November 4, 2008 1:17 AM

Camby talks about Iverson trade

By Chris Tomasson
Rocky Mountain News

Former Nuggets big man Marcus Camby, who missed the entire preseason and the first three regular-season games with a bruised right heel, finally made his debut Monday night for the Clippers.
Camby was solid, coming off the bench to total five points, nine rebounds and three blocks in 27 minutes. But what Camby mostly wanted to talk about after the game was Monday's Denver trade of Allen Iverson.
"I heard about it (Sunday) night,'' Camby told reporters about the deal in which the Nuggets got Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb from Detroit. "My phone was ringing off the hook. (Monday) I had a chance to talk to Allen. He was already pretty upset when they traded me. His whole reason to come to Denver was to play with me and (Carmelo Anthony), and now he's not in that situation.
"He's in a good situation, Detroit's a good team. I think Denver got a good player in Chauncey Billups, someone who's played there, I think it's a win-win for both teams.''
Camby said Iverson was "surprised.''
"Similar to me,'' Camby said of being dealt last July. "He thought he was going to be in Denver for a long time and finish out his career but we both know this is the nature of the business.''
Camby also said he spoke to Anthony on Monday.
"He said his phone was ringing off the hook before he even woke up,'' Camby said.
So what did Anthony have to say?
"He was just not knowing what was really going on,'' Camby said. "He's the franchise player and I'm pretty sure it caught him off guard. Like he said, at least he should know what is going on in the organization because the franchise is built around him.''
WHAT ABOUT MCDYESS?: There are all sorts or reports circulating about McDyess, and what the Nuggets will do with him. The general consensus is McDyess doesn't want to return to Denver, where he played from 1995-97 and 1998-2002, and will have his contract bought out.
Retirement has been mentioned. But one hardly expects McDyess, due $6.8 million this season and $6.8 million next season, to walk away from more than $13 million.
The Nuggets' public stance, at least the one uttered by vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman, is that Denver will hold onto McDyess.
"Yeah. All plans (are that),'' said Chapman, who later said the Nuggets "haven't had discussions otherwise'' that McDyess won't be with the team the rest of the season.
But it's understandable if the Nuggets are doing everything they can to watch their step. The NBA is not fond of teams making any declarations beforehand that a player will be waived following a trade acquisition and then return to his old team.
Before the Jason Kidd deal was finalized last February, Dallas forward Jerry Stackhouse sounded off about planning to be waived by New Jersey after the deal was done and returning 30 days later to the Mavericks, which is the rule for players to return under such circumstances. Eventually, with the NBA looking on closely, the trade was made without Stackhouse.
San Antonio played it close to the vest last season when trading Brent Barry to Seattle, which then waived him. Barry and the Spurs made it seem like he was looking around at various teams before he returned to San Antonio after the 30-day waiting period.
A source close to the situation said the Nuggets would like McDyess to play for them, but there's a good chance he will be bought out.
"I'm not denying it's circulating (McDyess could be waived), but I don't have any direct knowledge,'' said Nuggets coach George Karl.
Karl wants McDyess to stick around.
"I think McDyess would be huge,'' Karl said. "I think he's a very good pick-and-pop guy. He knows how to rebound and play defense. He's one of those veteran guys who can help you win.''
If McDyess is let go, Juwan Howard, waived by the Nuggets to make room on the roster for the trade acquisitions, could return to the Nuggets.
"I hope so, if we can get a roster position,'' Karl said of whether he would like Howard back if there was room. "He can help us.''
BALLOT ISSUES: So what to make of these All-Star streaks?
Iverson has been selected to nine straight All-Star Games and Billups to three straight. But the two have switched conferences.
Well, if history is an indicator, the NBA will count all votes for Iverson even though he'll be listed on paper ballots as being in the Western Conference and Billups will be listed on paper ballots in the Eastern Conference.
That's the way it was two years ago when Iverson was traded from Philadelphia of the East to Denver of the West. But the Nuggets have sent Iverson back to the East, with Billups coming West from Detroit.
But it should be only paper ballots that are affected. Two years ago, the NBA simply made the adjustment on Internet ballots.
ELECTION DAY SPIRIT: With Tuesday being Election Day and polls all the rage, Karl got into the spirit.
Discussing Monday's trade, Karl first said he was "51 percent sad because Allen is gone and 49 percent excited because we got a point guard.''
But, as Karl kept talking, it became evident some late precincts had begun to report and that 49 percent was growing.
SAMB I AM: So who's Samb, the unknown piece in the trade? Even Karl admits he doesn't know much about him.
The 7-foot-1, 245-poiund center is in his second season, and has yet to play in a game this season. He averaged 1.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in four games last season with the Pistons while playing most of the season with Fort Wayne of the NBADL, where he averaged 10.4 points and 6.8 rebounds.
"He's young, athletic, long and lanky,'' Chapman said. "He's a big man who runs up and down the floor well, and he's a guy that our coaches are really look forward to working with.''
WEEMS TO NBADL: Karl reiterated Monday that rookie swingman Sonny Weems likely soon will join the Colorado 14ers of the NBADL.
Weems hasn't gotten on the practice court this fall due to sports hernia surgery and a groin strain. But athletic trainer Jim Gillen said he will do some work later this week, and could be a full practice participant next week.
ETC.: Karl doesn't think Billups is showing age at 32. "I said when John Stockton was 32 that he was over the hill, and I was wrong for about eight years,'' Karl said... For the record, point guard Anthony Carter says he doesn't care that, with the acquisition of Billups, he now moves to the bench... While Karl said Dahntay Jones might start initially at shooting guard, there's no question J.R. Smith is the long-term answer there. "It's a matter of me picking up where I need to pick up and help the team,'' Smith said.

Posted by Chris Tomasson at 1:17 AM | Comments (10)