1996 NBA Draft Day Trade: Stephon Marbury/Ray Allen Trade

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On June 26th, 1996, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded the rights to guard Ray Allen and a 1998 first round draft pick (Rasho Nesterovic) to the Milwaukee Bucks for the rights to guard Stephon Marbury.

The Stephon Marbury - Ray Allen draft day trade is probably one of the more interesting draft swaps in NBA history. Both players had very successful individual careers, but let’s look at the trade and the initial effects of it.

Allen and Marbury were both highly decorated stars coming out of college. Allen was named USA Basketball’s Male Athlete of the Year in 1995. He was named a first team All-American in both his sophomore and junior seasons. Allen capped off his college career by winning the Big East Player of the Year award in 1996. Marbury had earned All-American third team honors after a solid freshman campaign for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Heading into the draft, the Timberwolves were fixated on selecting Marbury. The Brooklyn-born Marbury, was widely considered the best pure point guard of the 1996 draft class and Minnesota was in need of a point guard. The Wolves nearly dealt Isaiah Rider and their pick — fifth overall — to the Toronto Raptors to move up to the second overall pick and take Marbury.

That rumored move never happened. After the 76ers selected Allen Iverson first overall in what was considered a foregone conclusion, the Raptors opted to go big and selected UMass forward-center Marcus Camby. Selecting third, the Vancouver Grizzlies drafted forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Knowing Minnesota’s desperation to select Marbury, the Bucks took advantage.

Both Milwaukee and Minnesota negotiated a trade before the draft where Milwaukee would select Marbury and deal him to Minnesota for Ray Allen. The cost of moving up in the draft for Minnesota was a future first round pick.

The acquisition of Marbury was widely celebrated in Minnesota. The point guard already had a close relationship with franchise centerpiece Kevin Garnett from their high school days. The duo of Marbury and Garnett gained instant comparisons to Utah Jazz Hall of Fame pairing John Stockton and Karl Malone.

In Milwaukee, the reaction to the trade was much more tepid (via Minneapolis Star Tribune):

“At Bradley Center, the team’s headquarters, fans chanted ‘No Trade! No Trade!’ once both Marbury and Allen were picked. When the deal was announced with Bucks GM Mike Dunleavy and new coach Chris Ford on a stage in the arena, the crowd booed loudly.”

Marbury joined the Timberwolves and signed a three-year, $5.67 million rookie scale contract. The young guard teamed up with a rising star in Kevin Garnett to form a formidable inside-outside duo. They were complemented by a veteran in Tom Gugliotta and quality role players Sam Mitchell and Terry Porter.

In Marbury’s rookie year, he made the NBA All-Rookie first team, and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. He averaged 15.8 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 7.8 APG and 1.0 SPG in 67 games (64 starts). Marbury formed a strong trio with All-Stars Gugliotta and Garnett. The team began the year 8-17, but picked up their play and qualified for the playoffs in a weak Western Conference. The Timberwolves earned the sixth seed in the West with a 40-42 record.

In the franchise’s first playoff berth, the Timberwolves faced a tough Houston Rockets team with three veteran stars in Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and Charles Barkley. Houston built a 23-point lead after three quarters in the first game and held on for a 17-point win.

Both Barkley and Olajuwon had double-doubles in a 106-94 Game Two victory. Rockets guard Matt Maloney was hot from three in Game Three and poured in 26 points as Houston completed the sweep with a 105-100 win. Marbury posted 21.3 PPG on 40% shooting, 4.0 RPG, 7.7 APG and 0.7 SPG in the three-game series.

Marbury improved on his rookie season and contributed 17.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 8.6 APG and 1.3 SPG in 82 games and 38.0 MPG. The duo of Garnett and Marbury were solid as the Timberwolves hovered around .500 for much of the year.

GIF via Zone Coverage

Minnesota was 33-33 at one point, but won 12 of their final 16 games to reach a franchise-high 45 wins and the seventh seed. The Timberwolves did this all with All-Star Tom Gugliotta missing the second half of the season and playoffs due to right ankle issues.

