The Indiana Pacers know what it takes to remain competitive and make the postseason. That includes giving up some of your best assets in trade deals to secure the franchise's sustainable future. One unforgettable transaction happened in February 2002, when the Pacers traded their leading scorer, Jalen Rose , to the Chicago Bulls in a seven-player swap.
In addition to Rose, Indiana also sent Travis Best, Norm Richardson, and a future second-round pick to the Bulls. Chicago sent Ron Mercer, Ron Artest, Brad Miller, and Kevin Ollie in return.
Pacers president Donnie Walsh admitted that giving up Rose and Best was a hard decision to make, especially since the two players were part of the team's success in previous seasons. A highlight of that run was reaching the NBA Finals in 2000 despite losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games, 4-2.
"It is very painful to give up players like Jalen Rose and Travis Best who have been a big part of the success we've had here," Walsh said via UPI after the trade was made official.
Did Isiah Thomas have a hand in the trade?
Despite Walsh's statement, the trade was not spared from adversity. Rose alleged that the Pacers executive assured him he would not be traded, a declaration that Walsh would deny.
In addition, Rose's agent, David Falk, insinuated that then-coach Isiah Thomas had a hand in the move. According to ESPN, he also said he had never sought a trade for his client at the time. However, according to Walsh, Thomas had nothing to do with the trade.
The Pacers made that year's postseason as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, they could not advance past the first round, losing to the New Jersey Nets in five games. As for the Bulls, it wasn't any better. They ended the season with a woeful 21-61 win-loss record, the worst card in the east.
Jalen Rose blossomed under Larry Bird's guidance
Rose, who joined the Pacers in 1996, blossomed under Larry Bird's watch. He broke out in the 1999-00 season, averaging 18.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 steals in 80 regular-season games. That effort was a result of Bird's giving him more playing time, which resulted in him winning the 2000 Most Improved Player award.
Jalen admitted that Bird played a crucial part in his evolution as a player. Larry Legend helped Rose refresh his career, a move that helped push the Michigan product's career to another level.
Rose continued to bring his game brilliance to the Bulls for three seasons. He had his best production with Chicago, averaging 21.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 128 regular-season games.
Aside from the Pacers and the Bulls, Jalen also had stints with the Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, and the Phoenix Suns. After retiring in 2007, the 13th overall pick of the 1994 Draft would become a familiar face in broadcasting, serving as a sports analyst for ABC and ESPN.
Related: "My career needed to be refreshed, it needed to be remixed" - Jalen Rose credited Larry Bird for validating him
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