Trade Verdicts
NBA Trade Verdict

Hawks Win

Atlanta acquired Walt Bellamy from Detroit on February 1, 1970 for cash and future player consideration that was ultimately satisfied by John Arthurs. A complicated pre-draft obligation briefly pointed to Milwaukee's 1970 first-round pick and Gary Freeman, but Detroit did not receive Freeman; Arthurs replaced that route as the player consideration. Bellamy gave Atlanta 338 regular-season games through 1973-74, including four full seasons averaging at least 13 points and 9 rebounds. Arthurs never played an NBA game for Detroit, and the cash amount is undisclosed. The realized return therefore favored Atlanta by a wide margin.

February 1, 1970 Atlanta Hawks / Detroit Pistons Record confidence: High

Atlanta Hawks Received

Detroit Pistons Received

  • Player John Arthurs (player to be named later, delivered June 3, 1970)
  • Cash cash

Atlanta Hawks

A

Detroit Pistons

C

Trade Analysis

Atlanta Acquired Walt Bellamy

Atlanta acquired Walt Bellamy from Detroit on February 1, 1970 for cash and future player consideration that was ultimately satisfied by John Arthurs.

Bellamy Became a Four-Year Hawks Centerpiece

A complicated pre-draft obligation briefly pointed to Milwaukee's 1970 first-round pick and Gary Freeman, but Detroit did not receive Freeman; Arthurs replaced that route as the player consideration.

Detroit’s Player Consideration Produced No NBA Games

Bellamy gave Atlanta 338 regular-season games through 1973-74, including four full seasons averaging at least 13 points and 9 rebounds.

The Known Basketball Return Is Heavily Atlanta

Arthurs never played an NBA game for Detroit, and the cash amount is undisclosed. The realized return therefore favored Atlanta by a wide margin.

Final Verdict

Hawks Win — Atlanta A, Detroit C. The realized return therefore favored Atlanta by a wide margin. The canonical hindsight comparison is limited to the documented assets in this record — Walt Bellamy, John Arthurs (player to be named later, delivered June 3, 1970), cash — and does not add speculative value beyond those completed outcomes. For Atlanta and Detroit, the verdict stays tied to realized, source-supported franchise value.

Research sources (8)