Nuggets trade Atkins for Thunder's Petro
The Oklahoma City Thunder are suddenly one of the power players in the 2009 NBA draft.
The Denver Nuggets traded veteran guard Chucky Atkins and their 2009 first-round pick to the Thunder for 7-footer Johan Petro and the Thunder’s 2009 second-round pick, a league executive familiar with the deal told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday.
Now, Thunder GM Sam Presti has accumulated three first-round picks in the 2009 draft, and two more in 2010. This gives the Thunder the pieces to be active in trades and free agency this summer.
The Minnesota Timberwolves could have as many as four first-round picks in this season's draft.
Atkins, 34, gives the Thunder a third point guard for the rest of this season. Denver has been trimming payroll to get under the luxury tax. Petro, 24, gives the Nuggets some versatility on the frontline. He averaged 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds for the Thunder.
