23. Trading Rod Strickland

Date: 2/21/1990
Rod Strickland was unhappy as Mark Jackson's back-up, so the Knicks decided to trade him to San Antonio for veteran Maurice Cheeks. At the time, it looked like a good deal. Strickland was known to have immense talent, but his ego always seemed to get in the way. The Spurs got a taste when he sat out the first 24 games of the '91-'92 season over his contract, didn't get what he wanted, and eventually signed with Portland during the off-season. This seemingly "good" move became a failure because the young Mark Jackson didn't respond well to Mo Cheeks being his back-up and was dealt for Doc Rivers and the infamous Charles Smith. Rod went on to a successful 17-year career and was one of the better floor generals during a good part of that stretch.