Boston acquired Dennis Johnson plus the 1983 picks that became Greg Kite and Winfred King from Phoenix for Rick Robey plus the picks that became Rod Foster and Paul Williams. Johnson played 541 regular-season games for the Celtics, started 522, made four All-Defensive teams in Boston and helped the franchise win the 1984 and 1986 championships. Kite added 241 Boston games and was on both title teams, while King never played in the NBA. Phoenix received 111 games from Robey and 207 from Foster, with 40 combined starts; Williams never played in the NBA. The Suns got usable depth, but Boston received a championship-era cornerstone and won the trade decisively.
Basketball-Reference's Phoenix transaction ledger records the June 27, 1983 package: Dennis Johnson, the No. 21 pick that became Greg Kite and the No. 52 pick that became Winfred King went to Boston. Phoenix received Rick Robey plus the No. 28 and No. 45 picks, later Rod Foster and Paul Williams. The trade is remembered for Johnson, and the direct franchise results justify that emphasis.
Dennis Johnson played 541 regular-season games for the Celtics from 1983-84 through 1989-90 and started 522. He averaged 13.4 points and 6.8 assists across those seven seasons while giving Boston a durable two-way guard next to Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. His first Celtics season ended with the 1984 NBA championship. Johnson remained a starter when Boston won again in 1986 and was part of four All-Defensive selections as a Celtic: three Second Team honors followed by a First Team selection in 1986-87. The value was not a short peak. Johnson stayed in Boston through 1990 and started at least 65 games in every Celtics season.
Boston also used the No. 21 pick on Greg Kite. He played 241 regular-season games for the Celtics across five seasons, made eight starts and supplied backup-center minutes on both the 1984 and 1986 championship teams. Kite was not a major offensive contributor, but 241 games from the first-round pick add real depth value on top of the Johnson return. The third-round pick became Winfred King, who never appeared in an NBA regular-season game. That branch produced no direct value.
Rick Robey played 111 regular-season games for Phoenix across three seasons and made five starts. His first Suns season produced 61 games and 4 starts before injuries and a smaller role reduced his availability. Rod Foster was the stronger Phoenix draft outcome. The No. 28 pick played 207 regular-season games for the Suns across three seasons, started 35 and averaged 7.5 points and 2.3 assists. Paul Williams, selected at No. 45, never appeared in an NBA regular-season game. Phoenix therefore received 318 direct regular-season games and 40 starts from Robey and Foster combined.
Phoenix did not come away empty. Foster became a legitimate rotation guard, and Robey supplied three seasons of center depth. Boston still gained far more. Johnson alone gave the Celtics 541 games, 522 starts, elite perimeter defense and a starting role on two championship teams. Kite added another 241 games and two championship rosters.
Celtics Win, A+/C. Boston receives an A+ because Johnson became a seven-year championship-era starter and Kite added five seasons of reserve depth. Phoenix receives a C because Robey and Foster combined for 318 games and 40 starts, but the return never approached the long-term or championship value Boston received.