Minneapolis acquired Tony Jaros from the Chicago Stags for cash on September 1, 1947. Jaros immediately became a regular on the 1948 NBL champion Lakers, playing 58 games and averaging 4.7 points. He then averaged 5.8 points in 59 games for the 1949 BAA champions and 3.9 points in 61 games for the 1950 NBA champions. Chicago's cash return is not disclosed in the surviving transaction sources. The Lakers therefore receive the decisive historical edge because an unspecified payment produced three straight championship seasons of rotation value.
On September 1, 1947, the Minneapolis Lakers acquired Tony Jaros from the Chicago Stags for cash. Jaros had just completed a strong first BAA season, appearing in 59 games for Chicago and averaging 8.2 points while the Stags reached the league finals. The move sent him back to his hometown Minneapolis franchise as the Lakers were building around George Mikan and Jim Pollard.
Jaros played 58 games for the 1947-48 Lakers in the NBL and averaged 4.7 points, scoring 273 for a 43-17 club that won the league championship. His role grew again when Minneapolis moved to the BAA. Jaros appeared in 59 games in 1948-49, averaged 5.8 points and shot .343 from the field as the Lakers went 44-16 and won the BAA championship.
Chicago gave up a proven contributor after a 39-win inaugural BAA season. Jaros had averaged 8.2 points and appeared in 59 games for the Stags, so this was not a sale of an unused reserve. Chicago remained competitive without him, finishing 28-20 in 1947-48 and 38-22 the following season, which shows the roster could absorb his departure. The issue in hindsight is the lack of a documented basketball return.
The gap comes from duration and championship context rather than star-level production. Jaros averaged fewer points in Minneapolis than he had in Chicago, but he stayed healthy, remained in the rotation and contributed across the Lakers' NBL, BAA and NBA championship seasons. Chicago continued to win, so selling him was not a disastrous roster decision.
Lakers Win — Lakers A+, Chicago C+. Minneapolis acquired Tony Jaros from the Chicago Stags for cash on September 1, 1947. Jaros immediately became a regular on the 1948 NBL champion Lakers, playing 58 games and averaging 4.7 points. He then averaged 5.8 points in 59 games for the 1949 BAA champions and 3.9 points in 61 games for the 1950 NBA champions. Chicago's cash return is not disclosed in the surviving transaction sources.