Boston sold Kleggie Hermsen's player rights to the Indianapolis Olympians on November 17, 1952. Basketball-Reference's Boston, Indianapolis and league transaction logs agree on the sale. The legacy TradeVerdicts record correctly linked Clarence Hermsen to the transaction but mislabeled the asset as 1952 draft rights; Hermsen was a veteran who had already played four games for Boston that season. Indianapolis received only six games and 40 minutes from him before his NBA career ended. Boston's cash amount is not preserved, but the Celtics received the stronger measurable return from a player who produced very little after the sale.
Boston sold Clarence "Kleggie" Hermsen's player rights to Indianapolis on November 17, 1952. The transaction was previously mislabeled as a 1952 draft-rights move, but Hermsen was a 29-year-old veteran who had already played four games for the Celtics that season. The corrected framing makes this a simple veteran cash sale.
Hermsen appeared in six games for the Olympians and logged 40 total minutes. He scored 10 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and recorded four assists, with Basketball-Reference crediting him with minus-0.3 win shares. He never appeared in another NBA season.
Boston's cash return is undisclosed, which limits the upside that can responsibly be assigned to the Celtics. The opportunity cost is much easier to see: Hermsen had played only 22 minutes for Boston before the sale and produced just 40 more minutes afterward. Boston moved a player with almost no remaining NBA value.
Indianapolis bought the final six games of Hermsen's career and received almost no positive statistical return. Any legitimate payment compares favorably with that result, but the unknown amount keeps Boston's grade modest. The trade favors the Celtics without becoming a major win.
Celtics Win — Boston Celtics C, Indianapolis Olympians D+. Boston sold Kleggie Hermsen's player rights to the Indianapolis Olympians on November 17, 1952. Basketball-Reference's Boston, Indianapolis and league transaction logs agree on the sale. The legacy TradeVerdicts record correctly linked Clarence Hermsen to the transaction but mislabeled the asset as 1952 draft rights; Hermsen was a veteran who had already played four games for Boston that season. Indianapolis received only six games and 40 minutes from him before his NBA career ended. Boston's cash amount is not preserved, but the Celtics received the stronger measurable return from a player who produced very little after the sale.