Well, to be a little bit fair to Boe, he was pretty much forced to sell Dr. J by the extortionate territorial fees demanded by the Knicks in exchange for being allowed to join the league. Between the expansion fee demanded by the league and the territorial fee demanded by the Knicks, he was pretty well tapped out.
The NBA owners really put the hot poker to the ABA franchises in the merger deal. It was no concidence that it took 20+ years for any of the former ABA franchises to win a title (for that matter, even to make the Finals).
As I recall, part of the territorial-fees debate was that the Knicks were willing to waive some or all of the fee if the Nets gave (or traded for some nondescript player or draft pick) them Julius Erving. At that point, Boe decided to sell the Doctor to the Sixers.
