The Exchange
Basketball-Reference's Cleveland, Portland and league transaction records agree on the April 24, 1973 structure. Cleveland sent John Johnson, Rick Roberson and its 1973 first-round pick to Portland. The Trail Blazers sent the second overall pick plus a third-round pick. Cleveland used those selections on Jim Brewer at No. 2 and Jim O'Brien at No. 37; Portland used the incoming first-rounder on Barry Parkhill at No. 15. Bill Fitch's executive record independently confirms the package. This was a major roster-and-draft exchange, not a simple pick swap.
Brewer Becomes Cleveland's Long-Term Core Return
Brewer immediately made the Cavaliers and played all 82 games in each of his first three seasons. He then appeared in 81 games in 1976-77, 80 in 1977-78 and 55 more in 1978-79 before being traded. That is 462 Cleveland regular-season games. His offensive numbers were modest, but his rebounding and defense became central to the roster. Brewer averaged 10.9 rebounds in 1975-76, started all 82 games and earned All-Defensive Second Team honors. He repeated the defensive honor in 1976-77. He also played 17 playoff games for Cleveland across the 1976 and 1977 postseasons.
The Third-Round Pick Adds No Cleveland NBA Games
Cleveland used the No. 37 pick on Maryland forward Jim O'Brien. O'Brien never appeared in an NBA game for the Cavaliers. His professional games came in the ABA, including time with Kentucky and San Diego, so those games cannot be credited to Cleveland. The second Cleveland asset therefore produced zero NBA games for the acquiring team. The strength of the Cavaliers' return rests overwhelmingly on Brewer rather than on the quantity of picks received.
John Johnson Gives Portland High-Level Immediate Production
Portland received the best established player in the trade. Johnson played 69 games in 1973-74 and averaged 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists. He followed with 80 games in 1974-75 at 16.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists, then played nine more Portland games in 1975-76. In all, the Trail Blazers received 158 regular-season games from Johnson, with a 16.0-point scoring average across his Portland tenure. His direct production was considerably larger offensively than Brewer's, even though Brewer lasted much longer in Cleveland.
Johnson Also Produces Steve Hawes
Portland retained value when Johnson left. On November 13, 1975, the Trail Blazers traded him to Houston for Steve Hawes. Hawes played 66 games for Portland that season, averaging 7.2 points and 7.3 rebounds in 20.6 minutes. The downstream transaction matters because Portland did not simply lose Johnson after 158 games; the original 1973 asset still produced another useful rotation big man. Hawes later left Portland, but the Johnson-to-Hawes exchange extends the direct trade tree beyond Johnson's own playing time.
Roberson Adds Another Productive Season and Return
Rick Roberson also contributed immediately. He played 69 games for Portland in 1973-74, averaging 13.5 points and 10.2 rebounds in 29.9 minutes. On September 16, 1974, Portland traded Roberson to the expansion New Orleans Jazz for Barry Clemens and a 1976 second-round pick that became Major Jones. Clemens subsequently played for Portland, and the second-round pick became another roster asset. As with Johnson, Roberson therefore produced both direct games and a documented downstream return rather than ending as a sunk asset.
Parkhill Never Joins Portland
The No. 15 pick did not add NBA value for the Trail Blazers. Portland drafted Virginia guard Barry Parkhill, but he chose the ABA and played for the Virginia Squires and Spirits of St. Louis instead. His 173 ABA games are part of his professional career but not realized Portland value. That weakens one piece of the Trail Blazers' package and is the main reason the trade does not become a clear Portland win despite Johnson and Roberson's immediate production.
Brewer Retains Some Cleveland Trade Value
Cleveland also moved Brewer before his asset chain ended. On February 15, 1979, the Cavaliers traded Brewer and future considerations to Detroit for Earl Tatum. Because future considerations were bundled with Brewer, the entire Tatum return cannot be assigned to Brewer alone. The transaction still shows that Brewer remained a tradeable asset after 462 regular-season games and multiple playoff runs. That retained value helps offset Portland's two documented downstream player trades.
Final Verdict
Even Trade, A-/A-. Cleveland receives an A- because Brewer supplied 462 regular-season games, two All-Defensive Second Team seasons and meaningful playoff minutes, while remaining tradeable in 1979. Portland also receives an A- because Johnson and Roberson combined for 227 immediate games at much higher scoring rates and both later generated additional assets. Parkhill never played for Portland and O'Brien never played for Cleveland, effectively canceling the lesser draft outcomes. Brewer provided the longest single-team value; Portland received the stronger immediate veteran production and more branching downstream value. Confidence is high on the trade mechanics, draft identities, direct production and major follow-on transactions. The verdict reflects only verified transaction terms and realized team value.