BLAZERS, KINGS TRADE FORWARDS
The Portland Trail Blazers acquired forward Michael Ruffin from the Sacramento Kings for forward Ike Diogu.
What does it give the Portland Trail Blazers
Ruffin's salary for the rest of this season is less than Diogu's would have been, but the bigger key here for Portland is they get a trade exception worth just over $3 Million. In the NBA, the salaries of players in trades need to match, but now the Blazers can trade for a player who makes roughly $3 Million without sending a player away in return. They have a year to use the exception. Ruffin's contract expires after this season, and he isn't expected to play much of a role with Portland.
What does it give the Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Bee reports sources say the Kings also received $1 Million 'in considerations' from the Blazers, and when added to the fact that Diogu's salary is over $2 Million more this season than Ruffin's, the numbers start to add up on why the Kings gave up the trade exception as well. Diogu's contract expires after this season, which takes his almost-$3 Million 2008-09 salary off the books.
Fantasy impact
