Nuggets Deal Atkins To OKC

The Denver Post is reporting that the Nuggets have traded Chucky Atkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder in return for Johan Petro.

The Nuggets have traded reserve guard Chucky Atkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for reserve center Johan Petro. Denver will also trade their first-round pick in the 2009 draft to the Thunder for the Thunder’s second-round pick.

Some quotes from Chucky Atkins and his agent

“I think that I deserve to play some, and obviously if they’re making a trade for me, then they plan on using me,” Atkins said this afternoon.

“The thing that kind of hurts was that I never got an opportunity. Injuries can happen to anybody, and Anthony Carter stepped in and did what he was supposed to do to keep this team afloat. No hard feelings. That’s just the name of the game.”

Atkins (1.9 points per game) signed with Denver during the summer of 2007 but battled injuries both this season and last, never cracking coach George Karl’s rotation.

“We appreciate everything that the Nuggets have done to work this deal,” said Atkins’ agent, Andy Miller. “It’s a win-win for both sides. For us, we look at it as an opportunity to get a fresh start and re-establish his identity. He really hasn’t had a chance to gain any rhythm since his injury. And the Nuggets, it’s an opportunity to get under the tax and be a playoff team.”

Interesting trade …. so how did both sides do?

Denver Nuggets

I really like this trade for the Nuggets for four reasons.

Firstly, the Nuggets earned good financial flexibility. The skimmed Atkins’ salary down from $3.24mil to $1.94mil with Petro. That added flexibility may not seem like a lot, but it could be enough breathing room to help facilitate a larger trade before the trading deadline. The rumour is that the Nuggets are searching hard for another backup big man.

Secondly, they picked up a nice player in Johan Petro. Petro is no great shakes, but he has some good talents; good rebounder, good athleticism, good midrange jumpshot with range out to 18 feet.

Petro has never figured out how to use the skills he has at a high level, or how to limit his mistakes, so he hasn’t been able to take that next step as a player and become a reliable regular contributor. But as a fifth big in the rotation he’s very good, and as a stop gap fourth big in the rotation he’s both a solid option and a big improvement for the Nuggets. I think Petro is a guy who can add something to Denver.

Thirdly, Atkins wasn’t playing and didn’t hold much value to the Nuggets.

The fourth reason is the draft pick. I’m not wild about losing a first round pick but at least they brought back Oklahoma’s second round pick, which is basically a first anyway, after all Oklahoma will likely have one of the first if not the first overall pick in the second round.

There’s also added advantages to that second round pick like non-guaranteed salary which gives cap flexibility. It also offers contract flexibility since a second round pick is not tied to a rookie scale contract, which could be important if they want to bring a player over from Europe (Pekovic in last year’s draft).

Oklahoma City

Good trade for the Thunder. They added a contract in Atkins which is non-guaranteed past this season, so they’ve taken on no considerable contracts …. and in the process moved up in the draft which is a win-win for a squad in their situation.

It remains to be seen where this Nuggets pick will end up, the West is so tight right now that the Nuggets could easily end up with anywhere between the 2nd and 9th seed which could make a massive difference to the value of the pick. I feel very optimistic about the Nuggets making the playoffs so they should avoid that 9th seed, and in doing so avoid the lottery. The pick will likely be between 20-26th. If so, the Thunder will likely move up 5-12 places.

The Thunder are loaded with big men and had no need for Petro, and no inclination to sign him past this season. He is of little consequence to them.

It remains to be seen whether or not they have an interest in playing Chucky Atkins. My first thoughts are that no he will not play in Oklahoma City either. Atkins is a worse player than both Westbrook and Watson, and there’s no minutes available for him there. Maybe they’re play some small ball and use him as an off guard a little bit, which is possible because they need shooters. But I’m doubtful he plays much of a role for the Thunder.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Chucky is traded again prior to the trading deadline to a playoff team who wants added insurance at the point.

Update: Some more information on the cash considerations, and confirmation that this deal gets the Nuggets below the luxury tax line.

Wednesday’s trade, in which the Nuggets sent sparingly used guard Chucky Atkins, a protected 2009 first-round pick to Oklahoma City and about $700,000 for Petro and a 2009 second-round pick, accomplished two things. The Nuggets assured themselves of finishing the season under the luxury-tax threshold of $71.15 million, and they got an extra big man for insurance.

Also a defined amount for how much of Atkins contract is guaranteed for next season

One chip was Atkins, who had some attractiveness because just $760,000 of his $3.48 million contract next season is guaranteed.

That explains the $700k that switched hands. The pick that Denver sent to Oklahoma City has some protection on it

The first-round pick the Nuggets sent Oklahoma City is protected, but only if Denver fails to make the playoffs. Then the Thunder would get the pick in a future year.

I figure at least three teams in the East should finish with worst records than the 8th seed in the East …. so we’re looking at a pick in the 18-26 range.