Williams’ $6-Million Deal Helped Make Erving a 76er

On a hot summer day in 1976, Pat Williams had a brainstorm.

Williams, general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers, called Billy Melchionni, his counterpart with the New York Nets, and asked: “Would you consider trading Julius Erving?”

Williams knew that Erving and the Nets were at an impasse in a contract dispute. Erving had refused to report to training camp.

Still, Melchionni unhesitatingly told Williams, “No, we wouldn’t, but if we change our minds we’ll call you.”

Several weeks later.

Williams’ telephone rang. It was Melchionni.

“You asked me to call. We’re willing to talk about moving Erving.”

Williams, who said he could hardly contain himself, asked, “What are you looking for?”

The Nets’ general manager replied that Nets’ owner Roy Boe wanted cash.

“How much?” Williams asked.

Three million was the reply, Williams said.

Williams then asked for permission to talk with Erving’s agent.

Erdenheim Farm, home of new 76ers’ owner Fitz Eugene Dixon.

“Fitz, I want you to be aware that Julius Erving is available,” Williams said.

“Who is Julius Erving?” asked Dixon, more of a baseball than basketball buff.

“I can best describe him as the Babe Ruth of basketball,” Williams explained.

“What does it take to acquire him?” Dixon asked.

“Six million dollars, three to the Nets and three to Erving,” Williams said.

“Are you recommending this deal?” Dixon asked.

“Yes sir, I am,” Williams replied.

“Then, why don’t you go try and get it done?”

Williams talks with 76ers Coach Gene Shue.

“We had an ongoing dialogue,” Williams said. “Gene was concerned about how Erving would mix with George McGinnis, Darryl Dawkins, Lloyd Free, Doug Collins, Steve Mix, Joe Bryant and Caldwell Jones.

“I asked him how he would feel seeing Erving in a (New York) Knicks’ uniform? That settled it.

One week later.

“I walked into our office with Jack McMahon (an assistant coach) and the telephone rang. My secretary said, ‘Mr. Roy Boe is calling.’

“Boe said, “I’m calling to inform you that we have--and then there was a long pause, my heart was palpitating--decided to accept your offer.

“Just at that moment, Fitz happened to walk in. He rarely came to the (team) office.

“We’ve got him,” I told Fitz. The man who a few weeks earlier had asked ‘Who is Julius Erving,’ said he was as close to dancing a jig as he’d ever been.

“It was a Wednesday. The (1976) season opened Friday. There were two deals to be done, one with the Nets and the other with Erving.”

Williams and two lawyers went to New York, completed the deal with Boe, and then in an all-night session negotiated a contract with Erving. It was signed at 7 a.m.

There still was one hitch.

The contract had to be approved by NBA Commissioner Larry O’Brien. This was the summer when baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, in the name of parity, nullified the deal that sent Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi of the Oakland A’s to the New York Yankees.

In fact, Williams recalled, “O’Brien said, ‘You know I have the right to nullify this deal.’ ”

“I gasped,” Williams said, “but later that day he approved.”

The 76ers called a 5 p.m. news conference and announced that an Associated Press story the previous night, disclosing that the 76ers obtained Erving for $3 million, was correct.

It was a special day in another way for Erving: It was his fourth wedding anniversary and his wife, Turquoise, told him she was pregnant with their second child.

The 76ers lost their first two games with Erving, starting the season, 0-2. But Erving, McGinnis and company went to the league finals where they were upset by Portland.

Eleven years later, next Friday, Erving plays his final home game as a 76er against Indiana. It’s been a grand romance.