Philadelphia traded Mel Payton to the Indianapolis Olympians for Don Lofgran on September 11, 1952. Basketball-Reference's Philadelphia, Indianapolis and league transaction logs agree on the one-for-one exchange. The players produced remarkably similar counting-stat returns in 1952-53: Lofgran appeared in 64 games for the Warriors, while Payton played 66 for Indianapolis. Lofgran logged more minutes and slightly more points and rebounds, but Payton posted the stronger Basketball-Reference win-share total and also appeared in Indianapolis' two playoff games. Neither side received durable multi-season value, making the old lopsided grading difficult to support.
Philadelphia traded Mel Payton to Indianapolis for Don Lofgran on September 11, 1952. This was a straight one-for-one exchange between two active forwards, not a cash or rights transaction. Payton had played 45 games for the Warriors as a rookie, while Lofgran already had parts of two seasons with the Olympians.
Lofgran played 64 games in 1952-53 and logged 1,788 minutes, averaging 27.9 minutes, 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Philadelphia received more total minutes and small counting-stat edges, but Basketball-Reference credited him with only 0.1 win shares on a 12-win team.
Payton appeared in 66 games for Indianapolis, averaging 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds in 1,424 minutes. He posted 2.1 win shares and also played in both games of the Olympians' 1953 playoff series against Minneapolis. Like Lofgran, he did not stay with his new club beyond the season.
Philadelphia received more minutes and slight raw-stat advantages; Indianapolis received two more games, the better win-share total and a brief playoff contribution. Neither player became a lasting asset and no extra consideration changed hands. The old lopsided grading does not fit two returns this close.
Even Trade — Philadelphia Warriors C+, Indianapolis Olympians C+. Philadelphia traded Mel Payton to the Indianapolis Olympians for Don Lofgran on September 11, 1952. Basketball-Reference's Philadelphia, Indianapolis and league transaction logs agree on the one-for-one exchange. The players produced remarkably similar counting-stat returns in 1952-53: Lofgran appeared in 64 games for the Warriors, while Payton played 66 for Indianapolis. Lofgran logged more minutes and slightly more points and rebounds, but Payton posted the stronger Basketball-Reference win-share total and also appeared in Indianapolis' two playoff games. Neither side received durable multi-season value, making the old lopsided grading difficult to support.