DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks Thursday night traded a pair of first-round draft picks to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for All-Star guard Lafayette 'Fat' Lever.
The Mavericks sent a first-round pick, the ninth overall, in this year's NBA draft as well as the Detroit Pistons' first-round choice in 1991 to the Nuggets in exchange for Lever, who has led the league's guards in rebounding for the past four seasons.
Lever, 29, averaged 18.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game last season to lead the Nuggets in both categories. He was named to the Western Conference All-Star team for the second time.
The 6-foot-3 Lever has averaged 14.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in eight seasons.
The Mavericks hold the 14th and 18th first-round draft selections this year in addition to the ninth pick, which they aquired from the Washington Bullets in a 1986 trade for Jay Vincent.
Dallas acquired the Pistons' top choice along with Adrian Dantley in exchange for Mark Aquirre in February 1989.
'We're pleased to add another quality guard to support Rolando Blackman and Derek Harper,' Mavericks Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Norm Sonju said.
'Back when the trade was made with Washington to acquire the pick which gave us the ninth pick in this year's draft, we said that pick was an asset to be used to improve our team,' Sonju said. 'The same could be said for the acquisition of Detroit's pick.
'We believe strongly that the addition of Lafayette Lever meets our objective.'
The Portland Trail Blazers selected Lever as the 11th overall pick in the 1982 draft. He was traded to Denver in 1984 along with Wayne Cooper, Calvin Natt and two draft choices in exchange for Kiki Vandeweghe.
In addition to leading the Nuggets in scoring and rebounding last season, Lever led Denver in assists (6.5 per game), steals (2.12 per game) and three-point field goal percentage (.414) while averaging 35.8 minutes per game.
'Most opponents and coaches will tell you that Fat Lever is one of the fiercest competitors in the NBA,' said Mavericks Coach Richie Adubato. 'Because of the versatility of Lever, (Rolando) Blackman and (Derek) Harper, and the experience of Brad Davis, we will have an opportunity to rotate guards and get the maximum production out of all four and be able to match up against any situation.'