In the 1998 postseason, the Wolves went to a small lineup and brought Terry Porter into the starting lineup to start in a two-point guard backcourt with Marbury. In the opener of the first round, Seattle routed Minnesota 108-83. Marbury had 25 points and 7 assists in Game Two as the Wolves took homecourt advantage away from Seattle with a 98-93 victory.

In the third game, Minnesota rallied late to take a 2-1 series lead with a 98-90 win. Sonics guard Gary Payton had 24 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists as Seattle evened the series after a 92-88 win. Minnesota was eliminated after Payton led all scorers with 29 points in a 97-84 series clinching Sonics win.

Besides the 25-point outburst in Game Two, Marbury performed poorly. He averaged 13.8 PPG in the series, while shooting 30.6% from the field and 28% from three. Turnovers were a problem as well as he averaged 3.6 turnovers to 7.6 APG in the series.

Still, Minnesota had a lot to look forward to as a franchise with two cornerstones. In the brief 1999 offseason, the Wolves lost Gugliotta to the Phoenix Suns in free agency. They went in another direction, replacing him with former number one overall draft pick Joe Smith.

Marbury expressed to the Wolves that he would test free agency after the third and final year of his contract. Minnesota was desperate to keep Marbury, but timing would disrupt any chance of a long-term deal. Garnett had signed for a then-record $126 million over seven years in 1997. The deal was criticized — not for Garnett’s ability or worth as a player, but for the rising player salaries. Eventually, the deal would become a major sticking point and excuse for owners to lockout players in 1999.

After the collective bargaining agreement was re-negotiated during the 1999 NBA lockout, new rules would limit maximum player salaries. Marbury was a victim of this as his potential maximum earnings on a contract went all the way down to $71 million.

This did not sit well with Marbury or his camp. Feeling that he was on equal footing with Garnett, Marbury’s jealousy of the deal Garnett signed caused him to refuse Minnesota’s repeated offers of a maximum contract of six years and $71 million. Marbury went as far as threatening that he would sign with the Chicago Bulls if he wasn’t traded to either the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.

This forced Minnesota’s hand, and the team was forced to deal Marbury to the New Jersey Nets in a three-team deal involving the Milwaukee Bucks. The Timberwolves received former All-Star point guard Terrell Brandon from Milwaukee in the deal. Marbury had played in 18 games with the Timberwolves before the trade and was averaging 17.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 9.3 APG and 1.6 SPG in 36.7 MPG. The Wolves were 12-6 when they traded Marbury.

The Timberwolves went from an NBA League Pass must-watch kind of team to more of a low-ceiling first-round exit team after the trade. Marbury’s choice to leave made the public, players, and executives question his desire to win.

In his time with Minnesota, Marbury’s career averages were 16.9 PPG, 8.3 APG, 2.8 RPG and 1.2 SPG in 167 regular season games with the Wolves. The 6′2″ guard shot 41% on field goals, 32% on trifectas and and 73% from the free-throw line. Marbury also managed 16.6 PPG, 7.6 APG, and 3.5 RPG in eight playoff games with Minnesota.

The first round draft pick involved in the Marbury-Allen trade was traded back to Minnesota 15 days later in a deal that saw the Bucks acquire center Andrew Lang from Minnesota. That pick became the 17th selection of the 1998 NBA Draft and was used on Slovenian center Radoslav “Rasho” Nesterovic.

Ray Allen joined a Bucks team in the middle of a rebuild. Lottery picks Vin Baker and Glenn Robinson had performed well, but the team still had been out of the postseason for five consecutive seasons. Allen displayed consistency and solid play in his rookie season. He played in all 82 games and posted 13.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.6 APG and 0.9 SPG in 30.9 MPG. He also made the NBA All-Rookie second team.

The Bucks won five of their first six games, but they struggled to keep up with that win pace. Milwaukee finished the 1996-97 season 33-49 and out of playoff contention for the sixth straight season.

The Bucks shook up their core before the 1997-98 season when they shipped out Vin Baker and acquired guard Terrell Brandon in a three-team deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Seattle Supersonics. In his second season, Allen had a bigger role in Milwaukee’s offense and averaged 19.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 4.3 APG and 1.4 SPG in 40.1 MPG and all 82 games with the Bucks.

