AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Pistons have traded Chinese center Mengk Bateer for a 2003 second-round draft choice from the San Antonio Spurs, Detroit announced in a written statement.

The Denver Nuggets sent Beteer, along with forward Don Reid and a first-round draft pick, to the Pistons on Tuesday.

As reported Monday by ESPN.com's Marc Stein, San Antonio originally hoped to send point guard Erick Barkley to Detroit along with the draft pick. But Detroit, like most teams around the league, is wary of taking on additional contracts because of luxury-tax concerns. Detroit ultimately elected to pass on Barkley even when San Antonio offered to pay Barkley's $682,500 salary, since the money still would have counted on the Pistons' salary cap had they released Barkley.

Barkley, the 28th overall pick in the 2000 draft out of St. John's, appears to have no future in San Antonio because the Spurs have no minutes for him behind Tony Parker and Speedy Claxton.

A native of Inner Mongolia, Bateer became the second Chinese player in the NBA in February, joining Wang Zhizhi of the Dallas Mavericks.

He 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.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.