1979 NBA Draft Pick Transactions
yellow = data that is incomplete or uncertain
| Overall # | Round # | Team | Transactions | Player Drafted | |
| Round 1 | |||||
| 1 | 1-1 | Jazz | > Lakers — Sent 1977 second round pick (#44-Essie Hollis), 1978 first round pick (#16-Jack Givens) to Jazz and received 1977 first round pick (#6-Kenny Carr), 1978 first round pick (#8-Freeman Williams), 1979 first round pick (#1-Earvin "Magic" Johnson), 1980 second round pick (#26-Sam Worthen) from Jazz on 1976-08-05 as compensation for Lakers 1976-07-19 signing of free agent Gail Goodrich | Earvin "Magic" Johnson | |
| 2 | 1-2 | Bulls | David Greenwood | ||
| 3 | 1-3 | Celtics | > Knicks — Traded Bob McAdoo to Celtics for 1979 first round pick (#3-Bill Cartwright), 1979 first round pick (#9-Larry Demic), 1979 first round pick (#21-Sylvester Williams), player to be named later (Tom Barker on 2/14/79) on 1979-02-12 | Bill Cartwright | |
| 4 | 1-4 | Cavaliers | > Bucks — Traded 1978 first round pick (#15-Mike Mitchell) to Cavaliers for 1979 first round pick (#4-Greg Kelser) on 1978-06-01 | > Pistons — Traded 1979 first round pick (#5-Sidney Moncrief), cash to Bucks for 1979 first round pick (#4-Greg Kelser) on 1979-06-25 | Greg Kelser |
| 5 | 1-5 | Pistons | > Bucks — Traded 1979 first round pick (#4-Greg Kelser) to Pistons for 1979 first round pick (#5-Sidney Moncrief), cash on 1979-06-25 | Sidney Moncrief | |
| 6 | 1-6 | Knicks | > Sonics — Traded Spencer Haywood to Knicks for Eugene Short, 1979 first round pick (#6-James Bailey), cash on 1975-10-24 | James Bailey | |
| 7 | 1-7 | Nets | > Knicks — Sent Phil Jackson, 1978 first round pick (#13-Winford Boynes) to Nets for 1978 first round pick (#4-Micheal Ray Richardson), 1979 first round pick (#7-Vinnie Johnson), cash in settlement of Nets' indemnity agreement on 1978-06-08 | > Sonics — Sent (in later modification of compensation on 1980-07-29) 1981 first round pick (#7-Steve Johnson) to Knicks and received Lonnie Shelton, 1979 first round pick (#7-Vinnie Johnson), cash from Knicks as compensation for Knicks signing of free agent Marvin Webster on 1979-09-29 | Vinnie Johnson |
| 8 | 1-8 | Pacers | > Bucks — Received 1979 first round pick (#8-Calvin Natt) from Pacers on 1978-10-03 in exchange for agreeing to not exercise their right of first refusal on free agent Alex English (who was signed by the Pacers on 1978-06-08) |
> Nets — Traded Harvey Catchings to Bucks for John Gianelli, 1979 first round pick (#8-Calvin Natt) on 1979-05-31 | Calvin Natt |
| 9 | 1-9 | Warriors | > Celtics — Traded Jo Jo White to Warriors for 1979 first round pick (#9-Larry Demic) on 1979-01-30 | > Knicks — Traded Bob McAdoo to Celtics for 1979 first round pick (#3-Bill Cartwright), 1979 first round pick (#9-Larry Demic), 1979 first round pick (#21-Sylvester Williams), player to be named later (Tom Barker on 1979-02-14) on 1979-02-12 | Larry Demic |
