Nuggets, Kings, Sonics and Blazers swap players

Denver acquired Seattle forward Reggie Evans and Portland swingmen Ruben Patterson and Charles Smith in exchange for sending guard Earl Watson and forward Byron Russell, along with a future second-round draft pick, to the Sonics.

Portland received Denver guard Voshon Lenard and Seattle center Vitaly Potapenko, who was immediately traded to Sacramento, along with forward Sergei Monia, for forward Brian Skinner.

Skinner joins the Blazers averaging 2.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game this year.

Portland’s end of the deal had salary-cap relief in mind, as Lenard’s contract expires at the end of this season. Lenard has averaged 8.3 points in just 12 games for Denver this season, while Potapenko, who has just one more season left on his current deal, has averaged 3.1 points in 24 contests for Seattle this year.

Watson, who was drafted by the Sonics in the second round in 2001, is averaging 7.5 points and 3.5 assists in 46 games for Denver this season. Russell, however, has played just three minutes this season due to a knee injury, seeing action on February 15 in a loss to the Suns. He is averaging 9.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game in his 13-year NBA career.

Patterson has averaged 11.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per game this season, while Smith has put up 3.8 points per game in 21 contests and Evans has scored 5.9 points and grabbed 6.7 boards per game.