The Golden State Warriors have been on the right side of many trades in franchise history. The recent and most notable example may be the trade that sent D'Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick.
That said, prior to the 1980 NBA Draft, the Warriors' front office made an unfortunate blunder, fumbling to NBA Hall of Famers. Before the draft, Golden State sent Robert Parish and the No. 3 overall pick to the Boston Celtics in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 13 overall pick. Golden State would then select Joe Barry Carroll with the first pick, a 7'0" center who spent seven seasons with the Warriors, making one
All-Star appearance in the 1986-87 season. With the No. 13 overall pick, Golden State selected Rickey Brown, who would last five seasons in the NBA, two and a half of which were with the Warriors.
As many may know, Parish would have a Hall of Fame career, winning four NBA titles, three of which came in Boston. He also made two All-NBA appearances and nine All-Star appearances. However, to add to Golden State's misfortune in this deal, Boston's No. 3 overall pick turned into Kevin McHale, who racked up championships and accolades with the Celtics as well. McHale won three titles with Boston, made seven All-Star games, made six All-Defensive teams, made one All-NBA selection and won two Sixth Man of the Year Awards.
Following the trade, Golden State would miss the playoffs in six straight seasons before rebounding in the late 1980s. Beginning in the 1986-87 season, the Warriors made the postseason in five of eight seasons before a 12-year drought that lasted until the 2006-07 campaign.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Revisiting the worst trade in Golden State Warriors franchise history
