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Los Angeles Clippers filled the void left by Elton Brand last week by acquiring veteran center Marcus Camby from Denver Tuesday night.
The Nuggets dealt Camby in exchange for the right to swap second-round picks in the 2010 NBA draft. Also, the Nuggets receive a $10 million trade exception, which can be used until one year from the completion of the trade.
The 34-year-old Camby, who has played for the Nuggets the last six seasons, averaged 9.1 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.6 blocks over a career-high 79 games last season.
"I love this acquisition for the current make up of our team," Clippers head 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."
The second overall pick in the 1996 draft by the Raptors, Camby spent his first two seasons in Toronto before being traded to the New York Knicks, a team he played for the ensuing four years. He has career averages of 10.7 points and 9.7 rebounds and has been named a league all-defensive team member four times. He was the NBA's defensive player of the year in the 2006-07 season.
Camby has led the NBA in blocked shots in each of the last three seasons and departs as the second-leading shot blocker in team history (1,126).
"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 Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien. "This trade exception, along with the future first-round draft choice we received from Charlotte last month, gives us a number of options and a tremendous amount of flexibility."
Brand opted out of the final year of his contract with the Clippers in June, which would have paid him $16.4 million, in order to negotiate a new deal. Brand, who has career averages of 20.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game, then signed a lucrative five-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers last week.
"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," Clippers vice president of basketball operations Elgin Baylor said. "Marcus can play multiple positions and is one of the better rebounders and shot- blockers in the league. With him playing alongside [Chris] Kaman I think we will have a pair of excellent interior defenders, and that will make us a formidable team."
