An All-American as a senior at Minnesota, Jim Brewer averaged 14.1 points and 11.6 rebounds per game and saw his draft stock soar.
Maybe even a little too far. He was taken second overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1973 NBA Draft and, despite putting together a solid career, was dogged by that lofty selection.
Brewer spent two seasons as a reserve before taking over as the starting power forward in 1975-76, which also happened to be the season the Cavaliers reached the postseason for the first time.
He was an All-Defensive selection in 1975-76 and again in 1976-77 before returning to a reserve role.
Brewer was traded in February 1979 along with the ubiquitous “future considerations” to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Earl Tatum.
In parts of six seasons with Cleveland, Brewer averaged 7.5 points and 7.7 rebounds in 27.1 minutes per game, shooting 44.1 percent from the floor and 59.5 percent at the foul line.
In September 1979, he was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he spent one season.
He was swapped to the Los Angeles Lakers in October 1980, where he was part of their 1982 NBA title team, and played three seasons in Italy before retiring in 1985.
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