Camby calls Nuggets ‘classless’

The defensive ace said he found out about his trade to the Clippers from his agent.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six days later, and Marcus Camby still can’t believe what went down.

The Los Angeles Clippers acquired Camby, the NBA’s leading shot-blocker the past three seasons, from the Denver Nuggets last Tuesday for the option to exchange second-round picks with the Clippers in 2010.

And that’s all.

“When I heard of the trade, I said, ‘Who did Denver get in return?’ ” Camby said Monday at an introductory news conference.

The answer was nobody, although the Nuggets are relieved of Camby’s $10 million salary-cap figure.

Trading second-round picks certainly won’t be a major development, no matter where the teams might be choosing.

“Yes,” Camby answered quickly when asked if the Nuggets gave him away.

The 12-year NBA veteran was just beginning.

“I understand this is a business,” he said. “No one said a word [about the trade], I found out from my agent.”

Camby had been in Las Vegas working out with several of his former teammates and was informed of the trade shortly thereafter, upon returning to his Houston home.

“I thought the way [the Nuggets] went about it was classless,” he said.

“I thought it could have gone down a whole lot better. I’ll get over it once training camp begins when I’m around the guys. You never forget. I’m definitely looking forward to those couple games we play against Denver.

“Denver was a place my family and I really loved. It was kind of shocking. I felt I did everything possible for that team.”

And, he added, in the community as well.

Camby, a 6-foot-11, 235-pounder, averaged 9.1 points, 13.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 3.61 blocked shots last season, his sixth with the Nuggets.

He joined Dikembe Mutombo as the only player to lead the NBA in blocked shots for three straight seasons, and his four blocked shot titles are tied with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Mark Eaton for the most in league history.

Camby, under contract for two more years, said the only calls he’s received from people connected with the Nuggets have been from the trainer, strength coach and several former teammates including Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and Kenyon Martin.

“They’re sad to see me go,” he said.

“These guys were like brothers to me.”