Milwaukee began the ‘97-‘98 season 11-8. They were in the thick of the playoff race after 58 games. Milwaukee was 29-29 and just two and a half games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. The situation would go south as the Bucks lost 12 of 13 games to fall out of contention. Milwaukee finished the season 36-46.

The lockout-shortened 1998-99 season would be important for the Bucks and Allen. Milwaukee hired head coach George Karl and made an early-season three-team trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves and New Jersey Nets that brought Sam Cassell and Chris Gatling to the Bucks — the trade that featured Marbury heading from Minnesota to New Jersey.

Milwaukee finished 28-22 during the truncated season and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1991. Allen had a solid third season as he posted 17.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.6 APG and 1.1 SPG in all 50 games and 34.4 MPG. The guard also signed a maximum six-year, $70.9 million extension with the Bucks.

The Bucks faced the Central Division champion Indiana Pacers in the opening round. The Bucks dropped the first game 110-88. Game Two went to overtime, but Pacers big Dale Davis converted a tip-in with 0.5 seconds left to win the game for Indiana 108-107. Pacers guard Reggie Miller had 33 points as Indiana completed the 3-0 sweep with a 99-91 victory. Allen played well in the sweep, compiling 22.3 PPG on 53.2% from the field as well as 7.3 RPG, 4.3 APG and 1.0 SPG in three games.

The Bucks had an inconsistent 1999-00 season. They were 34-38, but won 8 of their final 10 games to sneak into the playoffs as the eighth seed with a 42-40 record. Allen earned his first All-Star selection and managed 22.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.8 APG and 1.1 SPG in 82 games and 37.4 MPG with the Bucks.

The Bucks faced the Pacers in the opening round for the second consecutive season. Indiana took Game One 88-85, before Milwaukee stunned the Pacers 104-91 in Game Two. Milwaukee led by 24 points after three quarters. Pacers stars Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose combined for 61 points in the third game as Indiana won 109-96 and recaptured homecourt advantage. Allen had 20 points and 8 rebounds as the Bucks tied the series 2-2 with a 13-point win.

The series was tied 2-2, and the Bucks gave Indiana a serious scare. Milwaukee had a lead in the fourth quarter, but Indiana managed to win after Travis Best nailed a three from the corner with 16.5 seconds left in a 96-95 victory. Allen posted 22.0 PPG on 44% shooting, 6.6 RPG and 1.6 SPG in the five-game series.

The 2000-01 season was a breakthrough moment for Milwaukee. They began the year 3-9 start, but went 32-11 in their next 43 games. Milwaukee utilized the number one ranked offense in the NBA as they finished the with a 52-30 record. It was their best mark since the 1985-86 season. Allen continued his ascent into the upper echelon of NBA guards. The 6′5″ sharpshooter averaged 22.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.6 APG and 1.5 SPG in 38.2 MPG. Allen earned his second All-Star nod and also made the All-NBA third team.

The Bucks entered the Eastern Conference postseason as the second seed in the East. They matched up with the Orlando Magic and rising superstar Tracy McGrady. Milwaukee won the series opener by 13 points. Allen and Sam Cassell combined for 53 points in a Game Two 103-96 victory over Orlando.

Facing a 2-0 deficit, Orlando put up a fight in Game Three. The contest would go to overtime after Allen posterized McGrady and tied the game at 110.

GIF via Baseline Cleaner

The Bucks would lose in OT, but they closed out the series in Game Four 112-104. Allen had himself a series with 24.5 PPG on 55% shooting from the field and 57.1% from three. He also contributed 5.8 RPG, 5.3 APG and 2.5 SPG in 42.0 MPG.

The Bucks faced a tough Charlotte Hornets squad fresh off of a sweep of the Miami Heat in the first round. The Bucks took the first game 104-92 after Allen piled up 26 points and 6 assists. Allen followed that up with 28 points and 9 assists as the Bucks held on for a 91-90 victory.

