Nuggets deal Camby to Clippers

LOS ANGELES, July 15 (UPI) -- The Los Angeles Clippers acquired center Marcus Camby from Denver Tuesday in exchange for a $10 million trade exception.

The Nuggets also will have the right to swap second-round draft picks with the Clippers in the 2010 draft.

Camby, 34, has been with Denver for six seasons. He averaged 9.1 points and 13.1 rebounds while playing in a career-high 79 games last year.

"I love this acquisition for the current makeup of our team," Clippers 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."

Camby was chosen second in the 1996 draft by Toronto, where he played for two years. Camby also spent four seasons with New York.

"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," said Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets vice president of basketball operations.

Los Angeles was in need of a replacement for Elton Brand, who opted out of the final year of his contract with the Clippers and signed last week with Philadelphia.