2. November 3rd, 1992: Mookie Blaylock and Roy Hinson to the Atlanta Hawks for Rumeal Robinson
When the Nets traded away their franchise player Buck Williams in 1989, they got back Sam Bowie (yes, that Sam Bowie) and a draft pick, which they would use on Mookie Blaylock, their eventual starter at point guard. However, after the Nets drafted Kenny Anderson with the second pick in the 1991 NBA Draft, Blaylock became expendable. Hiring Chuck Daly before the 1992-93 sealed Blaylock’s fate; Daly preferred Anderson to Blaylock and off he went to Atlanta in exchange for Rumeal Robinson, the former Michigan player who sank free throws at the end of 1989 NCAA Finals to defeat the Nets Meadowlands co-tenants and PJ Carlesimo coached Seton Hall Pirates.
“Meal Time” (seriously, that’s Robinson’s nickname) spent a forgettable year as a Nets backup guard, before sampling four CBA cities, a few NBA teams and finally Italian and Venezuelan basketball. These days you’ll find Robinson playing penitentiary pickup, as Meal Time was convicted in 2010 on 11 counts, including bank bribery and wire fraud, and sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison. Part of his dubious activities included swindling his adoptive mother out of her Cambridge, MA home. Ladies and gentlemen, your 1990s New Jersey Nets.
Meanwhile, Blaylock flourished in his seven seasons in Atlanta as a lockdown defensive guard, earning him a 1994 All-Star appearance and six All-Defensive Team selections (2 First Team, 4 Second). Furthermore, a little-known alternative rock band in Seattle used to be named Mookie Blaylock before changing their name to Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam’s debut album was named “Ten” in homage to Blaylock’s number.
In short, the Nets traded away Pearl Jam.
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