by Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News , Rocky Mountain News

With the Clippers off to a 2-12 start, Camby could become a valuable asset when the NBA trade deadline rolls around in February.

His name surfaced last week when the Clippers made a four-player deal with the New York Knicks, who sent Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins to the West Coast for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley.

Camby remained a Clipper, but 13 years in the NBA have taught him a change of address is only a phone call, text message or e-mail away.

"After the trade went down, I talked with (coach) Mike (Dunleavy), and he said they want me here," Camby said Tuesday in a telephone interview with the Rocky Mountain News. "I still understand the nature of the business. I know, around trade deadline time, probably a lot of contenders will try to look to add me to their team."

Traded by the Nuggets four months ago, Camby will be in a Clippers uniform tonight when his former teammates visit the Staples Center.

Camby did not play in the teams' first meeting because he was recovering from a bruised heel. He sat helpless Oct. 31 as the Nuggets erased an 18-point deficit to win in overtime.

"It's always exciting to see the guys and to talk with them and spend a little time with them, but we've got to get this win. . . . We've been struggling a lot of late," he said.

Seeking answers to their early-season swoon, the Clippers acquired Randolph, who has averaged double figures in points and rebounds each of the past two seasons. How he fits into the rotation with fellow big men Camby and Chris Kaman remains to be seen.

"I think it's no different from when I was in Denver, when we had myself, Kenyon (Martin) and Nene," Camby said. "Zach is a tremendous, tremendous talent whenever he steps on the court.

"I've always been a team player. If it calls for me to come off the bench, I won't pout about it. Whatever coach Dunleavy wants, whatever he thinks can help the team, I'm buying into it."

A roster shake-up certainly has worked wonders for the Nuggets, who are 8-3 and have climbed into first place in the Northwest Division since trading Allen Iverson to Detroit for point guard Chauncey Billups.

Camby, who played briefly with Billups in Toronto in 1998, commended the Nuggets for their success but said the toughest challenge will come in the spring.

"I think they're doing a terrific job, but playing in the regular season, that has never been the problem," he said. "The problem is going to come around playoff time and seeing if they can get over the hurdle in the first round."

Denver's focus tonight will be winning Round 2 of the season series against the Clippers. Both teams will have a much different look.

Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony did not play in the first meeting, as he completed a two-game suspension, and Billups still was playing for the Pistons.

"It's a totally different ballgame," Anthony said. "We just want to go out and win."

In addition to having Camby healthy again, Randolph is expected to make his Clippers debut. He and Collins sat out Monday night while waiting for the trade to become official because of pending physicals in New York.

"They're kind of playing a roster in flux," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I think we've just got to be ready for any basic talent."

Karl said that watching Camby on film gave him a newfound appreciation for the big man's rebounding ability.

"The thing I probably didn't respect when he was here was he reads the rebound before it hits the rim," Karl said. "When you have him, you don't evaluate it like that. You just say, 'Well, I'm glad we have that.' Now you watch him on film, you go, 'Wow!' "

Camby will try to wow his former coach and teammates again tonight at the Staples Center. He won't see them again until March 14 - barring another uniform change, of course.

INFOBOX

Nuggets at Clippers

* When: 8:30 MST tonight.

* Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles.

* TV/radio: Altitude; KKHI-FM (101.9).

* Probable starting lineups

Denver (9-5) Pos. Ht. Pts.

15 Carmelo Anthony F 6-8 19.8

4 Kenyon Martin F 6-9 13.8

31 Nene C 6-11 15.4

30 Dahntay Jones G 6-6 5.9

7 Chauncey Billups G 6-3 17.6

Coach:

George Karl

L.A. Clippers (2-12) Pos. Ht. Pts.

12 Al Thornton F 6-8 16.1

23 Marcus Camby F 6-11 9.6

35 Chris Kaman C 7-0 14.4

10 Eric Gordon G 6-3 6.0

1 Baron Davis G 6-3 17.1

Coach:

Mike Dunleavy * Injuries: Denver - F Chris Andersen (fractured left rib), G Sonny Weems (groin strain) and C Steven Hunter (knee surgery) are out; Martin (sprained left wrist) is probable. L.A. Clippers - None reported.

* Notes: Andersen said his rib felt better than it did Monday, but he ruled out returning any earlier than Saturday. . . . The Nuggets overcame an 18-point halftime deficit to beat the Clippers 113-103 in overtime on Halloween. . . . The Nuggets have won four in a row against the Clippers and six of the past eight. . . . Gordon scored 25 points in his first career NBA start Monday. He had scored 59 points in his previous 13 games. . . . Dunleavy is the third-longest-tenured coach in the NBA, behind Utah's Jerry Sloan and San Antonio's Gregg Popovich, but his reign could be in jeopardy if the Clippers continue to struggle. . . . The Clippers have yet to shoot 50 percent from the field this season. They reached that mark only nine times in 2007-08. . . . Nine of Los Angeles' first 14 games have been against teams that won at least 50 games last season.

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