Hawks and Kings Agree in Principle to Swap Bibby for Four Players

The Atlanta Hawks, in a move designed to make a serious playoff push, have agreed in principle to trade Tyronne Lue, Anthony Johnson, Shelden Williams and Lorenzen Wright to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Mike Bibby, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The deal is expected to be finalized Saturday afternoon, a person familiar with the situation told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Officials from the Hawks, Kings and NBA will participate in a 4 p.m. conference call.

Wait. What? I was under the impression that teams were not allowed to make trades over the All Star Weekend (hence the whole simma-donna-ing of the Jason Kidd to Dallas talks), but hey, it's Saturday, let's get nuts.

This is actually a very good trade for both teams, on a number of levels. First of all, the Hawks might have their point guard of the future in Acie Law already on the roster, but in order to make a playoff push this year they need a veteran presence in the clubhouse and handling the ball. Bibby provides just that; this is a Hawks team that is more talented than its record.


For the Kings, it is the final concession that they are not meant for the playoffs this year (that was essentially clear already, but someone had to make it official, right?). But in conceding that, they move on from the Bibby Era, if there was such a thing, by dumping his barely tradeable salary. In his place, they get two point guards -- Lue and Johnson -- that are in the final year of their respective contracts and will clear up some cap space for Sacramento. Wright serves the same purpose, meaning the Kings have just gained a substantial amount of cap space for the upcoming season, without giving up any pieces they consider absolutely necessary to their core.

Williams was a lottery pick just a few years ago but has hardly seen the floor in 2007-08, averaging just 11.4 minutes per game this season; Al Horford's emergence as a rookie has made him all but expendable. He will have a shot to revive his career with Sacramento, perhaps, and has plenty of upside in terms of rebounding and defensive post presence.