| 10 | 1-10 | Bucks | > Braves — Traded John Gianelli, cash to Bucks for 1979 first round pick (#10-Roy Hamilton) on 1977-09-02 | > Pistons — Traded Marvin Barnes, 1978 second round pick (#38-Lew Massey), 1978 fourth round pick (#73-Larry Harris) to Braves for John Shumate, player to be named later (Gus Gerard on 11/25/77), 1979 first round pick (#10-Roy Hamilton) on 1977-11-23 |
Roy Hamilton |
| 11 | 1-11 | Clippers | > Nets — Traded Nate Archibald to Braves for George Johnson, 1978 first round pick (#4-Micheal Ray Richardson), 1979 first round pick (#11-Cliff Robinson) on 1977-09-01 | Cliff Robinson | |
| 12 | 1-12 | Blazers | Jim Paxson | ||
| 13 | 1-13 | Hawks | > Pacers — Received 1979 first round pick (#13-Dudley Bradley), cash from Hawks as compensation for their 6/9/78signing of free agent Dan Roundfield on 1978-07-28 | Dudley Bradley | |
| 14 | 1-14 | Lakers | Brad Holland | ||
| 15 | 1-15 | Nuggets | > Pistons — Traded Ralph Simpson to Nuggets for Jim Price, 1979 first round pick (#15-Phil Hubbard) on 1978-02-01 | Phil Hubbard | |
| 16 | 1-16 | 76ers | Jim Spanarkel | ||
| 17 | 1-17 | Rockets | Lee Johnson | ||
| 18 | 1-18 | Kings | Reggie King | ||
| 19 | 1-19 | Spurs | Wiley Peck | ||
| 20 | 1-20 | Suns | > Jazz — Traded Len `Truck` Robinson to Suns for Marty Byrnes, Ron Lee, 1979 first round pick (#20-Larry Knight), 1980 first round pick (#19-John Duren), cash on 1979-01-12 | Larry Knight | |
| 21 | 1-21 | Sonics | > Celtics — Traded Dennis Awtrey to Sonics for 1979 first round pick (#21-Sylvester Williams) on 1979-01-17 | > Knicks — Traded Bob McAdoo to Celtics for 1979 first round pick (#3-Bill Cartwright), 1979 first round pick (#9-Larry Demic), 1979 first round pick (#21-Sylvester Williams), player to be named later (Tom Barker on 1979-02-14) on 1979-02-12 | Sylvester Williams |
| 22 | 1-22 | Bullets | > Suns — Traded rights to Steve Malovic to Bullets for 1979 first round pick (#22-Kyle Macy), 1980 third round pick (#59-John Campbell) on 1979-06-22 | Kyle Macy | |
| Round 2 | |||||
| 23 | 2-1 | Jazz | Tico Brown | ||
| 24 | 2-2 | Celtics | > Suns — Traded Dennis Awtrey to Celtics for second round pick (1979 #24-Johnny High), cash on 1978-10-11 | Johnny High | |
| 25 | 2-3 | Pistons | > Nuggets
Ralph Simpson/Jim Price trade— we have conflicting information on this trade. Some sources show the trade as Simpson for Price and a 1979 first round pick. The 1980-81 NBA Register says Simpson and a draft choice (singular) for Price and draft choices (plural) [neither Simpson nor Price lasted in the NBA to the point where the NBA Register began specifying the year and round of draft choices in its trade descriptions]. The 1979 and 1980 draft coverage issues of TSN each show a pick going from Pistons to Nuggets, which contradicts the singular draft choice mentioned in the Register.
Nuggets traded Jim Price, 1979 first round pick (#15-Phil Hubbard) to Pistons for Ralph Simpson on 1978-02-01 — no mention of 1979 second round pick ???
