The Philadelphia 76ers created a tongue-twisting backcourt of Dawkins and Hawkins by trading the last vestige of their 1983 NBA championship, Maurice Cheeks, to the San Antonio Spurs.
Before Cheeks got wind of the deal, 76ers general manager John Nash announced the club had sent the four-time All-Star to San Antonio with guard David Wingate and center Chris Welp in exchange for guard Johnny Dawkins and forward Jay Vincent.The 76ers looked to the future by trading the 32-year-old Cheeks for Dawkins, 25.
"If we felt we were on the verge of a championship ... we would not have made a trade," Nash said.
Nash said the club obtained a "very explosive offensive player" in Dawkins, who likely will team with second-year player Hersey Hawkins in the backcourt.
"You've got Dawkins and Hawkins - and the play-by-play man can work with that all year - as the potential starters," Nash said.