NBA Trade Verdict

Blazers Win

Seattle acquired Wally Walker for the first-round pick that became Ron Brewer plus a second-rounder; Walker helped a championship team, but Portland received the stronger long-term individual asset.

November 11, 1977 Portland Trail Blazers / Sonics Record confidence: High

Portland Trail Blazers Received

  • Draft Pick 1978 first round pick (#7-Ron Brewer)
  • Draft Pick 1979 second round pick (#40-Andrew Fields)

Sonics Received

Sonics

C+

Trade Analysis

Wally Walker became a useful Seattle rotation forward and later contributed to the 1979 championship roster, which gives this deal genuine franchise value. The price was still substantial: Portland received Seattle’s 1978 first-round pick, No. 7 overall, which became Ron Brewer, plus a 1979 second-rounder. Brewer developed into a productive double-digit scorer across a longer NBA career than Walker’s peak role. The title context keeps the trade from looking disastrous, because Walker did exactly what a contender needs from a supporting piece. On pure realized asset value, however, the first-rounder and extra pick outweigh the return, making this a the other team Win.