Nuggets media guide shows first round pick. |
> Lakers — Traded Charlie Scott in 3-team trade with Kings and Nuggets for Ron Boone, 1979 second round pick (#25-Oliver Mack), second round pick (1979 #41-Mark Young) on 1978-06-26 | Oliver Mack |
| 26 | 2-4 | Cavaliers | Bruce Flowers | ||
| 27 | 2-5 | Knicks | Reggie Carter | ||
| 28 | 2-6 | Bulls | > Warriors — Traded Charles Dudley to Bulls for future considerations (1979 #28-Danny Salisbury) on 1978-10-10 |
Danny Salisbury | |
| 29 | 2-7 | Nets | > Pistons — Traded Howard Porter, Kevin Porter, cash to Nets for Al Skinner, 1978 second round pick (#23-Terry Tyler), 1979 second round pick (#29-Tony Price) on 1977-11-07
Pistons and Nets media guides both mention the 1979 pick; the Register has conflicting information as to whether or not it was included. |
Tony Price | |
| 30 | 2-8 | Warriors | > Clippers — Received 1979 second round pick (#30-Gary Garland) from Warriors on 12/28/1978 as compensation for Warriors 7/15/78 signing of free agent Tom Abernathy |
> Nuggets — Received two 1979 second round picks (#30-Gary Garland) (#33-Lawrence Butler) from Clippers on 6/14/79 as compensation for Clippers signing of free agent Brian Taylor on 1979-02-15 |
Gary Garland |
| 31 | 2-9 | Bucks | Edgar Jones | ||
| 32 | 2-10 | Pacers | Tony Zeno | ||
| 33 | 2-11 | Clippers | > Nuggets — Received two 1979 second round picks (#30-Gary Garland) (#33-Lawrence Butler) from Clippers on 6/14/79 as compensation for Clippers signing of free agent Brian Taylor on 1979-02-15 | > Bulls — Traded cash to Nuggets for two 1979 draft picks (probably #33-Lawrence Butler?) (possibly #197-Cortez Collins?) on 1979-06-23 | Lawrence Butler |
| 34 | 2-12 | Blazers | > Knicks — Received 1979 second round pick (#34-Kim Goetz) from Blazers on 1978-12-15 as compensation for free agent signing of Jim McMillian |
Kim Goetz | |
| 35 | 2-13 | Hawks | James Bradley | ||
| 36 | 2-14 | Nuggets | > Nets — Traded Darnell Hillman to Nuggets for 1979 second round pick (#36-Clint Richardson) on 1978-01-30 |
> 76ers — Traded Wilson Washington to Nets for future draft considerations (1979 #36-Clint Richardson) (1982 #36-Mitchell Anderson) (1983 #64-Claude Riley) on 1978-01-31 |
Clint Richardson |
| 37 | 2-15 | 76ers | Bernard Toone | ||
| 38 | 2-16 | Rockets | > Hawks — Traded Ron Behagen to Rockets for 1978 second round pick (#25-Rick Wilson), 1979 second round pick (#38-Larry Wilson) on 1977-12-16 |
Larry Wilson | |
| 39 | 2-17 | Lakers | Victor King | ||
| 40 | 2-18 | Spurs | > Sonics — Traded Mike Green to Spurs for 1978 second round pick (#42-Kevin McDonald), 1979 second round pick (#40-Andrew Fields) on 1977-11-12 |
> Blazers — Traded Wally Walker to Sonics for 1978 first round pick (#7-Ron Brewer), 1979 second round pick (#40-Andrew Fields) on 1977-11-11 | Andrew Fields |
| 41 | 2-19 | Kings | > Nuggets — Traded Darnell Hillman, rights to Mike Evans to Kings for Ron Boone, 1979 second round pick (#41-Mark Young) on 1978-06-26 |
> Lakers — Traded Charlie Scott to Nuggets for Ron Boone, 1979 second round pick (#25-Oliver Mack), 1979 second round pick (#41-Mark Young) on 1978-06-26 |
Mark Young |
| 42 | 2-20 | Suns | > Sonics — Traded rights to Bayard Forrest to Suns for 1979 second round pick (#42-Paul Mokeski), cash on 1977-03-18 |
> Rockets — Traded John Johnson to Sonics for 1979 second round pick (#42-Paul Mokeski), 1980 second round pick (#43-Billy Williams) on 1977-10-24
not 100% sure Billy Williams is the right pick |
Paul Mokeski |
| 43 | 2-21 | Sonics | John Moore | ||
| 44 | 2-22 | Bullets | Joe DeSantis | ||
| Round 3 | |||||
| 45 | 3-1 | Jazz | Arvid Kramer | ||
| 46 | 3-2 | Celtics | > Bullets
Joe Pace trade ??? |
Andrew Parker | |
