Nuggets deal veteran Camby to Clippers
The Clippers have acquired center Marcus Camby from the Nuggets in a move to create salary cap room for the Nuggets.
In return, the Nuggets have the right to switch 2nd-round draft picks in the 2010 draft with the Clippers.
"Most of all, I'll miss the Denver community; it became my home. It's where I have my foundation, and I was very involved there," Camby said in a statement.
Camby led the league in blocks last year with 3.61 per game, becoming only the second player in league history to do so in three straight seasons. Camby was the league's defensive player of the year in 2006-07. He ranked second in the NBA in rebounds, averaging 13.1, and put up 9.9 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 45 percent from the field.
He played the last six seasons in Denver after four years with the New York Knicks.
But the superstar trio of Camby, Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony couldn't get the job done, as the Nuggets were eliminated in the first round after being swept by the Lakers.
Camby is set to make $11.25 million in '08-09, followed by $10.9 million in '09-10.
Camby is the second big-name player to land with the Clippers in less than a week. Baron Davis left Golden State to sign with his hometown team last Thursday on the heels of Elton Brand and leading scorer Corey Maggette departing as free agents.
Brand bolted to Philadelphia, while Maggette went to the Warriors. Davis signed a five-year deal worth $65 million.
Camby will be counted on to help replace the 20 points and 10 rebounds that Brand has averaged from the power forward spot in his nine-year career.
Camby will join center Chris Kaman, who had by far his best season, but was limited to 56 games by several injuries.
"I love this acquisition for the current makeup of our team," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We are getting a consummate pro who is maybe the best team defender in the league and who has 60 playoff games under his belt."
"I think this is a very good addition for us, especially since we're getting a player who can really help us without having to give up a player in return," general manager Elgin Baylor said. "With him playing alongside Kaman, I think we will have a pair of excellent interior defenders and that will make us a formidable team."
The Nuggets will receive a $10 million trade exception due to the deal. It can be used for up to a year from the day the trade is completed.
"Marcus has been an exceptional representative of the Nuggets both on the court and in the Denver community during his time here and we are greatly appreciative of all he has done," said Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets' vice president of basketball operations, in a statement.
Denver traded its first-round pick in last month's draft to the Charlotte Bobcats for a future, protected first-round selection. Warkentien said that deal, along with the trade exception, gives the Nuggets flexibility in the future.
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