PROFILPELAJAR.COM

1975–76 Baltimore Claws season
1975–76 Baltimore Claws season
Head coach	Joe Mullaney
Arena	Baltimore Civic Arena
Results
Record	0–0
Place	Division: n/a (Eastern); Conference: n/a
Playoff finish	n/a
< 1974–75

The 1975–76 American Basketball Association season saw the demise of the Baltimore Claws franchise.

Offseason

Draft picks

Preseason transactions

On August 27, 1975, the Memphis Sounds franchise was dismantled and sold to a group of Baltimore businessmen headed by David Cohan. The franchise moved to Baltimore. It was first called the Baltimore Hustlers but the league objected to the name so the team was quickly rechristened as the Baltimore Claws.^[1]

On September 19, 1975, the Claws obtained star center Dan Issel from the Kentucky Colonels, the team that won the 1975 ABA Championship.

The Claws also traded guard Rick Mount to the Utah Stars for guards Joe Hamilton and Tim VanBlommesteyn.

The Claws signed Skip Wise, the 6'3" star guard from Clemson University who the prior year became the first freshman ever to be named First Team All-ACC while averaging 18.9 points per game.^[2]

Preseason exhibition games

The Claws played their first game, a preseason exhibition, in Salisbury, Maryland, on October 9, 1975, against the Virginia Squires. The Squires won 131–121; attendance was reported at 1,150.

Two days later the Claws lost to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers 103–82 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

On October 17, 1975, the Claws played the Squires again, this time at Knott Arena, Mt. St. Mary's College, Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Squires won 100–88 in front of approximately 500 spectators.^[2] http://www.remembertheaba.com/Baltimore-Claws.html^[3]

Demise

The Claws only managed to sign up 300 season ticket holders. The franchise constantly had money problems. On October 16, 1975, ABA Commissioner Dave DeBusschere gave the Claws four days to send $500,000 to the ABA league office as a "performance bond" for team operations. While their players went unpaid, the Claws sent $250,000 of this amount. On October 20, 1975, five days before the start of the 1975–76 regular season, the ABA folded the Baltimore Claws.

Regular season

The Claws folded prior to the start of the regular season.

Roster

The above would have been the Baltimore Claws' regular season roster had the team continued into regular season play.

Season standings

**1975-76 ABA Final Standings**
Team	W	L	PCT.	GB
Denver Nuggets	60	24	.714	-
New York Nets	55	29	.655	5
San Antonio Spurs	50	34	.595	10
Kentucky Colonels	46	38	.548	14
Indiana Pacers	39	45	.464	21
Spirits of St. Louis	35	49	.417	25
Virginia Squires	15	68	.181	44
San Diego Sails	3	8	.273	-
Utah Stars	4	12	.250	-
Baltimore Claws	0	0	.000	-

^[4]^[5]

Player statistics

Legend

GP: Games played
GS: Games started
MPG: Minutes per game
FG%: Field goal percentage
3FG%: 3-point field goal percentage
FT%: Free throw percentage
RPG: Rebounds per game
APG: Assists per game
SPG: Steals per game
BPG: Blocks per game
PPG: Points per game

Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG

Playoffs

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Transactions

Draft and preseason signings

Signed Skip Wise of Clemson University to a five-year, $1,000,000 contract^[6]

Drafted:

Lonnie Shelton (stayed in college)
Rich Kelley (signed with NBA's New Orleans Jazz)
Terry Furlow (stayed in college)^[6]

Trades

September 19, 1975: traded Tom Owens and $500,000 cash to the Kentucky Colonels for Dan Issel^[2]
September 1975: traded Dan Issel to the Denver Nuggets for Dave Robisch and $500,000 cash^[6]
Traded Rick Mount to the Utah Stars for Joe Hamilton and Tim VanBlommesteyn^[2]