| 47 | 3-3 | Cavaliers | > Bulls
Traded Chuck Jura to Cavaliers for future considerations (?-?) on 1978-08-11 ??? |
Calvin Garrett | |
| 48 | 3-4 | Pistons | Terry Duerod | ||
| 49 | 3-5 | Bulls | Cedrick Hordges | ||
| 50 | 3-6 | Knicks | Geoff Huston | ||
| 51 | 3-7 | Nets | John Gerdy | ||
| 52 | 3-8 | Bucks | Larry Gibson | ||
| 53 | 3-9 | Pacers | > Celtics — Received a third round pick (1979 #53-Wayne Kreklow) from Pacers on 1978-07-24 (date unsure) as compensation for Pacers 1978-07-24 signing of veteran free agent Kevin Stacom
No date given for compensation award; it isn't clear if it was received on the same date that Stacom signed, or later. The NBA Register shows the date of the transaction as 07-24, the Celtics media guide shows 07-28, and the Pacers media guide shows 08-07. Maybe one of these is actually the date that compensation was received? |
Wayne Kreklow | |
| 54 | 3-10 | Warriors | Lynbert Johnson | ||
| 55 | 3-11 | Clippers | Tom Channel | ||
| 56 | 3-12 | Blazers | Mickey Fox | ||
| 57 | 3-13 | Hawks | Don March | ||
| 58 | 3-14 | 76ers | Earl Cureton | ||
| 59 | 3-15 | Rockets | Ricardo Brown | ||
| 60 | 3-16 | Lakers | Walter Daniels | ||
| 61 | 3-17 | Nuggets | > Celtics — Received draft pick (1979 #61-Ernesto Malcolm) as compensation for Nuggets signing of veteran free agent Tom Boswell on 1978-09-08 |
Ernesto Malcolm | |
| 62 | 3-18 | Kings | Terry Crosby | ||
| 63 | 3-19 | Spurs | Sylvester Norris | ||
| 64 | 3-20 | Suns | Al Green | ||
| 65 | 3-21 | Sonics | > Cavaliers
Received 1979 second round pick (possibly #65-Bill Laimbeer? (third round)), second round pick (possibly 1984 #60-Leonard Mitchell? (third round)) from Sonics on 1978-09-06 as compensation for Sonics signing of free agent Dick Snyder
The Sonics media guide says that the Cavaliers received two second round picks (one in 1979 and the other in an unspecified year) as compensation when Snyder signed with the Sonics in 1978, but this is a third round pick. Maybe they actually received two third round picks? There is an unaccounted-for third round pick that moved from the Sonics to the Cavaliers (1984 #60). |
Bill Laimbeer | |
| 66 | 3-22 | Bullets | Charles Floyd | ||
| Round 4 | |||||
| 67 | 4-1 | Jazz | Greg Deane | ||
| 68 | 4-2 | Celtics | Nick Galis | ||
| 69 | 4-3 | Pistons | > Bucks — Traded Otis Howard to Pistons for draft pick (1979 #69-Eugene Robinson) on 1978-10-23 |
Eugene Robinson | |
| 70 | 4-4 | Cavaliers | Rick Swing | ||
| 71 | 4-5 | Knicks | Larry Rogers | ||
| 72 | 4-6 | Bulls | George Maynor | ||
| 73 | 4-7 | Nets | > Sonics
TSN says trade involving Mike Bantom and Bob Love, but we know of no such trade. We do show that the Braves owed the Nets a 1979 fourth round pick as compensation for signing Bantom as a free agent in 1977. That transaction itself is very odd because (1) the Braves traded Bantom to the Pacers on the same day they signed him and (2) it seems like compensation for Bantom should have been more than just a fourth round pick.
Nets media guide says Nets "acquired Mike
Bantom from Seattle in exchange for the Sonics' 1979 4th round pick
(James Donaldson) and cash" on 1977-01-27 |
James Donaldson | |
| 74 | 4-8 | Pacers | Don Newman | ||
| 75 | 4-9 | Warriors | Ron Ripley | ||
| 76 | 4-10 | Bucks | > Rockets — Traded C.J. Kupec to Bucks for 1979 fourth round pick (#76-Sammy Drummer) on 1978-07-26 |
Sammy Drummer | |
| 77 | 4-11 | Clippers | Lionel Garrett | ||
| 78 | 4-12 | Blazers | Daryll Robinson | ||
| 79 | 4-13 | Hawks | > Lakers
Tony Robertson — The 1978-79 NBA Guide says Roberston was traded for a draft choice [singular], but the 1979 and 1980 TSN draft coverage issues both show picks going from Hawks to Lakers for him.
