LANDOVER, Md. -- The Washington Bullets, Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings completed a major three-way deal Monday, involving guard Jeff Malone, center Pervis Ellison and guard Bobby Hansen.
The Bullets traded the 6-foot-4 Malone and a 1991 second-round draft pick to the Sacramento Kings for the 6-foot-9 Ellison.
The Kings, in turn, traded Malone and its first 1990 second-round pick (33rd overall) to the Jazz for Hansen, center Eric Leckner and its 1990 first- and second-round picks (23rd and 49th overall).
Ellison was the No. 1 selection in the 1989 draft but was injured this season and played little.
'What we have accomplished with this trade is keeping our expressed purpose of improving our overall talent base,' Kings General Manager Jerry Reynolds said. 'By acquiring Eric Leckner, Bobby Hansen and an additional first-round pick, we are provided with an opportunity to add three productive players to the Kings' roster.'
Malone, an excellent outside shooter and the second-leading scorer in Bullets' history, averaged a career-best 24.3 points a game last season. The 10th pick in the 1983 draft out of Mississippi State, Malone has been named to two All-Star teams.
Ellison, played sparingly following preseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his right foot and ankle, and then suffered tendinitis in his right big toe. He averaged 8 points and 5.8 rebounds a game.
Leckner was a first-round selection in the 1988 draft and averaged 4.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in two years with Utah, playing behind Mark Eaton.
Hansen started 81 games for the Jazz last season and has averaged 7.5 points a game in seven seasons.
Sacramento, which has expressed a desire to draft Oregon State guard Gary Payton, already had the seventh pick in Wednesday's draft and now will also pick 23rd in the first round and two second-round picks.
The Jazz are hoping that Malone can provide consistent perimeter shooting, an element the team has lacked the past two years.
'We are adding a terrific player, a two-time All-Star, and a great shooter who can score. Going into the draft, we felt we needed to improve our perimeter shooting and I think we've done that,' Scott Layden, Utah's director of player personnel said.
'Trades are always the tough part of this business, and with both (Hansen and Leckner) it's no exception.'
The acquisition of Ellison helps the Bullets fill their most glaring hole -- center. The Bullets -- whose 31-51 record last season was their worst since 1966-67 -- started Charles Jones last season, who averaged just 3.2 points a game.
'This might indicate a new beginning, an opportunity to build with some quality youth,' said Bullets General Manager John Nash, who replaced Bob Ferry last week.
From Nash's standpoint, the opportunity to get a younger post player with potential for an older guard was too good to pass up.
'Maybe the fact (Ellison) had a disappointing rookie year gave us the opportunity to do something we couldn't do a year ago,' Nash said.
Malone, three days shy of his 29th birthday, carried the majority of the scoring load last year.
'In the Bullets' recent history, nobody has contributed as much to this franchise as Jeff Malone,' said Bullets Coach Wes Unseld. 'He has proven over the last six years he is an all-star player.'
The Bullets do not have a first-round pick Wednesday, having traded it to Dallas in 1986 for forward Jay Vincent. They have two second-round picks, 35th and 37th overall, and Nash said they may opt for a shooting guard as a potential preplacement for Malone.
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Malone, the second-leading scorer in Bullets' history, averaged a career-best 24.3 points a game last season. The 10th pick in the 1983 draft, Malone has been named to two All-Star teams.
Ellison, played sparingly following pre-season surgery to remove bone spurs from his right foot and ankle, and then suffered tendinitis in his right big toe. He averaged 8 points and 5.8 rebounds a game.
Leckner was a first-round selection in the 1988 draft and averaged 4.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in two years with Utah, playing behind Mark Eaton.
Hansen started 81 games for the Jazz last season and has averaged 7.5 points a game in seven seasons.
