The 1993 NBA Draft held in Auburn, Michigan, was fascinating for many reasons. It showcased one of the most highly anticipated prospects in league history, Chris Webber, who was a standout member of the iconic “Fab Five” from the Michigan Wolverines, cementing his reputation during his storied and complex collegiate career.
However, what made the ’93 draft most intriguing was the trade that rocked the NBA to its core. Top picks in the NBA Draft are typically treated like gold, but in this case, C-Webb, who the Orlando Magic picked first, was sent to the Golden State Warriors for a package bannered by Penny Hardaway and multiple future first-round picks.
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The trade sent shockwaves
Webber was a can’t-miss prospect who averaged 17.0 points and 10.4 rebounds in his two seasons at Ann Arbor. And with the Magic already having the monstrous Shaquille O’Neal at center, having C-Webb play the power forward would have given them a mighty frontcourt that could dominate the East for a long time.
However, unbeknownst to many, the Magic’s general manager at that time, Pat Williams and Warriors head coach Don Nelson had already begun talks about a trade, especially since the latter believed they were a big man away from contending in the West.
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“He was very eager to get a big man. He didn’t care if it was Webber or (Shawn) Bradley. He’d take either one. He kept talking to us and we said, ‘Well, we’re probably going to go Webber,'” Pat revealed.
From that conversation, the framework of a trade was set: the Magic would pick C-Webb, and if available, the Warriors would pick Penny with the third pick. Then, they would swap in order for Golden State to get the big man they desperately needed.
True to form, NBA commissioner David Stern announced the Magic’s pick of Webber — something that sent their fans into a frenzy.
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“There was a big, big crowd at our building. We announced that we had taken Chris Webber, and our fans were just hysterical. They were excited,” Williams recalled. “But we knew that a little while later we were going to come back out with some more news.”
Then came the stunner
A few moments after the Warriors picked Penny, Stern returned to the podium to announce the trade between Orlando and Golden State. While C-Webb looked shocked at the sudden development, Penny wasn’t surprised.
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“I knew (about the trade). I don’t think Chris knew about the trade,” Anfernee disclosed. “I think it was more of a shock to him. He wanted to play in Orlando and not Golden State because he wanted to play with Shaq. He wanted to be more on the perimeter.”
As tough as making the trade was, Pat had an even tougher job before him — addressing the move to their rabid fans, who moments ago, were over the moon about the potential Shaq-C-Webb pairing. Now, they had a relatively unknown guard from Memphis as their new ace.
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“I tried to explain it to our fans. They didn’t want to hear anything. They drowned me out,” Pat remarked. “The best I could do was, ‘Fans, you’re booing tonight, but Penny is going to turn your boos to cheers.’ And then I got off the stage as fast as I could. Nothing I could say that night would appease them.”
History, though, shows how the Magic won that trade by a wide margin. Even though Chris won Rookie of the Year honors, Penny and Shaq led the Magic to the NBA Finals in their second season together. Hardaway also blossomed to become an All-NBA Team member in three of his first four years in the big league, proving that, as absurd as the trade was during the ’93 draft, Orlando actually knew what they were doing.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the Old School section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.