Minneapolis Bought Whitey Kachan from Chicago
On February 7, 1949, the Chicago Stags sold Whitey Kachan's player rights to the Minneapolis Lakers. Chicago's, Minneapolis' and the BAA's transaction logs agree on the date, and the John Sbarbaro and Max Winter executive registers corroborate the sale. The public sources do not preserve the cash amount. Kachan was a rookie guard-forward who had played 33 games for Chicago after being selected in the 1948 BAA Draft. Minneapolis was therefore buying a reserve with recent league experience rather than an unsigned prospect.
Kachan Gave the Lakers Reserve Minutes
Kachan played 19 regular-season games for the Lakers after the purchase. His scoring volume was small, 47 total points or roughly 2.5 per game, but his field-goal percentage improved sharply from .220 with Chicago to .381 in Minneapolis. He also added 12 assists and remained on the roster as the Lakers finished 44-16 and went on to win the 1949 BAA championship. Kachan was not a central piece of that title team and should not receive outsized credit for its success.
Chicago’s Cash Return Stayed Unspecified
Chicago received cash for a player who had averaged 2.0 points in 33 appearances. The amount is unknown, so the Stags' financial return cannot be measured precisely. Chicago was strong enough to move on without him, finishing 38-22 and reaching the Western Division semifinals, where the Stags lost to Minneapolis. Kachan's later role with the Lakers remained small, so Chicago did not give away a player who became a major contributor elsewhere.
The Lakers Hold a Modest Edge
Neither side created much separation. Minneapolis got 19 games of reserve depth and better shooting efficiency from Kachan, while Chicago received an unknown amount of cash and lost very little future playing value. The Lakers' championship season adds context but should not be confused with Kachan individually driving the title. His contribution was modest and temporary.
Final Verdict
Lakers Win — Minneapolis B+, Chicago B. Minneapolis purchased Whitey Kachan's player rights from the Chicago Stags on February 7, 1949. Kachan had averaged 2.0 points in 33 Chicago games, then improved his efficiency in 19 Lakers appearances, scoring 47 points on .381 shooting. He remained a reserve and did not play another BAA or NBA season, but he was on the Minneapolis roster during its 1949 championship run. Chicago's cash return is not publicly preserved.