Syracuse Sold Don Lofgran to Indianapolis
On February 12, 1951, the Syracuse Nationals sold Don Lofgran's player rights to the Indianapolis Olympians for cash. Syracuse's transaction page, Indianapolis' transaction page and the 1950-51 league transaction log all identify the same sale. Lofgran had been Syracuse's first-round pick in the 1950 NBA Draft and had appeared in 47 games for the Nationals, averaging 3.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.6 assists. The reviewed public records do not preserve the amount Indianapolis paid.
Lofgran Became a Two-Season Olympians Regular
Lofgran became a larger part of the Olympians' rotation almost immediately. He played 14 games in the remainder of 1950-51 and averaged 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds. He returned for 63 games in 1951-52, averaging 7.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists. That gave Indianapolis 77 regular-season games across two seasons from the cash purchase. The asset then produced a second return: on September 11, 1952, Indianapolis traded Lofgran to the Philadelphia Warriors for Mel Payton.
Indianapolis Later Turned Lofgran into Mel Payton
Payton became a regular for Indianapolis in 1952-53, the franchise's final NBA season. He appeared in 66 games and averaged 7.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists. That makes Lofgran more than a two-season rental in the transaction chain. The Olympians first received 77 games of useful forward play and then converted him directly into another rotation player who appeared in 66 games. The downstream exchange substantially strengthens the value Indianapolis ultimately extracted from the original cash purchase.
The Asset Chain Gives the Olympians the Win
Syracuse received cash for a rookie who had been a low-scoring rotation player during the first part of the season. The Nationals finished 32-34 and reached the Eastern Division semifinals, so moving Lofgran did not collapse the roster. The problem for hindsight grading is that the payment amount is unknown and no later player or draft asset can be traced to it in the reviewed record. Syracuse clearly received financial consideration, but Indianapolis' basketball return is much more measurable.
Final Verdict
Olympians Win — Syracuse C, Indianapolis A-. Syracuse sold Don Lofgran's player rights to the Indianapolis Olympians for cash on February 12, 1951. Lofgran had averaged 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds in 47 games for the Nationals. Indianapolis received 14 games that season at 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds, then a full 63-game season in 1951-52 at 7.2 points and 4.1 rebounds. The Olympians later traded Lofgran to Philadelphia for Mel Payton, who played 66 games for Indianapolis in 1952-53 at 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds.