Howie Schultz for Cash: What Changed Hands
On October 10, 1951, Fort Wayne sold Howie Schultz's player rights to the Minneapolis Lakers for cash. The surviving transaction ledgers agree on the sale, although the amount is not preserved. Schultz's rights history is unusual: he had been included in a May trade with Tri-Cities and apparently returned to Fort Wayne before this deal, with no surviving record explaining the intermediate step. The defensible reading is therefore narrow: Minneapolis bought Schultz's rights, and Fort Wayne received an undisclosed cash payment.
Minneapolis Got Two Seasons of Useful Frontcourt Depth
Schultz immediately joined the Lakers' rotation. He played all 66 regular-season games in 1951-52, averaging 4.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists, then appeared in 12 playoff games during a championship run. He returned for 40 more regular-season games in 1952-53 as Minneapolis won another title. Schultz was not a star, but 106 regular-season appearances plus postseason minutes gave the Lakers a real basketball return from a cash purchase.
Fort Wayne Monetized Rights but Left No Traceable Basketball Return
Fort Wayne moved a player who was not part of its active 1951-52 rotation, so selling the rights was defensible roster management. The problem for the retrospective grade is that the cash amount is unknown and no player, pick or later transaction can be tied to it. That makes the Pistons' return impossible to credit beyond the financial payment itself, while the Lakers' side produced documented on-court value across two championship seasons.
Final Verdict
Lakers Win — Minneapolis B+, Fort Wayne C. The Lakers received 106 regular-season games and postseason depth from Schultz, including contributions to consecutive championship teams. Fort Wayne converted inactive rights into cash, but the amount and any basketball use of that money are undocumented. The win is clear without overstating Schultz's role.