Los Angeles acquired freedom to pursue Frank Brickowski when Seattle declined to match the free agent in October 1986. The SuperSonics received cash and a 1988 third-round choice with an unidentified eventual draft outcome. The inherited Lakers Win grades Los Angeles B+ and Seattle C+.
The Lakers wanted veteran big man Frank Brickowski in October 1986. Seattle held a right of first refusal but agreed not to exercise it in exchange for cash and a future third-round selection. Los Angeles thereby gained a clearer path to pursue the player without another club matching the offer. This was a negotiated waiver of a free-agent right, not a conventional trade of two active NBA players.
Brickowski's size and professional experience made him a plausible frontcourt reserve for a Lakers team built around established stars. His earlier performances elsewhere didn't automatically become Los Angeles production, and the agreement itself wasn't a new championship achievement. The primary benefit was access to a veteran the club wanted to sign. That was a more immediate objective than holding a future third-round draft opportunity.
The SuperSonics obtained cash and a third-round choice for 1988. The precise later identity of that pick is uncertain in the inherited archive, and no named NBA prospect should be credited to Seattle without verifying the right's eventual destination. The cash supplied concrete compensation for releasing the matching right. This gave Seattle an alternative form of value rather than another experienced big man on its roster.
The inherited Lakers B+ reflects success in gaining a path to Brickowski, while Seattle's C+ credits financial compensation and future draft potential. The return packages were different in timing and certainty. Neither should be described as bringing an established new star by itself. The accurate comparison explains the special free-agent mechanism, the unsigned draft uncertainty and why Los Angeles considered the ability to pursue the center useful.
Lakers Win. Los Angeles receives B+ for Seattle's agreement not to match Frank Brickowski's free-agent move. The SuperSonics earn C+ for cash and an incompletely identified 1988 third-round right. The Lakers got a chance to add a veteran center, while Seattle received compensation without a guaranteed future contributor.