Denver Nuggets center Marcus Camby was traded Tuesday to the Los Angeles Clippers for a second-round draft pick and a $10-million US trade exception.

"We felt we needed to shake things up and do something a little bit radical to be able to create flexibility going forward," Nuggets vice-president of player personnel Rex Chapman said. "We're not satisfied with winning 50 games or getting to the playoffs.

"Our goal is to win a championship. We felt like we needed to shake things up and be able to have flexibility going forward to put a championship team on the court."

Camby played a career-high 79 games for the Nuggets last season, averaging 9.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.6 blocked shots, 3.3 assists and 34.9 minutes.

He has led the NBA in blocked shots the past three seasons.

"I love this acquisition," Clippers head coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We are getting a consummate pro who is maybe the best team defender in the league and who has 60 playoff games under his belt."

"This is a very good addition for us, especially since we're getting a player who can really help us without having to give up a player in return," Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor said. "With him playing alongside [Chris] Kaman, I think we will have a pair of excellent interior defenders and that will make us a formidable team."

Camby has averaged 10.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, 1.8 assists and 30.7 minutes in 695 games (549 starts) over 12 NBA seasons for the Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and Nuggets.

Denver acquired Camby, Mark Jackson and Nene Hilario from New York for Antonio McDyess, Frank Williams and a second-round pick on June 26, 2002.

"Marcus has been an exceptional representative of the Nuggets both on the court and in the Denver community," Nuggets vice-president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said.

Camby won the John Wooden Award and Naismith Award as NCAA player of the year in 1996, when Toronto drafted him second overall out of Massachusetts.

Camby spent two seasons with the Raptors, who traded him to the Knicks for Charles Oakley, Sean Marks and cash considerations on June 25, 1998. Source: Associated Press