Lakers picked up Michele Thompsan in another **trade** midway thru the 87 season. They needed a forward badly, only the Laker House trivial pursuit game will tell you who they had to **give up** to recieve Thompson. Almost as good as Gail Goodrich for Magic.
You continue you VERY twisted idea of reality.
How did the Lakers end up with the #1 pick? Because at that time, IF a team signed your free agent, then they had to compensate the other team. The NO Jazz signed Laker's free agent Goodrich and gave the Lakers THREE pics, including their first round draft pick in '79 -- THREE YEARS after Goodrich was signed. The Jazz had a horrible year and the Lakers ended up with the #1 pick of the draft -- picking Magic (the Jazz had NO clue where that draft pick would fall or who would be available at the time). It was blind luck -- much the same way that the Spurs got TD -- wouldn't you agree?