After he missed the first matchup with the Denver Nuggets this season, Marcus Camby was expected to be the center of attention Wednesday night at Staples Center in his first game versus his former teammates. Instead, the intrigue revolves around his new frontcourt teammate, who officially joined the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
Zach Randolph will likely make his Clippers debut against Denver, as will Mardy Collins, who both were acquired from the Knicks on Friday for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.As concerns about Mobley's existing heart condition delayed the completion of the trade, neither Randolph nor Collins were able to suit up in the three games - all Los Angeles losses - since the swap was announced.
"I thought the trade was going to be cleared, so I wasn't too worried," Randolph said following the Clippers' 99-87 loss to New Orleans on Monday. "I was looking forward to playing tonight, so it's really disappointing because I haven't played in about a week. I was really up, getting ready and doing all my preparation for the game. And then to find out you can't play, it sucks the life out of you."
Although there's been speculation that Los Angeles is trying to deal center Chris Kaman, the addition of Randolph gives the Clippers - ranked in the bottom third in the league in rebounding at 40.3 per game - a big boost up front. Kaman is averaging 14.4 points and 10.0 rebounds, and Camby, who missed the 113-103 overtime loss to Denver on Oct. 31 with a bruised right heel, is averaging 9.6 and 9.9, respectively.
Camby spent six seasons with Denver before being traded to Los Angeles in July. He made the NBA's All-Defensive first or second team in four seasons during his tenure with the Nuggets and helped them make five playoff appearances.
Randolph hasn't appeared in the playoffs since 2003 with Portland. He averaged 20.5 points and 12.5 rebounds in 11 games with the Knicks this season.
"(Randolph is) good for us now and in the future," Los Angeles coach-general manager Mike Dunleavy said following the trade. "It was something we felt like we had to do."
The Clippers (2-12) have to do something. They're off to their worst start since the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season when they began 0-17.
Los Angeles hopes its big trade works out as well as Denver's did. The Nuggets (9-5) have won eight of 10 since acquiring Chauncey Billups from Detroit in the Allen Iverson deal.
Billups has averaged 19.9 points and 6.5 assists over the last seven games while committing just 11 turnovers. He had 21 points and eight assists on Sunday in a 114-101 victory over Chicago.
Carmelo Anthony, shooting a career-low 39.1 percent from the field this season, matched a season high with 13 rebounds, had a season-best eight assists and scored 21 points. He shot a season-high 54.5 percent (6-for-11) from the field.
"It's getting there," said Anthony, who shot a combined 29.5 percent from the field in Denver's previous four games. "I'm not really worried about that."
