In one of many horrific trades over the past 3 decades, the Sixers dealt Moses Malone to the Washington Bullets along with F Terry Catledge and TWO first-round picks for C Jeff Ruland and gunner-extraordinaire Cliff Robinson shortly after the 1985-1986 season. The Sixers hoped the rugged Ruland, 3 years younger than Malone, would keep them near the top of the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, the Sixers chose to ignore the chronic foot problems Ruland suffered through dating back to the 1984-85 season, and the fact that his brittle tootsies kept him from playing in all but 30 games in 1985-1986. Typical of any Philadelphia team’s luck Ruland managed just 5 games in 1986-87, and didn’t suit up again until 1991-92 when he played 13 games for Philly before being run over by a luggage cart outside of Boston Garden, injuring his achilles tendon.
Ruland, essentially the Danny Tartabull of the 76ers (although I think Ruland actually wanted to play), is back on the Sixers bench. He is replacing Henry Bibby on Mo Cheeks’ staff, and will be working with the post players. So if Marreese Speights becomes a low post force under Ruland’s tutelage maybe we call that debacle of a trade even?
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