Phoenix acquired Bayard Forrest's rights from Seattle on March 18, 1977 for the Suns' 1979 second-round pick, with Pro Sports Transactions also recording cash going to Seattle. Forrest remained unsigned for the rest of 1976-77, then played 139 regular-season games for Phoenix across the next two seasons, totaling 569 points and 565 rebounds before a back injury wiped out 1979-80 and ended his NBA career. Seattle did not use the incoming pick itself. The No. 42 selection eventually became Paul Mokeski after the SuperSonics bundled that pick with a 1980 second-rounder to Houston for John Johnson in October 1977. Johnson then played 333 regular-season games for Seattle, including all 82 games as a starter on the 1979 championship team. Because the Forrest-derived pick was only one component of the Johnson package, Seattle receives partial downstream credit rather than Johnson's full value. That still gives Seattle the stronger realized result.
Basketball-Reference's Seattle, Phoenix and league transaction ledgers agree on the March 18, 1977 core exchange. Phoenix sent its 1979 second-round pick to Seattle for Bayard Forrest. Pro Sports Transactions' 1979 draft ledger also records cash going from Phoenix to Seattle. The cash amount is not specified in the sources used for this review.
Forrest had been Seattle's second-round selection in the 1976 draft but did not play in the NBA during 1976-77. His Phoenix career began in 1977-78. He appeared in 64 games that season, averaging 13.9 minutes, 4.2 points and 3.9 rebounds. He also appeared in one playoff game.
Forrest played 75 games in 1978-79, averaging 16.6 minutes, 4.0 points and 4.2 rebounds. He appeared in 14 playoff games as Phoenix reached the Western Conference Finals, including the seven-game series against Seattle. Across two regular seasons with the Suns, Forrest totaled 139 games, 569 points and 565 rebounds.
Basketball-Reference lists Forrest as missing the entire 1979-80 season with a back injury. He never returned to an NBA regular-season game. Phoenix therefore received two seasons of reserve-center production and meaningful playoff availability, but no longer-term asset branch.
The 1979 second-rounder later landed at No. 42, where Paul Mokeski was selected. Mokeski never played for Seattle because the SuperSonics had already traded the pick. On October 22, 1977, Seattle sent that 1979 second-rounder plus a 1980 second-round pick to Houston for John Johnson. Pro Sports Transactions' draft ledger confirms the Phoenix-to-Seattle and Seattle-to-Houston chain.
Johnson played 76 games for Seattle in 1977-78, then started all 82 games in 1978-79 as the SuperSonics won the NBA championship. He remained with Seattle through 1981-82, totaling 333 regular-season appearances across five seasons. Because the Forrest-derived pick was only one of two second-rounders used to acquire Johnson, this review does not assign all of Johnson's production to this transaction. The pick still had clear downstream utility as one half of a successful trade package.
Sonics Edge, B+/B. Seattle receives a B+ because the incoming second-round pick and cash retained enough value for the pick to become part of the John Johnson acquisition, which supported a championship core. Phoenix receives a B because Forrest supplied 139 games and 15 playoff appearances across two seasons before injury ended his career. The Seattle edge is meaningful but not overwhelming because the Johnson return required an additional second-round pick. Confidence is high on the core trade, Forrest's production and the pick's downstream path, while the cash amount remains unspecified.