Associated Press
The NBA notebook …
LOS ANGELES ó Six days later, and Marcus Camby still can’t believe what went down.
It does seem a bit difficult to fathom.
The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Camby, the NBA’s leading shot-blocker the past three seasons, from the Denver Nuggets last Tuesday for the option to exchange second-round picks with the Clippers in 2010.
And that’s all.
“When I heard of the trade, I said, ‘Who did Denver get in return?”‘ Camby said Monday at an introductory news conference.
The answer was nobody, although the Nuggets are relieved of Camby’s $10 million salary-cap figure.
“I thought the way (the Nuggets) went about it was classless,” he said. “I thought it could have gone down a whole lot better. I’ll get over it once training camp begins when I’m around the guys. You never forget. I’m definitely looking forward to those couple games we play against Denver.
“Denver was a place my family and I really loved. It was kind of shocking. I felt I did everything possible for that team.”
CELTICS
BOSTON ó Eddie House had virtually disappeared from the Boston rotation during the Celtics’ run to the NBA title. When he got in the game, though, he showed his worth.
House, who made a key 3-pointer while pouring in 11 points in 25 minutes in Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, agreed to terms with the defending champions on Monday. Tony Allen, another backup guard whose development slowed when he tore ligaments in his knee during the 2006-07 season, also re-upped with the team.
The Celtics lost sixth man James Posey to free agency last week, but Monday’s deals give the team a chance to return most of its key players when it goes for an 18th title next season. All five starters are under contract, and only injured Scot Pollard and aging veterans P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell are left on the market.
NETS-MAGIC TRADE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó The New Jersey Nets acquired guard Keyon Dooling from the Orlando Magic in a sign and trade deal on Monday. In exchange for Dooling, the Nets gave the Magic cash and the trade exception they got in the deal that sent Jason Kidd to Dallas.