Philadelphia Sold Ed Mikan to Indianapolis
Philadelphia sold Ed Mikan's player rights to Indianapolis on December 11, 1952. Basketball-Reference records the same transaction on both team pages and in the league-wide 1952-53 ledger. Mikan was a veteran center who had already played 19 games for Philadelphia that season after serving as a regular rotation player for the Warriors in 1951-52. Indianapolis purchased immediate frontcourt depth rather than a prospect or draft asset. The surviving transaction logs identify the deal as a sale but do not preserve the cash amount Philadelphia received.
Mikan Gave the Olympians 43 Reserve Games
Mikan appeared in 43 games for the Olympians after the sale, totaling 569 minutes. He averaged 13.2 minutes, 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds while shooting .247 from the field. The role was real but limited, and the transaction did not create any durable value beyond that season. Indianapolis ceased operations after 1952-53, and Mikan did not play another NBA game. The club therefore received a short reserve-center stint rather than a multi-year contributor or an asset that could be moved later.
Philadelphia Took Cash for a Short-Term Player
Philadelphia received cash. Because the amount is unknown, the Warriors' side cannot be valued precisely, but it should not be treated as zero. The measurable opportunity cost was modest: after the sale, Mikan supplied 43 low-minute games before his NBA career ended. Philadelphia did not give away a player who later developed into a major contributor elsewhere, and no additional consideration accompanied the sale. That makes the cash return more defensible than the legacy F grade suggested.
Limited Value on Both Sides Leaves This Even
Neither side created much lasting value. Indianapolis got 43 games of reserve frontcourt play, while Philadelphia received an undisclosed payment for a player with less than one NBA season remaining. The Olympians gained more measurable on-court production, but the scale of that production was too small to justify a decisive winner, especially with the cash amount unknown. A balanced grade better reflects the limited stakes and the verified outcome.
Final Verdict
Even Trade — Philadelphia C, Indianapolis C. Philadelphia sold Ed Mikan's player rights to the Indianapolis Olympians on December 11, 1952. Basketball-Reference's Philadelphia, Indianapolis and league transaction logs agree on the sale. Mikan had played 19 games for Philadelphia that season before the move, then appeared in 43 games for Indianapolis, averaging 13.2 minutes, 3.0 points and 2.7 rebounds. The Olympians folded after the season, so the transaction produced no lasting player or asset chain. Because Philadelphia's cash return is undisclosed and Indianapolis received only a short reserve stint, the source-backed record supports a balanced low-impact result.