Boston acquired Bailey Howell from Bullets in exchange for Mel Counts.
The Celtics acquired Bailey Howell from Baltimore on September 1, 1966 and sent Mel Counts to the Bullets. The canonical record treats the exchange as a direct veteran-for-veteran trade with no additional pick or cash component.
Boston targeted Howell as an established forward who could contribute immediately to a veteran roster. The A grade reflects the value the Celtics extracted from adding a proven scorer and rebounder without surrendering a comparable long-term centerpiece.
Counts was not an empty return. The Bullets acquired a useful frontcourt player, but the canonical grade of D indicates that his value did not match the impact Boston received from Howell in the years that followed.
TradeVerdicts keeps the verdict at Celtics Win with an A for Boston and D for Baltimore. The grade spread captures the difference between Howell’s high-level fit and the more limited return the Bullets received from Counts.
Celtics Win — Boston A, Baltimore D. Boston acquired Bailey Howell from Bullets in exchange for Mel Counts. Howell became an established Boston contributor, including on championship teams, giving this exchange a better documented basketball return than the outgoing Counts package.