DENVER -- Rodney White isn't disappointed about being traded to one of the league's worst teams of the past few years. He sees it as an opportunity to finally show that he can play in the NBA.

	White

The Detroit Pistons sent White to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday for a conditional first-round draft choice, forward Don Reid and Chinese center Mengke Bateer.

''You look at last year and I really didn't get a chance to show what I could do at all,'' White said. ''I believe (Nuggets general manager) Kiki Vandeweghe believes in my skills and it's almost a breath of fresh air to know that this team expects big things out of me.''

Detroit drafted White with the ninth overall choice in 2001, but he was plagued by injuries early last season and couldn't crack the lineup after the Pistons got off to a fast start.

He averaged just 3.5 points and eight minutes in 16 games.

''He's a lottery-type of talent who, for whatever reason last year, had a tough time getting playing time,'' Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. ''Like all young players, he has a lot to learn, but you can't teach talent.''

The deal returns Reid to Detroit, where he played four seasons before spending the last three with Washington and Orlando. It also gives the Pistons the potential for three first-round choices in the draft next year.

Detroit will have its own choice, one Denver acquired in a trade with Milwaukee last season, and another from Memphis -- as long as the Grizzlies don't have the top choice in the draft.

''We are pleased to welcome back Don Reid to the organization and add another young center in Mengke Bateer,'' Pistons president Joe Dumars said. ''It's difficult to trade a young, talented player like Rodney White, but we feel this move adds depth to our front line and gives us flexibility for the future.''

Reid averaged 3.3 points in 68 games with Orlando last season, and has career averages of 3.4 points and 2.9 rebounds.

Bateer, who became the second Chinese player in the NBA in February, averaged 5.1 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27 games with Denver after fulfilling commitments with the Chinese national team and the Beijing Ducks.

Bzdelik said it didn't take long to agree to the deal.

''What did we really give up?'' Bzdelik said. ''Really, we gave up a first-round pick that's down the road, and we gave up a big man when we already have quality big men. It really wasn't a lot to give up. In fact, it was pretty much a no-brainer.''

Bzdelik said he expects White to play mostly small forward, but said his versatility will allow him to play other positions.