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Nuggets trade Atkins for big man Petro, salary cap room

By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published January 7, 2009 at 3:54 p.m.

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The Nuggets traded Chucky Atkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez © The Rocky

The Nuggets traded Chucky Atkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

With the Nuggets accomplishing two goals in one swoop Wednesday, don’t be surprised if they make another trade by the Feb. 19 deadline.

The Nuggets acquired reserve center Johan Petro and got enough under the luxury-tax line to finish the season there. Next could be a bigger-name player to help the playoff push.

“I think the window of opportunity to maybe try to make a trade that will impact our team has gotten better because of being under the tax line,” coach George Karl said.

The Nuggets sent sparingly used guard Chucky Atkins, about $700,000 and a lottery-protected 2009 first-round pick to Oklahoma City for the 7-foot Petro, who is averaging 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds, and a 2009 second-round pick.

If the Nuggets don’t make the playoffs this season, Oklahoma City gets the pick in a future season.

“We needed a big body,” Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien said. “George has been clear on that.”

Atkins is making $3.24 million and Petro $1.94 million. The cash sent covers the prorated difference. The Thunder could take back a bigger salary because it has a $3.26 million trade exception.

Denver moved slightly under the $71.15 luxury-tax line with Monday’s trade of Cheikh Samb, but there remained the likelihood of player bonuses pushing it back over the line. The Nuggets should get about $3 million in the summer from a league pool.

“I have mixed feelings,” said Atkins, 34. “I had a good time with my guys in Denver, and I hate to leave. ... But they’ve got a young guard (Russell Westbrook) in Oklahoma City that needs to be taught.”

Karl said the Nuggets need someone such as Petro, 22, to keep big minutes off post starters Nene and Kenyon Martin.

“You’ve got four or five teams out West where there are probably 10 to 15 minutes you might want to play big,” he said. “Chris (Andersen) is good, but he’s a skinny big, not a physical big.”

Aaron J. Lopez contributed to this report

Comments

  • January 7, 2009

    4:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    spokenwar writes:

    a lot of players in his position could have been a real pain in the a**. but chucky was bigger than that.

    watch for OKC to respond with chucky like we did with chauncy. i was watching the game and i was talking to myself. really i was... and i said to myself that chucky would be perfect fo OKC. of course no one heard me... it just happens like that.

    good luck to chucky!!

  • January 7, 2009

    4:12 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MADness writes:

    They better be high on Petro or else this trade is a costly salary dump that might even put the Camby salary dump to shame. The extra salary that the Thunder are taking on might warrant a 2nd round pick or a conditional pick but if the Nuggets are giving up a first round pick then they better be getting a player that they want in addition to dumping salary.

  • January 7, 2009

    4:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MGD writes:

    It's too bad they gave up a first round for a second round but the Nuggets first round this summer wont be too many picks from the first pick in the second round so it's not a huge deal.

  • January 7, 2009

    4:53 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cwillyrun1 writes:

    True MADness, giving up a first rounder (along with Atkins) better mean this guy sees decent court time. The Nuggets keep giving up their first rounders and what are they getting in return that seems to make the team better? I've heard of this guy but I haven't seen him play much. Hope he's worth it.

  • January 7, 2009

    6:11 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jsppro1 writes:

    jsppro1 writes:

    Not bad, Just remember Nugget fans, he's not there for starter's minutes, He's a BIG to give 10 minutes a game. I think it's a good trade. Petro is 7 - 0, 240lbs, good deal Nuggets. Go Nuggets

  • January 7, 2009

    6:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    tomreber writes:

    MADness? Really? Based on the current standings, we are talking about the difference between the 25th and 31st picks. That is truly not a big deal especially considering there is generally little difference in talent from about 25 to 35. This is a pretty trivial trade to get upset about. The Nuggets gave up very little (no pun intended) to get a project player they are interested in and Kroenke gets to save some money that he might use in the future for the Nugs (or one of his other teams). I see very little downside here, and definitely nothing to get worked up over.

  • January 7, 2009

    7:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    CaptainObvious writes:

    After the Billups trade--even with the problems with the McDyess tangle--I will give these guys the benefit of the doubt. Once. Go Nuggets!

  • January 7, 2009

    8:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    flybys writes:

    The Nuggets looked in their garage, dusted off Chucky Atkins and sold him at the flea market for a second round draft pick. Smart, smart move by the front office.

    That same front office then turned around, all giddy, and spent a first rounder on a 7-footer who shoots 40 percent from the floor and averages just over 4 rebounds a game as a reserve.

    I mean, if you need a 7-foot token player not expected to do much, isn't Blair Rasmussen still alive?

