Camby to the Clippers

Marcus Camby will now be joining the Los Angeles Clippers. The Denver Nuggets traded their center to the Clippers for a second round pick and a $10 million trade exception. For Los Angeles it looks like they were in panic mode. After losing Elton Brand to Philadelphia, not coming close to getting anything done with Josh Smith of Atlanta or Emeka Okafor of Charlotte, and having the Knicks reject the Clips offer for Zach Randolph, they went after Camby. The Clippers clogged their cap with this move, but it is a very underrated one as well. The Clippers are getting a proven veteran who is a very good defender, rebounder, and can even score a little. Even better for the Clippers his contract comes off the books in 2010, the summer of Lebron, DWade, and Bosh. It may not be the big time guy Baron Davis wanted to play with but still it is a very solid pickup for the Clippers. As for the Nuggets you have to wonder why the heck did they make this trade. Camby was the last player on the Nuggets who actually played defense (Eduardo Najera was the other but he signed with the Nets). The Nuggets are trading a defensive player of the year who is also a huge contributor on offense to a contending team out west. I understand the financial aspects because the Nuggets are screwed in Luxury Tax, they needed cap relief an wanted a spot for Linas Kleiza, but this all but guarantees the Nuggets will be heading home early this spring. The Nuggets get screwed here and if they don't get a valuable player with that $10 million trade exception, they will end up with nothing but a D-League player, and a team which can't outscore the other because they gave their defensive assets away. Clearly the Nuggets don't think that "defense wins championships"

DENVER NUGGETS PROJECTED LINEUP FOR 2008-2009

C: Steven Hunter

PF: Linas Kleiza/Kenyon Martin

SF: Carmelo Anthony

SG: Allen Iverson

PG: Chucky Atkins/Anthony Carter/Taurean Green

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS PROJECTED LINEUP

C: Marcus Camby

PF: Chris Kaman

SF: Al Thornton

SG: Cuttino Mobley 

PG: Baron Davis