Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - The Portland Trail Blazers have filled a need for some needed depth on the wing by acquiring swingman Arron Afflalo as part of a five-player swap with the Denver Nuggets before Thursday's trade deadline.
The Blazers also obtained forward Alonzo Gee while sending Denver a lottery-protected 2016 first-round draft choice and three players -- forwards Thomas Robinson and Victor Claver and guard Will Barton.
If the pick is not conveyed to the Nuggets in 2016, it will become a lottery- protected first-round selection the next year. Denver will receive two future second-rounders if the pick remains protected in 2017.
Afflalo is a career 38.4 percent shooter from 3-point range who will help spell Wesley Matthews and Nicolas Batum, both of whom are averaging 34 minutes per game for the Northwest Division-leading Trail Blazers. The eight-year veteran is averaging 14.5 points this season and scoring at a career-best 18.2 per game clip with the Orlando Magic in 2013-14.
Gee averaged 4.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and made 41.7 percent of his 3-point tries over 39 games in his first season with the Nuggets, who had signed the journeyman during the preseason.
Of the three players going to Denver, none have averaged more than Robinson's 3.6 points and 12.2 minutes per game this season, or have guaranteed salaries for 2015-16.
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