NBA Trade Verdict

Pacers Win

Boston acquired Earl Tatum; cash from Pacers in exchange for 1980 first-round pick (#23 Carl Nicks); cash.

July 19, 1978 Boston Celtics / Indiana Pacers Record confidence: Private Record

Boston Celtics Received

Indiana Pacers Received

  • Draft Pick 1980 first-round pick (#23 Carl Nicks )
  • Cash cash

Trade Analysis

Boston Celtics Perspective

The Celtics surrendered the most consequential assets in 1980 first-round pick (#23 Carl Nicks); cash and failed to recover comparable value through Earl Tatum; cash.

Indiana Pacers Perspective

Indiana finished with a modest but defensible realized-value edge over Boston Celtics. Indiana received 1980 first-round pick (#23-Carl Nicks); cash and sent Earl Tatum; cash. The Pacers side is graded B, compared with C+ for the aggregate the other team return. The evaluation emphasizes what the players and draft assets actually became, while still accounting for role, timing, contract context and the competitive window. It does not treat every later outcome as something the teams could have perfectly predicted on the transaction date.