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2002 NBA offseason

The 2002 NBA offseason.

A chronological guide to the transactions and decisions surrounding the 2002 NBA offseason.

Open the full season →Every offseason by year

In the order it happened

The transaction timeline

The draft, major signings, trades and roster decisions are ordered chronologically. Complete draft boards, trade packages and free-agent jersey changes are embedded at the moment they happened.

  1. June 26 · NBA Draft

    Yao Ming opens Houston's next era →

    Houston selected Yao first without the traditional American college path, giving the league a global centerpiece and pairing him with Steve Francis.

    The complete draft board is preserved beside this moment →

    Draft board

    2002 NBA

    01
    1

    First overall selection

    Yao Ming

    Houston Rockets

    Open every pick

  2. Draft night · Trade

    New York and Denver exchange Camby and McDyess →

    The Knicks acquired Antonio McDyess and draft rights to Frank Williams while Denver received Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson and the rights to Nenê.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    00TradeJune 26, 2002To NYKNYKMCDYESS34DraftPICKround asset20032NDround assetTo DENDENCAMBY23DENJACKSON13DraftPICKround assetMcDyess–Camby draft-night tradeNYK receives Antonio McDyess, Frank Williams draft rights, 2003 2nd-round pickDEN receives Marcus Camby, Mark Jackson, Nenê draft rights6 original assets · 0 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  3. July 17 · Free agency

    Chauncey Billups chooses Detroit

    Billups joined his fifth franchise and finally found the role, coach and defensive ecosystem that turned him into an All-Star and Finals MVP.

    Follow the jersey change beside this moment →

    54Free agencyJuly 17, 2002From MINMINBILLUPS4To DETDETBILLUPS1Billups finds his franchise in DetroitAfter playing for five teams in five seasons, Billups joined a Pistons roster whose defense and late-game structure finally matched his skill set.Minnesota Timberwolves → Detroit PistonsOpen offseason →

  4. August · Conference shift

    Sacramento and the Lakers reload for another collision

    The West's leading powers largely preserved their cores, making the previous spring's disputed seven-game conference finals the unavoidable context for the new season.