Nuggets acquire Fs Patterson, Evans, send G Watson to Sonics Nuggets acquire Fs Patterson, Evans, send G Watson to Sonics February 23, 2006 BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - Kiki Vandeweghe usually swings a trade before the deadline and he's apparently done it again. ESPN.com is reporting that the Denver Nuggets have acquired swingman Ruben Patterson and forward Reggie Evans in a three-team trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and Seattle SuperSonics on Thursday. The deadline to make trades is 3 p.m. EST. ADVERTISEMENT Yes No Yes No Yes No The Trail Blazers parted with Patterson for salary cap relief and acquired guard Voshon Lenard from the Nuggets and center Vitaly Potapenko from the SuperSonics in the reported deal. Patterson is due $7 million in 2006-07. Lenard's contract expires at the end of the season and Potapenko will make $3.7 million in 2006-07. The SuperSonics unloaded Evans and Potapenko and ended up with point guard Earl Watson, swingman Bryon Russell and a second-round pick from Denver. Watson, who was originally drafted by Seattle in 2001, is in the first year of a five-year, $29 million contract. Vandeweghe, the Nuggets' general manager, was shopping for a shooter and a rebounder. He hopes Patterson will add perimeter shooting and Evans can provide inside toughness. The Nuggets also received guard Charles Smith from Portland in the reported deal. Watson was expendable because he served as the team's third point guard behind starter Andre Miller and backup Earl Boykins. In Seattle, Watson will be the primary backup to Luke Ridnour. Vandeweghe is known for his deals before the deadline. In February 2002, he traded guard Nick Van Exel and center Raef LaFrentz and last year he acquired forward Eduardo Najera. Patterson, 30, can start at shooting guard or serve as a backup at small forward for Denver. He scored 25 points in his final game as a Trail Blazer - a 110-106 loss to Charlotte on Wednesday. The 6-6 Patterson is averaging 11.4 points on 49.6 percent shooting and 3.4 rebounds in 45 games this season. Evans, 25, helps Denver's injury-plagued frontcourt. The 6-8 Evans averaged 5.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in 41 games, including 23 starts, with the SuperSonics. Center Marcus Camby and forwards Kenyon Martin and Eduardo Najera have been hampered by injuries this season. Denver lost forward Nene in its season opener to a torn ACL. Despite the injuries, the Nuggets are in first place in the Northwest Division with a 29-26 record. The Nuggets also received the 30-year-old Smith, who started four of 21 games with Portland and averaged 3.8 points. Seattle (21-34) and Portland (18-35) are the bottom teams in the division. Watson, 26, started 10 of 46 games and averaged 7.5 points and 3.5 assists. The 6-1 Watson led the Nuggets with 68 3-pointers. Russell, 35, played in just one game for Denver this season. Potapenko, 30, started 12 of 24 games this season for Seattle and averaged 3.1 points and 2.6 rebounds. The 6-10 Potapenko enjoyed his best season in 1998-99, averaging 10.0 points and 6.6 rebounds for Cleveland and Boston. Lenard, 32, started six of 12 games with Denver this season and averaged 8.3 points and 1.5 assists. The 6-4 Lenard has shot just 29 percent from 3-point range. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AsnX...ov=st&type=lgns