Lakers traded Connie Hawkins to Hawks for draft picks (?-?) on 1975-08-08 ??? |
Ray White | |
| 80 | 4-14 | Rockets | Lionel Green | ||
| 81 | 4-15 | Lakers | Ricky Reed | ||
| 82 | 4-16 | Nuggets | > Warriors
TSN says Skip Wise— possibly they
meant Willie Wise? |
Jerry Sichting | |
| 83 | 4-17 | 76ers | Mike Niles | ||
| 84 | 4-18 | Spurs | Al Daniel | ||
| 85 | 4-19 | Kings | John McCullough | ||
| 86 | 4-20 | Suns | Malcolm Cesare | ||
| 87 | 4-21 | Sonics | Richie Allen | ||
| 88 | 4-22 | Bullets | Lamont Reid | ||
| Round 5 | |||||
| 89 | 5-1 | Jazz | Perry Wolfe | ||
| 90 | 5-2 | Celtics | Jimmy Allen | ||
| 91 | 5-3 | Cavaliers | Matt Simpkins | ||
| 92 | 5-4 | Pistons | Flintie Ray Williams | ||
| 93 | 5-5 | Bulls | Larry Washington | ||
| 94 | 5-6 | Knicks | Johnny Green | ||
| 95 | 5-7 | Nets | Joe Abramaitis (Jim Abromaitis) | ||
| 96 | 5-8 | Warriors | George Lett | ||
| 97 | 5-9 | Bucks | Jim Tillman | ||
| 98 | 5-10 | Pacers | Billy Reid | ||
| 99 | 5-11 | Clippers | Greg Joyner | ||
| 100 | 5-12 | Blazers | Matt White | ||
| 101 | 5-13 | Hawks | Tiny Pinder | ||
| 102 | 5-14 | Nuggets | Larry Williams | ||
| 103 | 5-15 | 76ers | Carl McPipe | ||
| 104 | 5-16 | Rockets | Allen Leavell | ||
| 105 | 5-17 | Kings | Curtis Watkins | ||
| 106 | 5-18 | Spurs | Steve Schall | ||
| 107 | 5-19 | Suns | Mark Eaton | ||
| 108 | 5-20 | Bullets | Marshall Ashford | ||
| Round 6 | |||||
| 109 | 6-1 | Jazz | Ernie Cobb | ||
| 110 | 6-2 | Celtics | Marvin Delph | ||
| 111 | 6-3 | Pistons | Truman Clayton | ||
| 112 | 6-4 | Cavaliers | Joe Manning | ||
| 113 | 6-5 | Knicks | Phil Abney | ||
| 114 | 6-6 | Bulls | Steve Smith | ||
| 115 | 6-7 | Nets | Tony Smith | ||
| 116 | 6-8 | Bucks | Derrick Mayes | ||
| 117 | 6-9 | Pacers | Greg Guye | ||
| 118 | 6-10 | Warriors | Jim Mitchem | ||
| 119 | 6-11 | Clippers | Bob Bender | ||
| 120 | 6-12 | Blazers | Ray Ellis | ||
| 121 | 6-13 | Hawks | Dwight Williams | ||
| 122 | 6-14 | Nuggets | Odell Ball | ||
| 123 | 6-15 | 76ers | Dan Hartshorne | ||
| 124 | 6-16 | Rockets | Collie Davis | ||
| 125 | 6-17 | Spurs | Terry Knight | ||
| 126 | 6-18 | Kings | Bob Roma | ||
| 127 | 6-19 | Suns | Dale Shackelford | ||
| 128 | 6-20 | Bullets | Garcia Hopkins | ||
| Round 7 | |||||
| 129 | 7-1 | Jazz | Paul Poe | ||
| 130 | 7-2 | Celtics | Steve Castellan | ||
| 131 | 7-3 | Cavaliers | Steve Skaggs | ||
| 132 | 7-4 | Pistons | Ken Jones | ||
| 133 | 7-5 | Bulls | Mike Eversley | ||
| 134 | 7-6 | Knicks | Marc Coleman | ||
| 135 | 7-7 | Nets | Jim Strickland | ||
| 136 | 7-8 | Pacers | Dirk Ewing | ||
| 137 | 7-9 | Warriors | Ren Watson | ||
| 138 | 7-10 | Bucks | Stan Ray | ||
| 139 | 7-11 | Clippers | Jene Grey | ||
| 140 | 7-12 | Blazers | Jeff Tropf | ||
| 141 | 7-13 | Hawks | Tim Waterman | ||
