Milwaukee Swapped Zaslofsky for Chuck Share
Milwaukee traded Max Zaslofsky to Fort Wayne on December 21, 1953 for Chuck Share. Basketball-Reference lists the same exchange on the Hawks, Pistons and league-wide 1953-54 transaction pages. The move came less than a month after Milwaukee acquired Zaslofsky from Baltimore, so the Hawks effectively converted a veteran scoring guard into a younger center with size and upside. Share had been the first overall pick in the 1950 draft and was still only 26, while Zaslofsky was an established scorer entering the later stage of his career.
Share Became a Long-Term Hawks Center
Share's role expanded immediately after the trade. He played 47 games for Milwaukee in 1953-54, logging 1,421 minutes with 528 points and 493 rebounds. His averages jumped to 30.2 minutes, 11.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game, and Basketball-Reference credits him with 4.6 win shares for the Hawks portion of the season. He stayed with the franchise through the move to St. Louis, became a regular center for several years and remained on the roster during the 1958 championship season.
Fort Wayne Still Got Useful Veteran Scoring
Zaslofsky was not a throwaway return. He appeared in 45 Pistons games in 1953-54, averaging 25.9 minutes and 11.0 points while contributing 495 total points. He then played 70 games for Fort Wayne in 1954-55 at 11.2 points per game and remained on the roster into 1955-56. For a team trying to contend immediately, adding an experienced scorer had clear utility. The Pistons received more short-term perimeter production than Share had been giving them before the deal, and the exchange helped both teams address different roster needs.
Longevity Gives Milwaukee the Better Outcome
Both sides received real value, but Milwaukee's return aged better. Zaslofsky provided two useful Fort Wayne seasons, while Share became a multi-year starting-caliber center, followed the franchise to St. Louis and remained part of the roster through the 1958 title run. The gap is therefore about longevity and franchise fit rather than one team receiving nothing. Fort Wayne's return deserves a strong grade, but Share's sustained role gives the Hawks the superior realized outcome.
Final Verdict
Hawks Win — Milwaukee A, Fort Wayne B+. Milwaukee traded Max Zaslofsky to the Fort Wayne Pistons for Chuck Share on December 21, 1953. Basketball-Reference's Milwaukee, Fort Wayne and league transaction logs agree on the straight swap. Share immediately became Milwaukee's starting-caliber center, playing 47 games after the trade and averaging 30.2 minutes, 11.2 points and 10.5 rebounds. He remained with the Hawks through the franchise's move to St. Louis and was still on the roster during the 1958 NBA championship season.