1976–77 Buffalo Braves season

NBA season

team = Buffalo Braves
end_year = 1977
record = 30-52
division_place = 4^th
conf_place = 9^th
coach = Tates Locke
arena = Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
playoffs = Did not qualifyThe 1976-77 NBA season was the Braves seventh season in the NBA. The Braves were purchased by John Y. Brown, Jr., the former owner of the Kentucky Colonels in the now defunct American Basketball Association for $6.2 million. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] As part of an agreement with the Braves' former owner, Paul Snyder, Brown would give Snyder money received in player deals to reduce the purchase price. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] The sell-off began shortly after the season, as the Braves sold newly acquired Moses Malone. Malone was acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers after the ABA dispersal draft. Malone was now off to the Houston Rockets. The selling of players continued into the season as Bob McAdoo was sold to the New York Knicks. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ] While the deals helped Brown pay virtually nothing for the franchise, it turned a promising franchise into a rebuilding one. Attendance fell off as the Braves finished in 4th place with a 30-52 record. The only spotlight was rookie Adrian Dantley, who captured Rookie of the Year honors with 20.3 points per game. However Dantley himself was traded following the season to the Indiana Pacers for Billy Knight. [ [http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nba/buffalo/bufbraves.html Buffalo Braves (1970-1978) ] ]

Offseason

NBA Draft

ABA Dispersal Draft

The American Basketball Association merged with the NBA in 1976. Of the teams remaining in the ABA, four joined the NBA. The remaining two ABA teams that did not join the NBA, the Kentucky Colonels and the Spirits of St. Louis, had their players assigned to a dispersal draft for draft purposes.

Awards and Honors

*Ernie DiGregorio, Led NBA, Free Throw Percentage, .945

References

* [http://www.databasebasketball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=BUF&lg=n&yr=1976 Braves on Database Basketball]
* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BUF/1977.html Braves on Basketball Reference]