The 1977–78 NBA season was the Braves' eighth and final season in the NBA. Entering the season, the Braves were allowed an escape clause in their lease, because season ticket sales did not reach the set goal of 4,500. The Braves suffered another disappointment as Tiny Archibald (whom they acquired from the New Jersey Nets for George Johnson) was lost for the year due to an Achilles tendon injury in the preseason.

The Braves played competitively in November with a respectable .500 record at 10–10. Despite the promising start, the Braves won just nine games over the next three months. While the Braves were struggling on the court, owner John Y. Brown was brokering a deal to take over the legendary Boston Celtics franchise. Celtics owner Irv Levin wanted to move the historic franchise to California. However, the NBA would not allow him to take the cornerstone franchise out of Boston.

NBA Lawyer David Stern offered a comprise in which Levin and Brown would swap franchises. The concept was that Levin would take over the Braves and move them to San Diego. The Braves finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 27–55 () record, and played their last game on April 9, ironically, in Boston. Owners voted 21–1 to approve the deal, and the Braves moved from Buffalo to San Diego; the team was renamed the San Diego Clippers for the 1978–79 season.

The deal also included a seven-player trade in which the Celtics acquired Archibald, Billy Knight, and Marvin Barnes. The San Diego-bound Braves received Freeman Williams, back-up center Kevin Kunnert, and power forwards Kermit Washington and Sidney Wicks. The team would not request a draft pick in the deal, allowing the Celtics to retain the draft rights to Larry Bird in 1979.

Offseason

NBA draft

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 2 24 Larry Johnson Guard Kentucky 4 68 Melvin Watkins Guard UNC Charlotte 5 90 Mike Hanley Forward Niagara University 6 112 Curvan Lewis Forward Virginia Union 7 133 Mike Jackson Guard Tennessee 8 153 Emery Sammons Guard Philadelphia T&S

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Game log Regular season

Player stats +LegendGPGames playedMPGMinutes per gameFGField-goals per gameFGAField-goals attempted per GameFG%Field-goal percentageFTFree-throws per gameFTAFree-throws attempted per GameFT%Free-throw percentageORPGOffensive rebounds per gameDRPGDefensive rebounds per gameRPGRebounds per gameAPGAssists per gameSPGSteals per gameBPGBlocks per gamePFPGPersonal fouls per gamePPGPoints per game Player GP MPG FG FGA FG% FT FTA FT% ORPG DRPG RPG APG SPG BPG PFPG PPG 5340.78.617.50.4945.77.00.8092.44.87.23.01.50.22.622.9 8240.49.620.70.4655.46.80.8001.32.43.85.62.10.12.724.6 7835.66.412.70.5042.73.50.7653.69.613.22.80.50.63.515.5 1832.84.28.40.4974.15.50.7471.85.37.13.20.80.53.212.4 4828.74.711.30.4162.43.20.7452.25.07.32.41.21.54.111.8 7327.42.86.00.4771.61.90.8260.41.51.94.30.70.11.97.3 3723.64.29.10.4623.54.20.8332.13.05.11.20.50.32.711.9 7921.72.96.50.4401.11.50.7061.32.94.21.50.90.53.26.8 3419.93.88.70.4361.92.80.6670.31.21.53.80.60.22.59.5 5619.32.86.50.4301.11.40.8001.42.63.90.70.40.82.36.7 4117.72.04.50.4401.21.50.7940.31.61.83.01.00.02.15.2 5616.93.56.60.5270.91.20.7850.31.21.41.40.60.11.87.9 4216.52.45.60.4270.91.00.8571.13.24.31.00.10.92.75.6 5610.11.22.90.4250.81.00.7410.81.32.10.60.20.21.53.2 1310.01.43.30.4191.41.80.7500.20.70.91.50.20.40.84.2 49.50.83.30.2310.00.50.0000.31.01.31.81.30.50.81.5 108.51.64.00.4001.11.50.7330.60.81.40.90.20.31.34.3 87.91.12.60.4290.40.80.5000.60.61.30.60.10.00.41.1

Awards and honors Randy Smith, 1978 NBA All-Star Game MVP

Transactions The Braves were involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season.

Coaching Change Offseason Outgoing Coach Date Removed 1976-77 Record Incoming Coach Joe Mullaney (interim) Fired, August 5, 1977 11–18 Cotton Fitzsimmons

Trades June 7, 1977 To Buffalo Braves Swen Nater & the 13th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft To Milwaukee Bucks The 3rd pick in the 1977 NBA Draft June 10, 1977 To Buffalo Braves A 1977 2nd round draft pick To Chicago Bulls The 13th pick in the 1977 NBA Draft June 10, 1977 To Buffalo Braves Johnny Neumann To Los Angeles Lakers A 1977 3rd round draft pick August 5, 1977 To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick as compensation To Detroit Pistons The right to sign Don Adams as a veteran free agent September 1, 1977 To Buffalo Braves Tiny Archibald To New Jersey Nets George Johnson, a 1978 1st round draft pick & a 1979 1st round draft pick. September 1, 1977 To Buffalo Braves The right to sign Mike Bantom as a veteran free agent To New Jersey Nets A future 4th round draft pick as compensation September 1, 1977 To Buffalo Braves Billy Knight To Indiana Pacers Adrian Dantley & Mike Bantom September 2, 1977 To Buffalo Braves A 1979 1st round draft pick To Milwaukee Bucks John Gianelli September 7, 1977 To Buffalo Braves Cash considerations To Los Angeles Lakers Ernie DiGregorio September 13, 1977 To Buffalo Braves Bill Willoughby To Atlanta Hawks A 1978 2nd round draft pick October 3, 1977 To Buffalo Braves The right to sign Wil Jones as a veteran free agent To Indiana Pacers A 1980 2nd round draft pick as compensation October 6, 1977 To Buffalo Braves The right to sign Ted McClain as a veteran free agent To Denver Nuggets A 1978 3rd round draft pick as compensation October 17, 1977 To Buffalo Braves Gary Brokaw To Cleveland Cavaliers Future considerations October 18, 1977 To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick To Indiana Pacers Johnny Neumann November 23, 1977 To Buffalo Braves Marvin Barnes and a 1978 2nd & 4th round draft picks To Detroit Pistons Gus Gerard, John Shumate & a 1979 1st round draft pick January 31, 1978 To Buffalo Braves A 1978 3rd round draft pick To Philadelphia 76ers Ted McClain

Free agents

Additions Player Signed Former team Mike Bantom September 1 New Jersey Nets Jim McDaniels September 20 Kentucky Colonels (ABA) Wil Jones October 3 Indiana Pacers Ted McClain October 6 Denver Nuggets Scott Lloyd December 8 Milwaukee Bucks Mike Glenn December 14 Chicago Bulls Bird Averitt January 31 New Jersey Nets Larry McNeill February 2 Golden State Warriors Eddie Owens March 8 Rochester Zeniths(AABA)

Subtractions Player Left New team Don Adams free agency, August 5 Detroit Pistons Fred Foster waived, September 11 Retired Bird Averitt contract sold, September 16 New Jersey Nets Larry Johnson waived, November 14signed as free agent, November 26 waived, December 8 Matsushita Denki (JBL) Gary Brokaw waived, December 14 Iona College (head coach) Jim McDaniels waived, February 2 Retired

References

Braves on Basketball Reference