PETRO FOR ATKINS
The Denver Nuggets acquired center Johan Petro and a 2009 second-round draft pick from the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Chucky Atkins and a 2009 first-round draft pick.
What does it give the Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are a contender this season, partly thanks to the breakout so far by Nene Hilario. That said, he and starting power forward Kenyon Martin are both injury-prone, and Denver has only the unpredicatable Chris Andersen playing regularly behind them. That makes a player like Petro (who has some skills, some untapped potential, and is very mobile) an appealing backup option. He was starting for the Thunder earlier this season and has above-average talent. Giving up a first-rounder is a tough pill to swallow, but the Nuggets obviously want to win this season.
What does it give the Oklahoma City Thunder
Atkins is a nice veteran backup addition who will help mentor super-talented rookie starting point guard Russell Westbrook. For a young and non-contending team such as Oklahoma City a first-round pick is another nice building block (even though it may not be a very high selection since the Nuggets are doing so well). Petro may eventually become an above-average center, but the team has a glut of young talent at the pivot position (including Robert Swift, the newly-acquired Nenad Krstic, and Mouhamed Sene). This move also suggests the Thunder may be looking to move Earl Watson, who lost his starting job to Westbrook.
Fantasy impact
