SEATTLE -- The Seattle SuperSonics Monday night traded center Alton Lister to Golden State for a first-round draft choice in 1990, the same pick they gave up this year for the Warriors' first-round pick.
The trade came one week after Sonics President Bob Whitsitt vehemently denied San Francisco Bay Area news reports that the trade was imminent. Whitsitt said Monday's trade was originally discussed on draft day, but was rejected at that time by the Warriors.
'There have been no discussions between the Sonics and Warriors since draft, day, until this morning (Monday),' Whitsitt said.
Lister was is in the final year of a three-year, $3.5 million contract. The eight-year NBA veteran had played the past three seasons with the Sonics after coming to Seattle from the Milwaukee Bucks before the 1986-1987 season. Last season, Lister averaged 8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per contest. He has played in 164 consecutive games, second only to Utah's Mark Eaton among current players.
The 7-foot Lister twice blocked 180 shots in a single season for the Sonics, a Sonics record.
'I think if you combine his stats for blocked shots and rebounds, you will find he is the best in the league for minutes played,' Warriors' Coach Don Nelson, who was in Wisconsin, told UPI.
Nelson originally drafted Lister while he was coaching the Milwaukee Bucks.
'He can play two positions. He is a power forward and a center. He played both positions for me in Milwaukee so I know exactly what he can do.'
Lister was expected to replace 6-9 Larry Smith, the Warriors leading rebounder, who signed as a free agent with the Houston Rockets.
'One of the best things about Alton is that he can run the floor and that is very important to us because we like to run,' Nelson said. 'He protects us in two ways -- if Ralph (Sampson) gets injured again, he can play center, or he can start at power forward. He is a versatile big man.'
In Seattle Lister played 1806 minutes in the 1988-1989 season, his lowest total since his rookie season in 1981-1982.
'We've got several talented big people and there simply wouldn't be a lot of minutes available for Alton,' he said. 'The acquisition of (7-foot Forward) Brad Sellers (from the Chicago Bulls) will add to the situation.'