August 27

From Hoopedia

• 1863 - Hall of Fame referee George Hepbron, whose pioneering work as a referee and rule-maker helped to form the game in its first decades, is born in Still Pond, Maryland.

• 1975 - The Memphis Sounds of the American Basketball Association move to Baltimore and become the Baltimore Claws. They fold before ever playing a game in Baltimore.

• 1997 - The NBA opens its office in Taipei, Taiwan. League stars David Robinson and Joe Smith officiate at the opening ceremony for NBA Taiwan, Ltd.

• 1997 - In what was then the largest trade in NBA history, 11 players change teams. The Vancouver Grizzlies trade the rights to Steve Francis and Tony Massenburg to the Houston Rockets for Michael Dickerson, Othella Harrington, Antoine Carr, Brent Price, Houston's first-round draft pick in 2000, 2001 or 2002, and the Orlando Magic's 2000 second-round draft pick. Orlando traded Don MacLean to Houston, and received Lee Mayberry, Makhtar Ndiaye, Rodrick Rhodes and Michael Smith from Vancouver.