



Moses Malone almost backed out. The chance to finally be a part of a forever team. The chance to play with his hero, Julius Erving. The chance to validate a Springfield-bound career and be recognized as the richest, baddest mo-fo-fo-fo in the game. Malone was ready to throw it all away … because of Caldwell Jones?



Sounds funny considering how everything played out, but, after capturing his second most valuable player trophy with the Houston Rockets, Malone was prepared to join the Philadelphia 76ers — until the deal hit an unexpected snag. Back then, teams that signed away free agents had to make the other team “whole” with agreed-upon compensation. In exchange for losing Malone, the Rockets wanted Jones, the selfless big man who was a favorite of both the locker room and coaching staff, played through injury and willingly sacrificed numbers for the sake of the team.



Malone wasn’t happy with the arrangement.