You know how the Hawks and Heat will be replaying the last 51.9 seconds of their game from a few weeks ago because of a scorekeeper's mistake? A Dallas Morning News reader asked Eddie Sefko what would happen if some of the players involved in that game were traded between now and then. Would they come back and play a minute for their old team? Is there precedent for this kind of thing?
Sefko's response:
I checked with an NBA official, and he said the rule is whatever team you have at the time of the replayed portion of the game, that's your team. It doesn't matter who gets traded or injured or if somebody retires.
This actually happened in 1979. A game between Philadelphia and New Jersey was protested and, before the replayed part of the game could happen, the two teams pulled off a trade.
Harvey Catchings went from Philadelphia, then was traded to the Nets for Eric Money and Ralph Simpson.
All three players were in the box score for both teams. Money scored 23 points for New Jersey and four for the 76ers.
In the Heat-Hawks case, the inactive players for that game will again be inactive for the finish of the game, but players who are traded or otherwise acquired will likely be allowed to play, assuming they aren't acquired to replace one of the inactives.
