Posted at 9:02 a.m., Monday, July 16, 2007
NBA: Denver signs free-agent Atkins
Associated Press
DENVER — The Denver Nuggets signed free-agent guard Chucky Atkins today, three days after point guard Steve Blake returned to Portland.Atkins averaged 13.2 points and 4.6 assists last year with the Memphis Grizzlies, second best in his eight-year career.
"Chucky will be a great addition to our team," Nuggets vice president for basketball operations Mark Warkentien said today. "He is a proven veteran who can really shoot the basketball."
Atkins spent a season and a half in Memphis after stints with Orlando, Detroit, Boston, the L.A. Lakers and Washington. He has averaged 10.8 points, 3.7 assists and 1.8 rebounds in 599 games.
He shot .369 from 3-point range in 161 appearances with the Grizzlies.
"I'm very excited to be a Nugget," Atkins said. "This is a great situation for me and I'm looking forward to winning a championship here in Denver."
Blake, who signed a free-agent deal with the Trail Blazers on Friday, averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 assists in 49 games with Denver last season
