Blazers acquire Marcus Camby from Clippers

[.GR]

With Brendan Haywood being traded to the Mavericks, the Trail Blazers were left with a smaller pool of big men to fill in for the injured Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla via a trade.

So in that vein, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher reports the Los Angeles Clippers are close to trading Marcus Camby to Portland for Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake.

Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports has just confirmed via sources the trade is now complete with the Blazers sending an additional $3 million.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports tweets the Clips chose this deal because of the money: "That's why Clips chose this deal -- not anything else."

With all parties in this trade on expiring contracts, the Clippers shaved about $1.5 million off their payroll, as Blake and Outlaw are making a combined $7.6 million, while Camby is making $9.1 million. Add in the extra $3 million from the Blazers, and the Clips are winners financially.

Since this deal didn't hurt them money-wise, the Clippers still have the cash to go after a free agent this summer. Add in a talent around Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Eric Gordon and Blake Griffin next year, and the team has the potential to make some noise.

For the Blazers, they finally get the big man they've been seeking since Oden and Przybilla went down. If Camby performs well for the Blazers, there's a chance they could re-sign him for next season to potentially fill in for Juwan Howard, who's contract is up after this year.

 

[RipCity32]

Hell of a deal for the Blazers. If Portland is fortunate enough to get Oden back later this year, they are going to be a great force in the playoffs. Camby is really going to help that team out. Nice veteran leadership as well.

 

[.GR]

They've needed a veteran like him.

 

[RipCity32]

Reducing Juwan Howard's minutes isn't a negative either haha.

 

[Pugz]

While he may now get a chance to play in the postseason, Marcus Camby isn't thrilled that the Clippers traded him to the Trail Blazers.

Camby's agent, Rick Kaplan, informed him of the deal while he was having dinner on Monday night in Portland. The Clippers will play the Blazers on Tuesday night.

After receiving the call, Camby reportedly stormed out of the restaurant.

A source close to Camby says that while he recognizes that the Blazers are a better team, he is upset because his family is settled in Los Angeles and had hoped to re-sign with the Clippers this summer.

"He likes the Clippers, he likes the organization, he likes L.A.," the source said. "His wife is happy in L.A. And he's not one for change. He's definitely not happy about this."

RealGM Note: Camby admitted to 'being a little bit shocked at first', but sounds excited to join the 'great fan base' in Portland.

Via Yahoo! Sports

 

[Mexi]

he'll be fine
it's only for 2 months then he can sign with the Lakers

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Good move for the Blazers, I've always loved Camby.