Thunder acquire G Atkins from Nuggets

Jan 8, 2009 - 12:08 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Chucky Atkins is on the move again.

The Denver Nuggets traded the veteran point guard to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday along with a first-round pick and cash considerations for center Johan Petro and a second-round draft choice.

The Thunder will be the eighth NBA club on Atkins' resume since he joined the league as an undrafted free agent in 1999. The Nuggets signed him prior to the 2007-08 campaign in the hope that he could man the point, but a hernia kept him out of commission for most of the season.

He failed to break the regular rotation for Denver this season, averaging just 8.0 minutes per contest.

He likely will have a tough time garnering much more playing time with Oklahoma City, however. Despite having just five wins this season, the Thunder are set at the point-guard position with rookie Russell Westbrook and veteran backup Earl Watson.

Atkins has also played for the Magic, Celtics, Lakers, Wizards and Grizzlies and played most prominently for the Detroit Pistons for 3 1/2 seasons. Now in his 10th season, he has averaged 10.4 points and 3.6 assists for his career.

With the acquisition of Petro, the Nuggets add depth to their frontcourt. In 22 games for the Thunder this season, the 7-foot Frenchman averaged 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds.