The Rick Mahorn Bad Boys Expansion Draft Story

Описание: June 15, 1989 - Detroit Pistons center Rick Mahorn was afforded exactly two days to celebrate his team's 1989 NBA Championship before receiving word that he was no longer a part of the organization.

The NBA wasted little time in getting their 1989 offseason proceedings underway, scheduling their expansion draft for the incoming Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic on the same day as the Pistons' championship parade and rally. It was near the end of the rally at the Palace of Auburn Hills that Mahorn learned that he'd been selected first in the expansion draft by the Timberwolves. After a day of glory and euphoria, Mahorn left the Palace forlorn, a black garbage bag of his belongings slung over his shoulder.

Expansion draft rules dictate that each NBA roster may protect up to eight players. This usually affords each team to maintain their core necessities. However, in the case of the Detroit Pistons, whose conceptual cornerstone was one of depth and a sense of team, limiting the protection list to just eight players created an unsavory decision making process for general manager Jack McCloskey and company.

Ultimately, the Pistons protected the following players:

1. Isiah Thomas
2. Joe Dumars
3. Dennis Rodman
4. Bill Laimbeer
5. James Edwards
6. Vinnie Johnson
7. Mark Aguirre
8. John Salley

-----------Unprotected------------

9. Rick Mahorn
10. John Long
11. Michael Williams
12. Fennis Dembo

Ultimately, Mahorn refused to report to Timberwolves camp, inducing a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, where he'd team up with Charles Barkley to win the Atlantic Division during the 1989-90 season, clinching their division title against the Pistons at the Palace, capped by a Rick Mahorn poster dunk on Dennis Rodman that kick-started the first Malice at the Palace:    • Charles Barkley Brawls With Bill Laimbeer ...  

Mahorn's full rally speech can be seen here:    • Rick Mahorn's Final Moment with the Bad Bo...  

Mahorn rejoined the Pistons during the Grant Hill-led teal horsepower era of the late 90's, appearing in 81 games over two seasons.