Clippers trade Camby to Blazers

[King Taharqa]

Los Angeles Clippers center Marcus Camby unknowingly attended his own farewell dinner on Monday night.

The Clippers completed a trade Tuesday that sends Camby to the Portland Trail Blazers, league sources said.

The trade, which was first reported by Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, will send Camby to Portland in exchange for forward Travis Outlaw, guard Steve Blake and $3 million.

In town in advance of their Tuesday game against the Trail Blazers, the Clippers were having a team dinner at Portland’s Ringside steakhouse Monday night when Camby received a call on his cell phone from his agent, Rick Kaplan. Kaplan informed Camby that he would likely be traded to Portland.

After taking the call from Kaplan, Camby immediately walked out of the restaurant. A source close to Camby says that while he recognizes the benefits of playing for a better team, he is upset because his family is comfortably settled in Los Angeles. He had hoped to re-sign with the Clippers this summer.

“He likes the Clippers, he likes the organization, he likes L.A.,” the source said. “His wife is happy in L.A. And he’s not one for change. He’s definitely not happy about this.”

Camby also was similarly upset when the Denver Nuggets traded him to the Clippers before the start of last season. The Nuggets made an unsuccessful last-ditch attempt to bring back Camby before the Clippers’ deal with the Blazers was finalized.

Camby isn’t the only one upset.

Said one Clipper: “All the guys are upset because our best defensive player got traded basically for a backup point guard and money.”

Outlaw, 25, played in 11 games this season before breaking his left foot, and the Clippers are unsure when he’ll play again. Blake, 29, is averaging 7.6 points and four assists in 51 games.

The Blazers have been searching for some inside help to deflect the blow of losing centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla. Some in the league also believe Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard wanted to clear the way for Jerryd Bayless to get more time in the backcourt with Andre Miller.

The Clippers, meanwhile, also have been shopping forward Al Thornton, who was meeting with his agent Monday in Portland.

Camby, 35, is averaging 7.7 points and 12.1 rebounds for the Clippers. He is making $9.1 million this season in the final year of his contract. Just last week, he told Yahoo! Sports he hoped the Clippers wouldn’t trade him.

“It feels good to be a wanted man, but I like it here,” Camby said.

Camby left the restaurant without most of his teammates getting a chance to tell him goodbye. He is not believed to have finished his meal.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AjosW_0D.sIYYYIJUwyAPQe8vLYF?slug=mc-cambytrade021510&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[RedMage138]

I really didn't think you could trade injured players in the NBA. I don't really like this long-term for the Blazers. At 35, you've got to wonder how much Camby has left in the tank while Outlaw still hasn't hit his ceiling and Blake was probably their best option at PG. I know they want to make the playoffs this year and without Oden and Pryzbilla that would be a tall order but this just doesn't help them that much in the long run.

[tarheelblue89]

I can tell you one person who hates this trade: Brandon Roy. He liked Blake a lot more then he likes Miller.

[CarolinaPride5]

Good trade for the Blazers and for the Clippers.

Marcus Camby is already pissed about being traded and not happy about anything that's going on. Don't know why he's so upset if he's going to a much better team and a team that will most likely make the playoffs if they stay healthy.

[kman72]

he is havn to move his family, and who knows for a yr? he prolly wont be in portland next yr, with pryz and oden back....... id love to have him, he and haywood will be available next yr.....

[RedMage138]

he is havn to move his family, and who knows for a yr? he prolly wont be in portland next yr, with pryz and oden back....... id love to have him, he and haywood will be available next yr.....

Camby will be, idk about Haywood though. If he's a good fit with the Mavs they may try to keep him around for a while since that whole trade was about adding toughness to keep up with the Nugs and Lakers