Fort Wayne Bought Don Otten from Baltimore
On December 8, 1950, the Baltimore Bullets sold Don Otten's player rights to the Fort Wayne Pistons for cash. Baltimore's transaction page, Fort Wayne's transaction page and the 1950-51 league transaction log all identify the same sale. Baltimore had acquired Otten's rights from the Washington Capitols on November 29, so the Bullets held the asset for only nine days. Otten appeared in two Baltimore games during that window, totaling 11 points and three rebounds.
Otten Became a Pistons Regular
Otten immediately became a much more useful player for the Pistons. He appeared in 49 Fort Wayne games during 1950-51 and averaged 8.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.8 assists. He also played three playoff games, adding 9.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in Fort Wayne's first-round series against Rochester. Otten returned for seven regular-season games in 1951-52 before the Pistons released him in November.
Baltimore Flipped the Rights for Cash in Nine Days
Baltimore received cash after only a brief look at Otten. The Bullets had gone from acquiring his rights on November 29 to selling them on December 8, so the transaction functioned almost like a rapid asset flip. That may have made practical financial sense, but the missing sale amount prevents the return from being valued. There is no documented player, pick or later transaction directly tied to the payment.
Fifty-Six Games Give Fort Wayne the Win
Fort Wayne clearly received more traceable value. Otten became a regular center, played nearly three quarters of the 1950-51 schedule for the Pistons and contributed in the playoffs. Baltimore's two-game stint with him before the sale was negligible, and the cash return cannot be compared numerically. The result still belongs in the minor-to-moderate category because Otten was released less than a year later and did not become a long-term Pistons fixture.
Final Verdict
Pistons Win — Fort Wayne B+, Baltimore C. Fort Wayne acquired Don Otten's player rights from the Baltimore Bullets for cash on December 8, 1950, only nine days after Baltimore had obtained those rights from the Washington Capitols. Otten played just two games for Baltimore before the sale, then became a regular Fort Wayne center. He appeared in 49 Pistons games in 1950-51, averaging 8.4 points and 6.0 rebounds, and returned for seven more games the next season before his release. The cash amount is not preserved.