The Amazing Blaze Zine

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June 23rd, 1988 NBA Expansion Draft

June 23, 1988 - With the 1st selection in the NBA Expansion Draft the Miami Heat select F Arvid Kramer. Huh? Who? Kramer was originally selected out of tiny Augustana University all the way back in 1979 by the Utah Jazz. His last NBA Appearance was in 1980 when he barely broke a sweat in 8 games for the Denver Nuggets. So, why would the Heat spend the 1st selection on Arvid? Well they had a backroom deal in place with the Dallas Mavericks who hoped to hold onto three other unprotected players in the expansion draft. (Bill Wennington, Jim Farmer and Steve Alford) The Heat agreed to select Kramer # 1 in exchange for the Mavericks 1st round pick in 1988. (20th overall) He never played for the Heat.

With the 2nd selection the other newly hatched franchise, the Charlotte Hornets, selected shooting guard Dell Curry who had spent the previous season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Miami would finish 15-67 while the Hornets fared slightly better at 20-62.