Expert: Fabio Anderle - 7/22/2009

Question
Hello Fabio,
In 1978, the former Celtics owner Irv Levin has trade Celtics to John Y. Brown's Braves with a huge trade, acquired Nate Archibald, Marvin Barnes, Billy Knight, 1981 second round pick (#31-Danny Ainge), 1983 second round pick (#28-Rod Foster) and sent Kevin Kunnert, Kermit Washington, Sidney Wicks 8th pick (Freeman Williams ) to Braves.

someone said the 8th pick actually was original not the one which Braves want, they want the 6th Pick, but Red has forced them to take 8th pick then used 6th pick choose larry Bird.

Is that Correct?

Answer
Hi Bruno,

yes, I have heard that through the grapevine too, but if that is true, Red Auerbach wasn't aware of the deal. In fact, in Auerbach biography "Seeing Red", Jan Volk, the Celtics GM at the time, stated: "Red and I went down to Washington to meet with agents representing (Kermit) Washington anf (Kevin) Kunnert, both of whom were being traded in the transaction. Red and I were not aware that this was happpening at all. We went down and finalized the deal. The next morning the franchise swap was announced. Apparently, the franchise swap was contingent on these contracts having been negotiated, finalized and signed. We were like the Japanese ambassador who was meeting with Roosevelt while Pearl Harbor was being bombed. We were absolutely in the dark".
So, if there was some talk about Larry Bird, it must have been between the owners swapping franchises, John Y. Brown taking the Braves/Clippers and Irv Levin taking the Celtics.
But that is hearsay, no one ever clearly stated that John Y. Brown wanted to bring Larry Bird to San Diego.
I hope this helps



Fabio