Trade Verdicts
NBA Trade Verdict

Celtics Win

Boston purchased Willie Naulls' player rights from the San Francisco Warriors on September 4, 1963 for cash. Basketball-Reference's Celtics, Warriors and league transaction ledgers, along with Naulls' player history, all agree on the date and sale structure. Naulls then became a productive Boston rotation forward for three seasons, playing 220 regular-season games and averaging between 9.8 and 10.7 points per game each year while logging roughly 18 to 21 minutes per night. San Francisco received an undisclosed cash payment after using Naulls for only 47 games following the prior Tom Gola trade. The cash amount prevents a precise financial comparison, but three full seasons of useful rotation production give Boston a clear realized basketball advantage. The legacy F grade for San Francisco is too harsh without knowing the sale price.

September 4, 1963 Boston Celtics / Golden State Warriors Record confidence: High

Boston Celtics Received

Golden State Warriors Received

  • Cash cash

Boston Celtics

B+

Golden State Warriors

F

Trade Analysis

Boston Bought Willie Naulls’ Rights for Cash

The Celtics purchased Willie Naulls’ player rights from the San Francisco Warriors on September 4, 1963. Team, league and player transaction records agree on the date and cash-sale structure.

Naulls Became a Three-Year Celtics Rotation Forward

Naulls played 220 regular-season games for Boston across three seasons. He averaged between 9.8 and 10.7 points per game each year while logging roughly 18 to 21 minutes per night, giving the Celtics durable rotation value.

San Francisco’s Return Was an Undisclosed Payment

The Warriors received cash after using Naulls for 47 games following the earlier Tom Gola trade. Because the amount is not public in the reviewed records, the financial value cannot be compared precisely with Boston’s basketball return.

Boston Clearly Won the Basketball Side

Three full seasons of productive rotation work support Boston’s A. San Francisco’s C recognizes that cash had value while avoiding the overly harsh treatment that an unknown sale price would not justify.

Final Verdict

Celtics Win — Boston A, San Francisco C. Boston purchased Willie Naulls' player rights from the San Francisco Warriors on September 4, 1963 for cash. Basketball-Reference's Celtics, Warriors and league transaction ledgers, along with Naulls' player history, all agree on the date and sale structure.

Research sources (6)