Only once during four decades of covering pro basketball do I recall a team that became almost whole in a forced trade by its franchise player . . . and that took two seasons after Milwaukee agreed to relocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (and Walt Wesley) for Junior Bridgeman, Brian Winters, David Meyers and Elmore Smith.
Bucks executive Wayne Embry keenly salvaged the susceptible situation (the Knicks, Kareem's other option, offered declining veterans) accruing promising (mostly) young talent in the deal. He understood there would a sheer fall from grace to the bottom of the standings and correctly assessed they would have ample battlefield experience to facilitate forthcoming rookies who figured to be regal.
In 1977, two years after Kareem's power play, Kent Benson was drafted No. 1 and Marques Johnson No. 3. The Bucks — adding Sidney Moncrief and other choice morsels along the way — advanced to the Eastern Conference finals five straight seasons.