The momentum would shift Charlotte’s way as the Hornets came home. Hornets forward Jamal Mashburn went off for 36 points as the Hornets won Game Three by 10 points. The Bucks were careless with the ball in Game Four as 23 turnovers cost them in a 85-78 Hornets win. Milwaukee would have their backs pushed against the wall as Charlotte stole homecourt advantage with a 94-86 in Milwaukee.

Facing a 3-2 deficit and a tough road game, the Bucks Big Three came through in the clutch. Allen, Glenn Robinson and Sam Cassell combined for 85 of Milwaukee’s 104 points in a seven-point win that saw the Bucks fall behind by 10 points at halftime.

The seventh and final game was close, but a pivotal 29-17 third quarter run propelled Milwaukee to a 104-95 win and their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 15 years. In the seven-game set, Allen posted 23.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 7.0 APG in 43.9 MPG.

In the Conference Finals, the Bucks battled the number one seed Philadelphia 76ers and the 2000-01 regular season MVP Allen Iverson. Philadelphia outscored Milwaukee 32-16 in the second quarter of Game One and went on to capture the series opener 93-85.

The Bucks jumped on Philadelphia in Game Two, outscoring the 76ers 32-16 in the opening quarter. That stretch proved to be pivotal as Milwaukee stole homecourt advantage with a 92-78 win. Allen had 38 points in the win. Iverson didn’t play in Game Three as the Bucks managed to win in a low scoring affair, 80-74.

Iverson returned for Game Four and had 28 points 8 assists and 5 rebounds as the Sixers were able to take back homecourt advantage with an 89-83 win. Iverson was terrible (15 points on 5-for-27 shooting) in Game Five, but the Sixers got a strong showing from Eric Snow (18 points on 7-for-9 shooting). Philadelphia held on for an 89-88 win after Robinson missed a turnaround jumper on the final possession jumper and Allen missed a tip at the buzzer.

Facing a 3-2 deficit, Allen dropped 41 points on the Sixers as Milwaukee won 110-100 and avoided elimination. The Bucks were routed in Game Seven, falling 108-91 and losing the series 4-3. Allen performed well with averages of 27.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 5.4 APG in the seven-game series.

In the offseason, the Bucks bolstered their frontcourt with the signing of free agent Anthony Mason. The Bucks were expected to build on their Conference Finals appearance and compete for a chance to make the NBA Finals.

The 2001-02 season seemed to be a continuation of Milwaukee’s success the prior year. The Bucks won 9 of their first 10 games and were just a half game out of the best record in the Eastern Conference at the 39-game mark with a 26-13 record.

The Bucks would collapse though. They went 15-28 the rest of the season to finish the season a disappointing 41-41. Milwaukee missed the final playoff spot by just one game. Allen appeared in 69 games (67 starts) and contributed 21.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.9 APG and 1.3 SPG in 36.6 MPG. Allen also made the All-Star team for the third year in a row.

Milwaukee traded Robinson to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2002 offseason. The Bucks were inconsistent with 27-26 record after 53 games when they decided to trade Allen (21.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG and 3.5 APG) and shift the direction of the franchise. Milwaukee dealt Allen to the Seattle Supersonics in a multi-player deal that saw Gary Payton move from Seattle to Milwaukee.

Allen and coach George Karl’s relationship became fractured as the team began to lose. Karl would later express regret over the soured coach-player partnership.

Allen finished his tenure in Milwaukee as the franchise’s all-time leader in three-pointers made and managed 19.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 3.8 APG in 494 regular season games and shot 45% from the field, 41% from three and 88% from the foul line. Allen managed 24.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 5.1 APG in 26 playoff games with the Bucks.

Stephon Marbury on the trade (via NY Daily News):

“You never know what the future holds. I see now how they just trade people like that… I can’t believe that it happened so quickly. But I enjoyed Milwaukee for the few minutes I was there.”

On the Timberwolves:

"We’re young, so people are going to look at us as the kids. The kids of the Timberwolves. That’s what we wanted to be. We’re going to be kids playing a grown man’s game.”

On joining Minnesota (via Minneapolis Daily Star):

“When I found out I was going to Minnesota, a chill went down my body. This is like starting a new marriage… A dream come true in all ways.”

