Boston acquired Bill Roberts' player rights from the Chicago Stags for cash on November 20, 1948. Roberts had appeared in only two games for Chicago, then played 26 games for the Celtics at 3.1 points and 0.5 assists per game before his rights later moved to St. Louis. The reviewed transaction logs confirm the rights purchase but do not preserve the cash amount. Boston gets a modest historical edge because the payment produced immediate rotation depth, although Roberts' Celtics tenure was brief and his strongest 1948-49 scoring stretch came later with the Bombers.
On November 20, 1948, the Boston Celtics acquired Bill Roberts' player rights from the Chicago Stags for cash. Boston's 1948-49 transaction log records the purchase one day after the Celtics signed Bob Doll, while Roberts' player record shows he had appeared in only two games for Chicago before the move. The reviewed public sources do not preserve the cash amount, so the price cannot be evaluated directly.
Roberts played 26 games for the Celtics during the 1948-49 BAA season. He averaged 3.1 points and 0.5 assists, scored 81 points and produced 0.2 win shares in Boston. Those numbers are modest, but they represent real rotation value from a cash-only acquisition. The Celtics finished 25-35 and missed the playoffs, so Roberts did not materially change the team's season. His Boston stint also did not last to year-end: his season line shows 22 later games with St.
Chicago received cash and gave up a rookie who had played only two games for the Stags. The amount is unknown, which prevents a precise financial grade, but the immediate roster cost to Chicago was limited because Roberts had barely entered the rotation. The Stags finished 38-22 in 1948-49 and reached the Eastern Division Finals, so there is no evidence that moving Roberts weakened a successful team. His later production for Boston and St.
Boston realized more direct basketball value from the transaction because Roberts actually played 26 games for the Celtics. Chicago's return is impossible to quantify beyond the fact that it received cash. The advantage is therefore real but small. Roberts was not a long-term Celtic, and his 3.1-point average did not approach a major roster upgrade. Chicago, meanwhile, remained one of the league's better teams without him. The purchase succeeded as short-term depth rather than as a foundational acquisition.
Celtics Win — Boston B+, Chicago B. Boston acquired Bill Roberts' player rights from the Chicago Stags for cash on November 20, 1948. Roberts had appeared in only two games for Chicago, then played 26 games for the Celtics at 3.1 points and 0.5 assists per game before his rights later moved to St. Louis. The reviewed transaction logs confirm the rights purchase but do not preserve the cash amount.