10 Trades That Changed The NBA Forever

Bill Russell is a name that is often forgotten when listing the players that should go on the NBA's Mount Rushmore. From 1957-1969, Russell and the Boston Celtics won 11 championships, including 8 straight finals wins, one finals loss, and his "worst" season getting beat in the '67 East Division Finals. He even took over as player-coach in 1966.

Russell's career lasted 13 seasons and included 12 All-Star appearances to go along with 5 MVP's. How could you possibly pass on a player like that? Well, Boston's Red Auerbach convinced two teams to let him have one of the greatest players of all time.

Bill Russell was entering the 1956 draft as a two time NCAA champ, and Auerbach first convinced the Rochester Royals that they didn't need Russell. He would cost too much money and they already had Maurice Stokes. He also literally offered an ice show. The Celtics owner also owned the Ice Capades, and told them they would move the show to Rochester for a while if they would pass on Russell. Sihugo Green would be the 1st pick in the draft.

Next, Auerbach contacted the St. Louis Hawks who agreed to give up the #2 pick and in return the Celtics would have to part with two future hall-of-famers, Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan (who was serving in the military at the time).

Green would play only two seasons with the Royals before becoming a journeyman on several different teams, even finding himself on the 1966 championship winning Celtics. The Royals themselves would change cities four times before settling as the current Sacramento Kings (and haven't won a championship since 1951).

Don't feel too bad for St. Louis though. Macauley and Hagan would lead the Hawks to four finals appearances, getting revenge on Boston by beating them for the title in 1958.

No information was found on how well the Ice Capades did in Rochester.