Bill Russell and 11 titles were obtained for a week of the Ice Capades
Trading the Ice Capades for Bill Russell | The Wages of Wins Journal
The Celtics entered the 1956 draft with the 7th pick. This pick was sent to the St. Louis Hawks – along with Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan, for the 2nd pick. It was believed that the Rochester Royals – who had the first pick – might want to take Russell. Auerbach, though, had a secret weapon. The owner of the Celtics, Walter Brown, was also the president of the Ice Capades. Brown called up the owner of the Royals– Lee Harrison — with the following offer:
Brown would send the Ice Capades to Rochester for one week if the Royals would pass on Russell.