Milwaukee Turned Max Zaslofsky into a Longer Asset Chain
Baltimore sent Max Zaslofsky to Milwaukee on November 25, 1953 for Bob Houbregs. Basketball-Reference records the same player-for-player exchange on both team transaction pages and in the league-wide 1953-54 ledger. Zaslofsky was a proven veteran scorer who had already made an All-Star team and led the BAA in scoring earlier in his career. Houbregs was the third overall pick in the 1953 draft and only 21 years old, so Baltimore was trading established production for a younger frontcourt piece.
Houbregs Gave Baltimore Real Rookie Minutes
Houbregs immediately handled a major role for the Bullets. He appeared in 59 Baltimore games during 1953-54, logging 1,804 minutes with 544 points, 329 rebounds and 114 assists. He averaged more than 30 minutes per game after the trade and remained with Baltimore for 10 games in 1954-55 before the franchise folded. His later NBA career continued elsewhere, but Baltimore's direct return was still substantial: the Bullets received most of a season of starter-level minutes from a rookie with meaningful upside.
Zaslofsky Became Chuck Share One Month Later
Zaslofsky's direct Milwaukee stint was short but productive. He appeared in nine games, averaging 33.2 minutes and 15.1 points. More importantly, the Hawks retained his asset value. On December 21 they traded Zaslofsky to Fort Wayne for Chuck Share. Share then played 47 Milwaukee games that season and 69 in 1954-55 before remaining with the franchise after its move to St. Louis. He became the club's regular center for years and was part of the 1958 NBA championship team.
The Share Conversion Pushes Milwaukee Ahead
Baltimore received useful immediate value from Houbregs, so this was not a one-sided failure. The Bullets got 59 games and heavy minutes from a young frontcourt player. Milwaukee, however, turned Zaslofsky into both short-term scoring and the trade asset that produced Share, whose multi-year run became part of the Hawks' rise into a championship contender. The downstream chain creates a clear Milwaukee advantage while still recognizing that Baltimore's return was real.
Final Verdict
Hawks Win — Milwaukee A-, Baltimore B-. Baltimore traded veteran guard Max Zaslofsky to the Milwaukee Hawks for rookie big man Bob Houbregs on November 25, 1953. Basketball-Reference's Baltimore, Milwaukee and league transaction logs agree on the straight swap. Houbregs became a major Baltimore rotation player immediately, appearing in 59 games and logging 1,804 minutes with 544 points and 329 rebounds in 1953-54. Zaslofsky played only nine Milwaukee games, but on December 21 the Hawks flipped him to Fort Wayne for Chuck Share, who became Milwaukee/St. Louis' starting center and remained with the franchise through its 1958 championship season.