The Core Exchange Is Clear
Boston and Phoenix agree on the central transaction. On October 11, 1978, the Celtics acquired Dennis Awtrey and sent Phoenix their 1979 second-round pick. The Suns later used that selection at No. 24 on Johnny High.
Basketball-Reference's Boston, Phoenix and league transaction ledgers all record the player-for-pick structure. The Boston source batch preserved in this archive also lists cash going to Phoenix. Because the reviewed public ledgers do not repeat that cash term and no amount is identified, this review keeps the cash asset in the record but labels it unresolved rather than silently presenting it as fully corroborated.
Awtrey Became More Than 23 Boston Games
Awtrey appeared in 23 games for the 1978-79 Celtics and logged 247 minutes. His Boston line was modest: 2.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.
The more important branch came three months later. On January 17, 1979, Boston traded Awtrey to Seattle for a 1979 first-round pick. Basketball-Reference identifies that pick as the selection later used on Sly Williams at No. 21.
Boston did not make that selection itself. On February 12, the Celtics included the Sly Williams pick with Tom Barker and two other 1979 first-round picks in the package sent to New York for Bob McAdoo.
That means Awtrey's Boston value was not limited to his 23 games. He was converted into a first-round asset that became one component of a larger acquisition. This review records that downstream path without assigning the entire value of McAdoo, or anything that followed McAdoo, solely to the Awtrey branch.
Phoenix Got Four Seasons from Johnny High
Phoenix used the incoming second-round pick on Johnny High at No. 24 in the 1979 draft.
High played four NBA seasons, all with Phoenix, appearing in 274 regular-season games. He averaged 5.1 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists for his career and accumulated 4,538 minutes.
The Suns received useful reserve-guard service from a second-round pick. High played all 82 games as a rookie, 81 the next season, then returned for 82 games in 1982-83 and 29 more in 1983-84.
That is a strong realized outcome for the asset Phoenix received. The unresolved cash term may add some transaction value, but no numerical weight is assigned because the amount is not documented in the reviewed public sources.
Why the Result Stays Even
Phoenix has the cleaner direct outcome. The second-round pick became a four-season contributor who played 274 games for the franchise.
Boston's return was less direct but still meaningful. Awtrey supplied 23 games, then became a first-round pick within three months. That pick was subsequently used as one part of the McAdoo package.
It would overstate the record to credit Boston with all of McAdoo's later value, because the Celtics sent multiple other assets in that February transaction. It would also understate the Awtrey branch to stop the analysis after 23 games and ignore the first-round return.
Final Verdict
Even Trade, B-/B-. Phoenix gets a B- because the No. 24 pick became Johnny High, a four-season Suns contributor with 274 games. Boston also gets a B- because Awtrey produced short-term center depth and was quickly converted into a 1979 first-round pick that remained useful in a larger trade package. The result is even, with medium-high confidence on the player and pick outcomes and lower confidence only on the unconfirmed cash term.