After the 1955–56 season, Auerbach made a stunning trade, sending perennial All-Star Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks along with the draft rights to Cliff Hagan for the second overall pick in the draft.Ed Macauley, hoophall.com, accessed May 26, 2008. After negotiating with the Rochester Royals—a negotiation that included a promise that the Celtics owner would send the highly sought-after Ice Capades to Rochester if the Royals would let Russell slide to No. 2—Auerbach used the pick to select University of San Francisco center Bill Russell.Only the Ball Was Brown , daviskamp.com. Retrieved August 15, 2008. Auerbach also acquired Holy Cross standout, and 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year, Tom Heinsohn.Season Recap – 1950s , nba.com. Retrieved February 17, 2008. Both Russell and Heinsohn worked extraordinarily well with Cousy, and they were the players around whom Auerbach would build the champion Celtics for more than a decade. With Bill Russell, the Celtics advanced to the 1957 NBA Finals and defeated the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, earning their first NBA title.Bob Pettit Bio , nba.com/history. Retrieved February 28, 2007. In 1958, the Celtics again advanced to the NBA Finals, this time losing to the Hawks in 6 games.St. Louis Hawks (1955–1968) , sportsecyclopedia.com. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
after the 1955–56 season auerbach made a stunning trade sending perennial all-star ed macauley to the st louis hawks along with the draft rights to cliff hagan for the second overall pick in the drafted macauley hoophallcom accessed may 26 2008 after negotiating with the rochester royals—a negotiation that included a promise that the celtics owner would send the highly sought-after ice capades to rochester if the royals would let russell slide to no 2—auerbach used the pick to select university of san francisco center bill russellonly the ball was brown  daviskampcom retrieved august 15 2008 auerbach also acquired holy cross standout and 1957 nba rookie of the year tom heinsohnseason recap – 1950s  nbacom retrieved february 17 2008 both russell and heinsohn worked extraordinarily well with cousy and they were the players around whom auerbach would build the champion celtics for more than a decade with bill russell the celtics advanced to the 1957 nba finals and defeated the st louis hawks in seven games earning their first nba titlebob pettit bio  nbacom/history retrieved february 28 2007 in 1958 the celtics again advanced to the nba finals this time losing to the hawks in 6 gamesst louis hawks (1955–1968)  sportsecyclopediacom retrieved february 28 2007