The Sonics Moved Xavier McDaniel for Johnson and Two Firsts
On December 7, 1990, Seattle traded defensive-minded scoring forward Xavier McDaniel to Phoenix for Eddie Johnson and first-round draft selections in 1991 and 1994. The picks became No. 22 LeRon Ellis and No. 6 Sharone Wright according to the recorded asset chain. McDaniel had been a central Seattle player through the late 1980s and was known for physical perimeter defense and interior scoring. Phoenix was seeking an experienced forward to bolster a strong Western Conference team, while Seattle preferred a veteran outside shooter and two chances to draft or trade younger talent. The move took place months before Seattle would trade part of its draft inventory in the Benoit Benjamin deal with the Clippers. Those follow-on choices must not be conflated with the original December agreement.
McDaniel Supplied Phoenix a Short High-Usage Forward Stint
McDaniel played for the Suns after the December trade and offered his usual combination of toughness, rebounding and scoring. But he did not stay in Phoenix for a long stretch of his career, moving to the Knicks in another transaction before the following season was far underway. His earlier Seattle All-Star and scoring seasons could not be credited again as Phoenix benefits. The Suns acquired a recognizable veteran capable of helping a playoff roster at the expense of two first-round choices. That opportunity cost was high for a player whose Phoenix tenure did not become an enduring franchise cornerstone. His physical style still had short-term appeal for matchups against bigger wings, and the deal should not be described as a zero-return acquisition simply because he eventually left.
Johnson and the Picks Made Seattle More Flexible
Eddie Johnson was a proven scoring forward and a natural complement to the rising talents of Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. He could supply offense off the bench or alongside the primary stars, while the two first-round choices gave the SuperSonics future negotiating power. The 1991 pick was subsequently involved in Seattle's February 1991 trade with the Clippers for Benoit Benjamin, so its ultimate selected player should not be assigned automatically to a Seattle roster. The 1994 No. 6 draft right also followed its own chain and cannot be treated as a player Seattle necessarily kept. The inherited Slight Seattle SuperSonics Edge thus rests on a veteran scorer plus two real first-round assets rather than on McDaniel's later New York work. Seattle received a broader package, while Phoenix made a concentrated veteran gamble.
Final Verdict
Slight Seattle SuperSonics Edge. Seattle obtained Eddie Johnson plus first-round choices tied to 1991 No. 22 LeRon Ellis and 1994 No. 6 Sharone Wright. Phoenix received Xavier McDaniel for a relatively short Suns tenure. The first-round picks created additional leverage even when their later draft rights moved again.