New York Bought Jim Palmer from Cincinnati
New York acquired Jim Palmer from Cincinnati on December 4, 1959, with the archival source record preserving cash as the outgoing Knicks asset. RealGM's league transaction page, Knicks transaction history and Palmer player profile all independently place the move on December 4. The accessible public records do not preserve the cash amount, so the source-backed review keeps the verified player movement and legacy cash structure while treating the financial side conservatively rather than inventing a price.
Palmer Gave the Knicks 109 Games
Palmer immediately joined the Knicks' center rotation. He appeared in 54 games after the trade in 1959-60, averaging 20.0 minutes, 8.0 points and 5.1 rebounds. He returned for 55 games in 1960-61 and averaged 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 12.5 minutes. Across the two New York seasons he played 109 regular-season games, averaged 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds and supplied 1,770 total minutes. That is useful realized value for a cash acquisition, even though Palmer was a supporting big rather than a long-term starter.
The Royals Received Undisclosed Cash
The Royals received cash, but the public transaction records located for this review do not identify the amount. Palmer had already played 87 Cincinnati games over parts of two seasons, including 20 games in 1959-60 before the trade, so Cincinnati was moving an established rotation center rather than unused rights. The unknown payment prevents a precise financial comparison. It also means the Royals should receive some credit for monetizing a player they chose to move instead of being treated as if they received nothing.
Two Useful Seasons Create a Knicks Edge
New York's side is easier to measure: 109 games and two seasons of frontcourt depth. Cincinnati's return is real but unquantified. Because Palmer remained in the NBA only through the end of 1960-61, the Knicks did not acquire a long-duration asset, yet they still received substantially more on-court value than a token roster move would suggest. The evidence supports a moderate Knicks edge, not an overwhelming one, because the missing cash figure could materially affect how favorable the deal looked to Cincinnati at the time.
Final Verdict
Knicks Edge — New York B+, Cincinnati B-. New York acquired Jim Palmer from the Cincinnati Royals for cash on December 4, 1959. RealGM's league, Knicks and Palmer transaction records all preserve the same date and team movement. Basketball-Reference documents Palmer's post-trade New York production. Palmer played 54 games for the Knicks in 1959-60 and 55 more in 1960-61, giving New York 109 games over two seasons at 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Cincinnati's cash amount is not preserved in the accessible public ledgers, so the Royals' return cannot be valued precisely.