Chris Mullin joined the Indiana Pacers today, leaving the Golden State Warriors and bringing his soft shot and outstanding passing game to a team now coached by former Olympic teammate Larry Bird.
The five-time All-Star, whose dozen years in the NBA have been marked by countless injuries, was traded from Golden State to the Pacers for Erick Dampier and Duane Ferrell.Mullin, a 34-year-old forward, had one year remaining on his contract. The deal was announced today by both clubs.
"Chris's entire thing was to play in an environment where the game is played the way it's supposed to be played," his agent, Bill Pollak, said in The Indianapolis Star today. "He and Larry both love the game, and that isn't always prevalent in today's players."
Bird, who played with Mullin on the U.S. Dream Team in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, is starting his first season as Pacers coach.
Dampier, a second-year, 6-foot-11 center, averaged 5.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 72 games as a rookie last season. He was the Pacers' first-round pick last season after leading Mississippi State to the Final Four as a junior. He started 21 games at Indiana while Rik Smits was out with foot injuries.
"It surprised me," Dampier's agent, Bus Cook, said of the trade. "He (Walsh) said he had to fill a position, and he had to give up a big guy (Dampier) to do it."
Mullin, 34, had his first injury-free year since 1991-92 last season and averaged 14.5 points in 79 games for the Warriors. The two-time Olympic gold medalist averaged more than 20 points from the 1987-88 season through 1992-93, with his best mark 26.5 in 1988-89.
Mullin was Golden State's first-round draft pick in 1985 after leading St. John's to the Final Four as a senior.
Ferrell, a 32-year-old forward, has been in the league nine seasons, the last three with the Pacers. He started 18 of 62 games last season, averaging 6.4 points.
"I enjoyed the time I was there," Ferrell said. "I had a great time, and they gave me an opportunity to get a little farther in my career than in Atlanta."