    Petro does add depth, just not much talent.

    At the price of yet another first round pick.

    The Nuggets hate draft picks.

    Have you noticed?

    http://coloradosn.blogspot.com

  • January 7, 2009

    9:57 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ONEman writes:

    I like what they did here, we needed some size down low and he gives us that. We don't need him to come here and be Amare Stoudamire. Just bang and rebound big boy. Anyway Bird is working out nicely so we can ease this guy into our lineups. Nuggets looked elite tonight. And wait....what....can it be..... there was a GK siting and he actually participated in the game. I don't know if your reading my posts George, but it sure seemed that way tonight. I heard about the complex with your weight and all. Sorry for the fat comments. Way uncalled for. Stay with it, pace that sideline and bug the crap outta those refs and sweat those pounds right off. Chucky is a good guy but we didn't use him with Carter being the same kind of player. I wish Chuck the best in OKC.
    Good win Nuggets.

  • January 7, 2009

    10:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jsppro1 writes:

    Nugget Nation, keep this in mind, Hunter will be back next month along with melo. It gives the Nuggets two 7 footers. "7 Dollar foot long" . Now they will have this: Hunter/Petro 7' 0", Nene 6'11", Anderson 6' 10", Martin 6' 9" Balkman/LK/Melo 6' 8". Nuggets may have something here for the stretch run, Go Nuggets

  • January 8, 2009

    3:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    lsider writes:

    This trade was an outstanding move by nuggs management but could work well for both teams. we just gave away another first rounder true, but we get a pick that will likely be in the first 3 in the second round. we also protected it just in case, its about time we were the one's with the protections in a deal. think about the salary side of it though, a second rounder's contract isn't guaranteed which means we aren't stuck with our pick if they go all el busto on us. the picks are likely to be only ten places apart max. i trust nuggs management's talent evaluators because they've brought in chauncy, anderson,balkman,jones,and added by subtracting camby although nene was never healthy while he was here. they got a.i. for andre miller which was worth a shot and give them credit for getting something in return for iverson. if petro being 22 can be a contributor we'll be pretty scary, and if hes just a big body at least we can use him to hack a shaq or beat up on yao when we play houston. george karl looked like he was trying to coach tonight, i guess it's time to start looking for the tidal waves and meteors.

  • January 8, 2009

    7:37 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    kmeissner writes:

    I expected to hear that they had picked up Wilcox. That's who they have been talking about recently. We'll see how this guy does. At least Nene and Kmart will get some extra rest during games now. KEEP NENE HEALTHY!

    GO NUGS!

  • January 8, 2009

    8:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    atfisher writes:

    It seems to me the Nuggets FO never wants to draft players, at least in the first round. Since we drafted Melo, we've drafted and kept ONLY Julius Hodge in the first round. We've traded away useful players like Jameer Nelson, Jarrett Jack and Leon Powe though...I was looking forward to finally getting a pick next year. How the F is Petro, who is mostly just a warm body, worth Atkins AND a 1st rounder?

  • January 8, 2009

    8:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    ccorrea writes:

    David Lee is a better player
    and a better deal then Wilcox.

  • January 8, 2009

    11:03 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    JoeBarryCarroll writes:

    the thunder finish with the worst record in the league this year so it should be a top 3 pick in the 2nd round. We finish with a prob top 8 record so we are only moving down about 10 spots or so. It's not that terrible.

  • January 8, 2009

    1:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ramAZ writes:

    Why is there so much whining about a move that gets the Nugz under the cap AND provides some front line depth... which is the glaring weakness on this team?

    This is a good move. Petro was on a team with a log jam of bigs and now he'll get his chance. He's only 22. He could be around Denver for a long time to come.

  • January 8, 2009

    1:20 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Coffee_Mug writes:

    It was time for Atkins to move on. I still think AC might need to go all well. If Petro can take up some minutes to rest Nene and Martin, especially down the stretch, it will make for a good trade. And don't forget, it comes with a half price tag, almost anyway. The next few months should be interesting to see.

  • January 8, 2009

    2:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    Best of luck Chucky. Chances are good with a new coach your potential will be maximized. I just hope this guy Petro brings more to the table than the "Stiff" Darcovich (spelling ?) was to Detroit who passed on Melo reasoning you can't teach height. You would like to think that there must be some game in him or he would not be in the NBA but that does not always hold true. "Clueless" has been asking for another "Big" so let's see what he does with him. Reserving judgement for now.

  • January 8, 2009

    3:31 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jbowen43 writes:

    I bet Blair can still shoot, too. He always could shoot.