How he felt about the trade (via NBA.com):

"Now I’m playing where I really, really wanted to play. Not only did my dream come true, but I’m where I wanted to be because I’m playing with Kevin Garnett. I’m just looking forward to being there forever. Milwaukee was a great situation, too, but I’m just going to be at Minnesota with Kevin Garnett.”

How he found out about the trade:

"A guy pulled me over and said there was a possible trade. I didn’t know what team he was talking about, but when he said Minnesota, I was happy.”

Ray Allen on if he knew about the trade (via NBA.com):

“No, I think it led up to that. Just sitting right here, I had an idea I was about to be traded because I hadn’t even taken a trip to Minnesota. I think Milwaukee got some kind of deal. At this point I felt kinda edgy about it.”

On joining the Bucks:

“The Bucks have a great team. The pressure isn’t on my back with Vin Baker and Glen Robinson being there.”

On the Timberwolves trading him:

“They knew that they had players at my position, and that there was a possiblity of a trade.”

On being disappointed about the trade:

“No, because it’s not like I flew to Minnesota and had found a house.”

On feeling pressure to perform:

“Like I said before, the pressure won’t lie on my back to make things happen. I know they (Baker & Robinson) can play and I just want to complement them.”

Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations Kevin McHale on Stephon Marbury (via NY Times):

“To me, it’s like a great quarterback. If you get a great quarterback, you can win any game you’re in. His ability to take games over reminds me of that. Stephon can flat-out play. When I saw him for the first time, I came away thinking, ‘Holy cow, this guy’s going to be a great player.’”

On being nervous about Marbury’s availability at the number five position of the draft (via Minneapolis Star Tribune):

“I was sweating that out. We had just about gotten everything set up with Milwaukee. Really, I was more worried about someone else acing us out. We had [Marbury] targeted from the first day he announced he was going to be in the draft. He wants to become a great player… You don’t win championships without superstars. We felt this was a piece of the puzzle that we needed.”

Timberwolves head coach Flip Saunders on the combination of Marbury and Garnett (via Minneapolis Star Tribune):

“Right now, we have probably the two best 20-year-old players in the world.”

How he expects Marbury to develop:

“He’s going to come in, we’ll spend the next couple of days with him and we’ll put him through a program. Stephon is very much a student of the game. He will develop quick.”

On what Marbury and Garnett could be (via Minneapolis Star Tribune):

“They would be our young John Stockton and Karl Malone of the NBA. A great point guard and fantastic forward.”

Milwaukee Bucks head coach Chris Ford on the trade (via NY Times):

“Sometimes when deals are made, you have to wait for the completion of everything, and this is only the beginning. We feel that it’s going to make us a winning team next year. If you want pieces that are going to look good and not have results, that’s one thing. But we’re trying to put together a team that will win.”

Wolves owner Glen Taylor on the risk associated with the trade (via Minneapolis Star Tribune):

“Kevin McHale, Wolves basketball VP said very early that if we went after this person Marbury, it could be costly. I’m confident that we’re going to have a young team anyway, the free-agent market will be bigger than ever before and we’ll be a better team, so those picks won’t be so high.”

Wolves forward Kevin Garnett on Marbury (via Minneapolis Star Tribune):

“That’s my boy. That’s my man. We’re going to try to make this big step now and have some fun. I always dreamed of playing with him on the ultimate level.”

Timberwolves assistant public relations manager Jim LaBumbard on the excitement Marbury shoed after being traded to the Wolves (via Timberwolves.com):

“When we finally got the word that the trade was official, I was in the operations room with Ray Allen, and there was Stephon. I introduced myself and he gave me a big hug and he said, ‘You’re family!’ Then we go to a photo shoot and the photographer said, ‘Smile, Stephon, you’re a Timberwolf.’

“Stephon just starts smacking the ball - ‘I’m a Timberwolf!, I’m a Timberwolf!’ - and he’s screaming, he was so happy. And I thought to myself, when was the last time you saw a player react like that?”

Image via Ron Frehm/AP