DENVER, June 13 -- The Denver Nuggets continued to change the face of their roster Thursday when they sent guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf to the Sacramento Kings for shooting guard Sarunas Marciulionis and a second-round draft pick. Earlier in the day, the Nuggets acquired point guard Mark Jackson and shooting guard Ricky Pierce plus a first-round draft pick from the Indiana Pacers for guard Jalen Rose, forward Reggie Williams and Denver's first-round pick, the 10th overall.
Marciulionis averaged 10.8 points and 2.2 assists in 53 games last season, battling knee and leg injuries. Denver will be his fourth team in the NBA, having played with Golden State and Seattle before joining the Kings. Denver also received the Kings' second-round pick in the upcoming draft, the 37th overall. Abdul-Rauf averaged a team-high 19.2 points and 6.8 assists in 57 games last season. He was suspended by the league for one game following his refusal to stand for the United States national anthem on March 12. Abdul-Rauf, who is a devout Muslim, reached a compromise with the league, deciding to say a silent prayer while standing during the anthem. Abdul-Rauf was also sidelined with a leg injury during the season.
