively acquired the freedom to use Paxson at point guard; San Antonio obtained only the financial consideration. The original agreement is properly treated as a rights-based transaction, not as a swap involving an additional player or draft pick.
Paxson Became a Championship Guard Over Multiple Seasons
Paxson joined a franchise still building around Michael Jordan and gave Chicago a reliable ball handler and perimeter shooter. His role expanded after the initial 1985-86 season and he became a familiar postseason starter as the Bulls rose toward their first championships. He was part of all three titles won from 1991 through 1993. His best-known shot came in Game 6 of the 1993 Finals, when his three-pointer with 3.9 seconds left turned a two-point Chicago deficit into a one-point win over Phoenix. The NBA directly documents the play. That historical contribution belongs to the Chicago return from this original rights transaction, not to any imagined later trade.
Cash Did Not Give San Antonio an Equivalent Basketball Return
The Spurs received cash for allowing the Bulls to sign Paxson. That was a valid transaction consideration, especially when San Antonio chose not to allocate further roster resources to him. But no player or draft right moved to the Spurs, and a dollar value cannot be established from the available records. Their D grade reflects the enormous later gap in identifiable basketball production rather than suggesting the front office literally received nothing. Chicago obtains an A for converting veteran free-agency compensation into a contributor who stayed through three championship seasons. The asymmetric grade fits the actual value captured by the two franchises.
Final Verdict
Bulls Win. Chicago earns A after securing John Paxson for cash and keeping a guard who contributed across three championships, including the deciding 1993 Finals shot. San Antonio receives D because its verified return was undisclosed cash with no accompanying player or draft asset.