Marcus Camby has what NBA teams want, which makes him the most marketable player on a Nuggets team itching to pull the trigger on a trade.
If Denver wants to make a big deal to inspire local basketball fans to renew their faith (and their season tickets), then the Nuggets might have to say goodbye to Camby.
From his 6-foot-11 frame to his defensive mind-set and his reasonable salary by NBA standards, the very attributes that make Camby valuable to the Nuggets will also tempt teams to overpay for the 34-year-old center in trade.
While we go gaga over Kobe, LeBron and the point guards of generation next, what sells best in this league is size, because big is always in short supply.
This simple law of supply and demand is something every smart businessman, Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke included, knows how to leverage to his advantage.
If Miami could trade Shaquille O’Neal when his basketball skills were even worse than his ability to rap and Toronto was eager to land Jermaine O’Neal despite recent injury woes, then the $10 million salary of Camby makes him an extremely liquid asset on the Denver roster.
It would be a mistake to believe just because the Nuggets traded away their first-round choice in the NBA draft that the executive offices were closed for business until training camp began.
While Denver rebuffed trade offers for forward Carmelo Anthony, it’s no secret among league general managers that the Nuggets are all ears for any proposal involving Camby or guard Allen Iverson.
After hitting the lottery with Derrick Rose in the draft, the Chicago Bulls still have a need for a center. They also have an extra point guard in 27-year-old Kirk Hinrich, whose solid-if-unspectacular style is appreciated by Nuggets brass. After weeks of stumbling in a search for a coach before finally getting Vinny Del Negro to say yes, it’s expected the Bulls will not be in any hurry to sort through thoughts on trading Hinrich.
There are reasons to believe Camby is expendable.
While Camby has been named the league’s top defensive player during his time in Denver, Nene and Kenyon Martin are both stronger man-to-man defenders under the basket.
Under the guidelines of salary cap basketball, even if the economic impact is softened by an owner willing to pay luxury tax, the $34 million in salaries the Nuggets have assigned to Camby, Nene and Martin to share court time is a poor distribution of resources.
His lack of post-up moves or a reliable jumper prevents Camby from helping the team spread the floor or share the basketball, two of the team’s most obvious offensive flaws.
Of course, there also would be risks in trading Camby.
Without him, the Nuggets become more dependent on both Martin and Nene, whose histories of health issues are long and frustrating.
While Camby has been heard on occasion whining for the big man to get his offensive touches, he is one of the few players in the Denver locker room who doesn’t always look first on the stat sheet for points scored to determine whether his game was successful.
Kind in spirit and always accountable, Camby has been a good neighbor in the Denver community since 2002.
But here’s the deal.
If the Nuggets don’t try something new to escape their playoff funk, then Melo, coach George Karl and Rocky the mascot will all have trouble convincing themselves or anybody else in the city that anything will really be different next season.
Trade Camby? It’s nothing personal. It’s strictly business.
For all he has done in Denver, Camby might now be more valuable to the Nuggets by wearing another team’s uniform.
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com
