In 1982, the Utah Jazz seemingly hit the jackpot when they selected high-flying forward Dominique Wilkins with the third pick in the 1982 NBA Draft. On paper, the move would have helped the team raise its profile, with Nique joining forces with the high-scoring Adrian Dantley, who averaged 30.3 points per game during the 1981-82 season.
However, unbeknownst to many, the Jazz were experiencing financial troubles and needed a million dollars to make their payroll. The selection of Wilkins proved to be a godsend, as it allowed them to make a transaction that saved the franchise and kept the team in Utah.
More than 40 years later, Wilkins discussed the lopsided trade on an episode of "All The Smoke," sharing how some people continue to thank him for saving the Jazz franchise from moving elsewhere.
Jazz needed money badly
According to former Jazz big man Mark Eaton, things took a turn for the worst for the franchise when the team's head coach and general manager, Frank Layden, got a call from team owner Sam Battistone, who told him they needed a million dollars to make payroll. That left Layden with no choice but to trade Wilkins to Atlanta for John Drew, Freeman Williams, and $1 million.
To this day, the trade is considered one of the worst in professional sports history. However, some people would beg to differ, as it helped the Jazz stay in Salt Lake City.
"At that time, Utah was struggling to make payroll. So, the money they traded for really kind of helped for a short period of time until they got new ownership and investments with that team. Because they were struggling financially," Nique told Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.
"You know, people tell me all the time, 'Man, you really helped save the franchise,' because they were going to have to move. I said, 'Well, I'm happy for them, but I'm glad I didn't go there,'" the Hall of Fame forward added.
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Wilkins was never going to Utah
Nique, a nine-time All-Star, asserted that even if the Jazz weren't on their last leg in Utah, he still would have pushed back against playing there. His affinity for Atlanta, given he went to Georgia in college, was too strong to ignore.
"I wasn't going. And then they told me I'd be playing power forward. I was like, 'Oh, y'all out of your mind at 210, 215? Not me!' I said, 'Y'all better trade me today!'" Wilkins shared. "So, you know, we get a call that I've been traded to Atlanta, which I wanted to go to."
Dominique credited baseball legend Hank Aaron with helping the Hawks bring him to town, convincing then-owner Ted Turner to do whatever it took to complete the trade.
"Hank Aaron said, 'You need to get this kid by any means necessary. I've been following him ever since he came to Georgia.' He said, 'If you can trade to get him, trade everybody you can.' And so they did," Wilkins continued. "Man, I died and went to heaven, like, man! So yeah, that was a great opportunity for me."
The trade worked well for both parties as Wilkins went on to have a storied career with the Hawks and earned a spot on the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. On the other hand, the Jazz stayed in Utah and later drafted Karl Malone and John Stockton, a duo that would become one of the greatest in NBA history.
Related: "Anybody gets into it, benches clear. If the bench don't clear, you fined" - Dominique shares the Hawks policy regarding fights back in the day
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