The Nuggets have traded starting center Marcus Camby to the Clippers for a 2nd round pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. This trade was just made to get the Nuggets under the luxury tax of the salary cap. Camby played in 79 games (all starts) for the Nuggets last season and he averaged 34.9 minutes, 9.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.6 blocked shots per game. The Nuggets will miss Camby’s all out effort on both sides of the basketball court but especially on defense where he is one of the best centers in the NBA. Nene’ will likely take over as the starting center this season but he’s not as good on either end of the court as Camby is. The Nuggets will miss Camby big time in 2008-09.

The Nuggets have acquired Taurean Green from the Blazers for Von Wafer. Green played in 8 games (0 starts) this season for the Blazers and he averaged 5.5 minutes, 2.1 points, 0.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game. Green only shot 25% from the floor for the Blazers.

Wafer played in 21 games (0 starts) for the Nuggets this season and he averaged 4.3 minutes, 1.3 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He also only shot 26.3% from the floor this season.

This is a trade that likely won’t help either team.

The Nuggets have signed Mike Wilks to back up at point guard until Chucky Atkins is ready to return from his groin injury (6-8 weeks). Wilks played in 47 games (4 starts) for the Sonics last season and he averaged 11.4 minutes, 3.6 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Wilks has never really gotten to play too much in his NBA career to date. He has played in 214 games (11 starts) and he has averaged 9.3 minutes, 2.5 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.2 assists per game. Don’t expect miracles when Wilks enters the court.

The Denver Nuggets have signed 39-year old Stacey Augmon.  “The Plastic Man” has not played since the 2005-06 season with the Orlando Magic so he could be a tad rusty.  Augmon has played in 1,001 games in his NBA career and he has averaged 21.6 minutes, 8.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.  He has shot 46.9% from the floor, 15.2% from the three point line and 72.8% from the free throw line.  Don’t look for Augmon to add much to the Nuggets this season.

The Denver Nuggets have traded PF Reggie Evans and the draft rights to forward Ricky Sanchez to the 76ers in return for C Steven Hunter and F Bobby Jones.  Evans was not going to be happy riding the bench for the Nuggets so that is a big reason for this trade.  Another reason was that the Nuggets wanted a legit backup center behind Marcus Camby who can be brittle at times.  Hunter is 7′0″, 240 pounds and he’s a banger who plays good defense.  Hunter played in 70 games (41 starts) last season for the 76ers and he averaged 22.9 minutes, 6.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 1.1 blocks per game.  He shoots most of his shots from close range which explains how he can hit 57.7% of his shots from the floor and only 49% from the free throw line last season.  Hunter has now played in 360 games (128 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 15.9 minutes, 4.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game.  He has shot 56.6% from the floor but only 48.8% from the free throw line over his career.

Bobby Jones is a 6′7″, 215 pound small forward who was a rookie last season.  He played in 44 games (5 starts) for the Sixers and he averaged 2.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.  He shot 46.2% from the floor but only 56.1% from the free throw line.

This trade will probably help both teams but Evans was definately the best player moved in this trade.