OAKLAND, Calif., July 18 -- The Golden State Warriors Monday traded injured swingman Sarunas Marciulionis to the Seattle SuperSonics for veteran guard Ricky Pierce. The Warriors announced the trade on the same day a federal judge in New York ruled in favor of the NBA in its contractual dispute with the Players Association, ending a temporary restraining order that prevented teams from signing contracts with players.
Along with Marciulionis, the Warriors also will send forward Byron Houston to the Sonics and receive the rights to forward/center Carlos Rogers, Seattle's first-round selection in the 1994 draft, and two 1995 second-round draft picks. Marciulionis and Pierce are two of the best reserves in the league. The 30-year-old Marciulionis, originally from Lithuania, has averaged 14.7 points per game in a five-year career. However, he missed all of the 1993-94 season when he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in October. The 34-year-old Pierce missed 31 games with a variety of ailments this season, most notably bone spurs in his left foot. He averaged 14.5 points in his 12th season and remains one of the league's best clutch shooters. He won the NBA's Sixth Man Award in 1987 and 1990. The 6-5 Houston has averaged 4.1 points per game over his first two seasons. Rogers, a 6-11, 214-pound forward/center averaged 24.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and three blocks in his senior season at Tennessee State.
