The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired forward/center Marcus Camby from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for guard Steve Blake, forward Travis Outlaw and cash considerations, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard (read the 2008 Biz of Basketball interview with Kevin Pritchard).

Numerous reports cite the cash component as being $3 million.

“We are very excited to bring an experienced big man of Marcus’ caliber to the team and we feel he’ll help us a great deal down the stretch run,” said Pritchard. “He’s a fierce competitor and has been one of the league’s best defensive players for quite some time.

“On behalf of the organization, I’d also like to express my deep gratitude to Steve and Travis for their years of contributions both on and off the court. They’ve both played large parts in the reshaping of this franchise, and we wish them the best of luck in their careers.”

Camby (6-11, 235) is averaging 7.7 points, 12.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.94 blocked shots and 31.3 minutes in 51 games (all starts) for the Clippers this season. His rebound and blocked shot averages rank second and sixth in the NBA, respectively.

A 14-year NBA veteran, Camby, 35, holds career averages of 10.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.59 blocks with Toronto , New York , Denver and the L.A. Clippers. The 2006-07 NBA Defensive Player of the Year is one of only 11 players in NBA history to record at least 7,000 rebounds and 2,000 blocked shots.

Camby is a two-time member of the NBA’s All-Defensive Team (2006-08) and was twice named to the league’s All-Defensive Second Team (2004-06).

Blake, 29, posted averages of 7.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 51 games (28 starts) with the Trail Blazers this season. He ranks fifth on the team’s all-time 3-point ledger (415) in parts of four seasons with Portland (2005-06, 2007-10).

Outlaw, 25, was selected by the Trail Blazers with the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2003 NBA Draft and has played his entire career in Portland, averaging 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 377 games (26 starts).

He averaged 9.9 points and 3.5 rebounds the first 11 games of this season before fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot Nov. 14 at Charlotte , undergoing successful surgery on Nov. 18 to repair the fracture.

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