Blazers trade Ike Diogu to Sacramento for Michael Ruffin in three-team deal

• Nick Hernandez

ESPN.com'sChris Sheridan is reporting the Kings and Bulls have reached tentative agreement on a trade that involves Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons, Brad Miller and John Salmons. Sheridan also reports the Blazers are involved:

Ruffin, a

nine-year veteran

, has been inactive all season with an ankle injury. He is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $1.14 million this season.

Diogu hasplayed in 19 games for the Blazers this year, averaging 3.8 minutes and 1.4 points per game.

John Canzano enlightens us on the meat and potatoes ofthis deal as it pertains to the Blazers:

Here's the official release from the Blazers:

The key to the deal is the statement from Pritchard: "This move will give us trade flexibility going forward with the $3 million trade exception we gained in the deal."

As Canzano points out in his post above, the Blazers have used the acquired trade exceptions wisely in the past (i.e. James Jones).

Jason Quickhas more:

Hopefully the move will open up some minutes for Diogu with Sacramento.

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