The Exchange
Chicago's own historical archive and Basketball-Reference both describe the October 2, 1995 transaction as Dennis Rodman to the Bulls for Will Perdue. The legacy archive entry's vague 'other considerations' asset is not supported by those primary and high-quality transaction records and is removed rather than treated as hidden value. At the time, Chicago was specifically looking for the rebounding and defensive presence lost when Horace Grant departed, while San Antonio was ready to move on from a highly productive but difficult fit.
Chicago Return
Rodman became exactly the specialized piece the Bulls needed. He played 64 regular-season games in 1995-96 and averaged 14.9 rebounds, 55 games in 1996-97 at 16.1 rebounds, and 80 games in 1997-98 at 15.0. He led the NBA in rebounding in all three seasons, made the All-Defensive First Team in 1995-96, and started 177 regular-season games across the three-year stint. Chicago won the championship in every one of those seasons. NBA.com's Rodman retrospective describes him as the missing piece alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, which matches the realized team result without requiring any speculative value calculation.
San Antonio Return
Perdue was not remotely as impactful as Rodman, but the legacy F grade ignores four seasons of useful center depth. He appeared in 80 games with 22 starts in 1995-96, then 65 games with 34 starts during the injury-ravaged 1996-97 season, 79 games with 30 starts in 1997-98, and 37 games in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. That totals 261 regular-season games and 87 starts. Perdue averaged 8.7 points and 9.8 rebounds in 1996-97 when San Antonio needed him most, then remained a reserve on the 1999 championship roster. The Spurs did not receive a star, but they did receive durable frontcourt innings and eventually a title-season contributor.
Final Verdict
Chicago wins decisively because Rodman's rebounding, defense and fit were instrumental to a three-title run. The Bulls earn an A+ because a one-for-one trade turned a useful center into an elite role player whose strengths matched the roster perfectly. San Antonio earns a B rather than an F: Perdue delivered four seasons, 261 games, 87 starts and a place on the 1999 title roster. The gap is still enormous at the top end, but the Spurs return had legitimate basketball value. Final verdict: Chicago Bulls Win.