Three Blockbuster Moves Reshape the ABF

Houston acquires: Moses Malone
St. Louis receives: 1977 first-round pick, 1978 second-round pick, cash considerations

The Rockets made it to the Premier League the hard way , through the promotion playoff. Now they’re making sure they stay there.

Moses Malone, the 21-year-old rebounding machine, returns to the franchise that drafted him. Houston pairs him with Calvin Murphy and Rudy Tomjanovich, giving the Rockets a frontline that can bang with anyone. For St. Louis, it’s a painful but necessary move. The Spirits are headed to the Founders Cup and need assets. Malone would have been wasted in the third tier. Now they build around draft picks and cap space.

What it means: Houston isn’t just happy to be in the Premier. They’re building for keeps.

Denver acquires: James Silas
San Antonio receives: 1977 first-round pick, young player to be named

The ABF’s first champion just got better.

James Silas — “The Captain” — was the Premier League’s highest-scoring guard (28.7 per 48) despite playing for a relegated Spurs team. Now he joins David Thompson and Dan Issel in Denver, giving the Nuggets a backcourt threat to match their dominant frontcourt.

For San Antonio, it’s a gut punch. Silas was the face of the franchise. But with relegation to the Championship, the Spurs faced a choice: build around him or sell high and stockpile assets. They chose the latter. Denver’s first-round pick and a young rotation player give San Antonio a head start on their return bid.

What it means: The rich get richer. Denver just reloaded.

Buffalo acquires: Bill Walton
Portland receives: 1977 first-round pick, 1978 second-round pick, future considerations

This is the one that changes everything.

Buffalo already had Bob McAdoo, the Championship’s most dominant scorer. Now they add Bill Walton — a generational talent who somehow ended up in the Founders Cup after Portland’s shocking relegation. Together, McAdoo and Walton form arguably the best frontcourt in the Premier League.

For Portland, it’s a fire sale. Walton had no business playing 20 games in the Founders Cup. The Blazers extract what they can — future picks, cap flexibility — and begin a full rebuild from the third tier.

What it means: Buffalo isn’t just happy to be in the Premier. They’re immediate title contenders.

OKC Refuses to Wait

The Founders Cup champions (17–3) aren’t content to simply survive in the Championship. Oklahoma City has made two aggressive moves:

1. Signing veteran guard Geoff Petrie – The former Portland scorer brings Championship experience and perimeter shooting to a young Stampede roster.

2. Hiring head coach Tom Nissalke – The veteran tactician replaces the interim staff, giving OKC a system-minded leader for their 66-game grind.

“We’re not here to participate,” a team source said. “We’re here to win.”

What it means: OKC believes they can pull off back-to-back promotions. The Championship just got a lot more interesting.

Coaching Moves

Portland (↓ to Founders Cup)

• Out: Lenny Wilkens (resigns to move to front office)
• In: Jack Ramsay – Perfect for a rebuild; defensive mind, respected veteran

St. Louis (↓ to Founders Cup)

• Out: Rod Thorn
• In: Hubie Brown – Defensive genius for young roster with Moses Malone gone

Indiana (↓ to Championship)

• Out: Bob “Slick” Leonard
• In: Doug Moe – Run-and-gun style for a full rebuild; exciting, player-friendly

San Antonio (↓ to Championship)

• Out: Bob Bass (steps down and moves to front office)
• In: Stan Albeck – Disciplined, system-oriented; perfect for a retooling team

Oklahoma City (↑ to Championship)

• Out: Interim staff (implied)
• In: Tom Nissalke – Veteran coach with Championship experience; system mind for young, hungry team

Buffalo

• With Jack Ramsay now in Portland, who coaches the Braves?
• Options: Promote assistant? Hire Kevin Loughery (ABA flair)? Cotton Fitzsimmons (veteran)?

Kentucky (↓ to Championship)

• Hubie Brown moves to St. Louis for a change of scenery
• Who replaces him? Internal promotion?