| 142 | 7-14 | 76ers | Bobby Willis | ||
| 143 | 7-15 | Rockets | Rich Valavicius | ||
| 144 | 7-16 | Nuggets | John Johnson | ||
| 145 | 7-17 | Kings | Nick Daniels | ||
| 146 | 7-18 | Spurs | Tyrone Branyan | ||
| 147 | 7-19 | Suns | Ollie Matson | ||
| Round 8 | |||||
| 148 | 8-1 | Jazz | Keith McDonald | ||
| 149 | 8-2 | Celtics | Glenn Sudhop | ||
| 150 | 8-3 | Pistons | Rodney Lee | ||
| 151 | 8-4 | Cavaliers | Mark Haymore | ||
| 152 | 8-5 | Knicks | Billy Tucker | ||
| 153 | 8-6 | Bulls | Tony Warren | ||
| 154 | 8-7 | Nets | Henry Hollingsworth | ||
| 155 | 8-8 | Warriors | Mario Butler | ||
| 156 | 8-9 | Bucks | Larry Spicer | ||
| 157 | 8-10 | Pacers | Brian Magid | ||
| 158 | 8-11 | Clippers | Renaldo Lawrence | ||
| 159 | 8-12 | Blazers | Willie Pounds | ||
| 160 | 8-13 | Hawks | John Goedeke | ||
| 161 | 8-14 | Rockets | Delbert Watson | ||
| 162 | 8-15 | Nuggets | Matt Teahan | ||
| 163 | 8-16 | 76ers | Rick Raivio | ||
| 164 | 8-17 | Kings | Tony Vann | ||
| 165 | 8-18 | Suns | Charles Jones | ||
| 166 | 8-19 | Bullets | Jo Jo Walters | ||
| Round 9 | |||||
| 167 | 9-1 | Jazz | Milt Huggins | ||
| 168 | 9-2 | Celtics | Kevin Sinnett | ||
| 169 | 9-3 | Cavaliers | Tim Joyce | ||
| 170 | 9-4 | Pistons | Val Bracey | ||
| 171 | 9-5 | Bulls | James Jackson | ||
| 172 | 9-6 | Knicks | Brett Wyatt | ||
| 173 | 9-7 | Nets | Ricky Free | ||
| 174 | 9-8 | Bucks | Roger Lapham | ||
| 175 | 9-9 | Warriors | Gene Ransom | ||
| 176 | 9-10 | Clippers | Mike Dodd | ||
| 177 | 9-11 | Blazers | Stan Eckwood | ||
| 178 | 9-12 | Hawks | Cedric Oliver | ||
| 179 | 9-13 | Nuggets | Emmett Lewis | ||
| 180 | 9-14 | 76ers | Coby Leavitt | ||
| 181 | 9-15 | Kings | Gary Wilson | ||
| 182 | 9-16 | Spurs | Eddie McLeod | ||
| 183 | 9-17 | Suns | Hosea Champine | ||
| 184 | 9-18 | Bullets | Ray Hooker | ||
| Round 10 | |||||
| 185 | 10-1 | Jazz | Paul Dawkins | ||
| 186 | 10-2 | Celtics | Alton Byrd | ||
| 187 | 10-3 | Pistons | Willie Polk | ||
| 188 | 10-4 | Cavaliers | Terry Peavy | ||
| 189 | 10-5 | Knicks | Gordon Thomas | ||
| 190 | 10-6 | Bulls | Marvin Thoms | ||
| 191 | 10-7 | Nets | Eric Fleisher | ||
| 192 | 10-8 | Warriors | Kevin Heenan | ||
| 193 | 10-9 | Bucks | Chris Fahrbach | ||
| 194 | 10-10 | Clippers | Greg Hunter | ||
| 195 | 10-11 | Blazers | Kelvin Small | ||
| 196 | 10-12 | Hawks | Chad Nelson | ||
| 197 | 10-13 | Nuggets | > Bulls — Traded cash to Nuggets for two 1979 draft picks (probably #33-Lawrence Butler?) (possibly #197-Cortez Collins?) on 1979-06-23 |
Cortez Collins | |
| 198 | 10-14 | 76ers | Keith McCord | ||
| 199 | 10-15 | Spurs | Glen Fine | ||
| 200 | 10-16 | Kings | Russell Saunders | ||
| 201 | 10-17 | Suns | Korky Nelson | ||
| 202 | 10-18 | Bullets | Steve Martin | ||