Tri-Cities and Boston Exchanged Hermsen and Boykoff
On February 3, 1951, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks traded Kleggie Hermsen to the Boston Celtics for Harry Boykoff. Tri-Cities' transaction page, Boston's transaction page and the 1950-51 league transaction log all identify the same one-for-one exchange. The archive stores Hermsen under his given name, Clarence Hermsen, while Basketball-Reference uses the familiar Kleggie Hermsen name. Boykoff had played 32 Boston games at 6.3 points and 4.2 rebounds before the swap. Hermsen had appeared in 48 Tri-Cities games at 8.0 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Boykoff Produced 16 Blackhawks Games
Boykoff gave the Blackhawks 16 games over the remainder of the season. He averaged 7.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists, which was a modest scoring increase from his Boston role. That production was useful, but it was also the end of Boykoff's NBA career. He did not return the next season and created no documented downstream trade value for Tri-Cities. The Blackhawks therefore received a short-term center who helped for several weeks without becoming a lasting roster asset.
Hermsen Lasted a Little Longer in Boston
Hermsen played 23 games for Boston in 1950-51, averaging 6.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 0.9 assists. He did not play in 1951-52, then returned for four brief Celtics appearances in 1952-53 before finishing the season with Indianapolis. Boston's return was hardly transformative, but it lasted longer than Boykoff's Tri-Cities stint and produced more total regular-season games. The later four-game return also shows the Celtics retained some control of the asset beyond the initial season.
A Small Service Gap Gives Boston the Edge
The gap is small because both players were short-term contributors with similar rebounding numbers. Boykoff was slightly more productive as a scorer after the trade, while Hermsen gave Boston more games and a longer connection to the roster. Neither side turned the player into a major later asset, and neither return changed the trajectory of the franchise. The surviving record therefore supports only a slight Boston edge, based primarily on duration and total service rather than a dramatic difference in quality.
Final Verdict
Slight Celtics Edge — Tri-Cities C, Boston C+. Tri-Cities traded Clarence 'Kleggie' Hermsen to the Boston Celtics for Harry Boykoff on February 3, 1951. Boykoff played 16 games for the Blackhawks, averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds, but those were the final NBA games of his career. Hermsen gave Boston 23 games at 6.5 points and 5.3 rebounds in 1950-51, then returned for four brief appearances in 1952-53. Neither player became a long-term piece, but Boston received more total service and a slightly longer asset life.