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1997 NBA trade deadline

The 1997 NBA trade deadline.

A chronological guide to the transactions and decisions surrounding the 1997 NBA trade deadline.

Open the full season →Every trade deadline 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. Early February · Playoff race

    Indiana searches for the point guard who understands its offense

    The Pacers had slipped after consecutive conference-finals trips and needed a familiar organizer to reconnect Reggie Miller with Larry Brown's half-court structure.

  2. February 20 · Trade

    Mark Jackson returns to Indiana →

    Denver sent Jackson and LaSalle Thompson to Indiana for Vincent Askew, Eddie Johnson and second-round picks. Jackson restored the passing hub for the next Pacers contender.

    The complete trade package is preserved beside this moment →

    00TradeFebruary 20, 1997To INDINDJACKSON13INDTHOMPSON41To DENDENASKEW17DENJOHNSON3Draft2NDround assetMark Jackson back to IndianaIND receives Mark Jackson, LaSalle ThompsonDEN receives Vincent Askew, Eddie Johnson, Two 2nd-round picks5 original assets · 0 outcomes tracedOpen trade →

  3. Deadline week · Long view

    A quiet deadline plants Indiana's next Finals backcourt

    The Pacers missed the playoffs, but Jackson remained the lead guard through three conference-finals appearances and the 2000 Finals.