Pacers acquire Harrington from Hawks

[arthurracoon]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-hawks-pacerstrade&prov=ap&type=lgns

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indiana Pacers finally completed a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta for forward Al Harrington on Tuesday.

The Pacers acquired Harrington and center John Edwards in exchange for a 2007 first-round pick.

The deal followed weeks of speculation about Harrington, considered among the top free agents. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds a game for the Hawks last season.

Harrington played his first six NBA seasons for the Pacers before he was traded to the Hawks for Stephen Jackson in July 2004.

The trade brings the Hawks additional financial room as well as the draft pick.

"We feel this move brings us valuable assets, including additional salary cap flexibility as we move forward," said Hawks general manager Billy Knight.

"When Al came to us, he brought a winning attitude to our franchise and he always put the team first. We are certainly in a better position now having had Al as a member of the Hawks."

Harrington is expected to be a key to Indiana's transformation from a defense-oriented team to an up-tempo, athletic squad. The Pacers also have added rookies James White and Shawne Williams, guards Orien Greene and Darrell Armstrong and forwards Marquis Daniels, Maceo Baston, Rawle Marshall and Josh Powell.

The Pacers are trying to recover from a 41-41 season that ended with a first-round playoff exit.

 

[Chaplin]

Good. Now we don't have to hear about it anymore.

 

[MastersofCombat]

I dont think it really matters but did INDY protect the pick?

I think ATL is going to be so bad that they will draft in the top 3 and we will miss out again....

 

[Chaplin]

I think ATL is going to be so bad that they will draft in the top 3 and we will miss out again....

That's what I'm going to assume the rest of the year, that way if we get the pick, it'll be a great surprise, and if we don't, then it's what I thought...

 

[Amare32]

I actually think the hawks won't be too bad this season...i think having a true PG like Speedy will help them big time and take the pressure off JJ and they also have williams inside although only a rookie is jus what their frontline needs. Granted they aren't a playoff team but i doubt they will be top 3 lottery bad.

 

[George O'Brien]

The Hawks would be top three pick bad in the West, but in the East they may surprise. Fortunately for the Suns, they still have the same coach.

 

[scoutmasterdave]

4 years, $35 million is a great deal for a player of Harrington's size and caliber. Great trade for the Pacers.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I am guessing the Hawks pick will be around 10 this year. Their young guys are going to be better, like Amare said - Speedy is going to help. They got the 5th pick last season, and they should improve some.

 

[Chaplin]

I am guessing the Hawks pick will be around 10 this year. Their young guys are going to be better, like Amare said - Speedy is going to help. They got the 5th pick last season, and they should improve some.

List the 9 teams you think will be worse. I'm thinking that 10th is possible, but I find it hard-pressed to think of 9 teams that will be worse than the Hawks.

 

[asudevil83]

i was thinking the Hawks would land at around #6, ahead of the Knicks, Blazers, Raptors, Bobcats, and Wolves. they could be #7 or #8 depending on how the Celts and Warriors do.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

List the 9 teams you think will be worse. I'm thinking that 10th is possible, but I find it hard-pressed to think of 9 teams that will be worse than the Hawks.

I don't have a list of 9, probably only 4 that are guaranteed below. Just call it a gut feeling.

 

[Chaplin]

I don't have a list of 9, probably only 4 that are guaranteed below. Just call it a gut feeling.

How reliable are your gut feelings, Andy? Especially before training camps have even started and a full 10 1/2 months until the 2007 draft?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

How reliable are your gut feelings, Andy? Especially before training camps have even started and a full 10 1/2 months until the 2007 draft?

No idea. How reliable are yours? I am just saying that I have a feeling that the pick will wind up around 10.

 

[Chaplin]

No idea. How reliable are yours? I am just saying that I have a feeling that the pick will wind up around 10.

I don't have a clue, but I certainly am not prepared to say the pick is #10, #5 or #2, either.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Me either, which is why I said that I am guessing it will be around 10

 

[Errntknght]

After a fleeting analysis of the Hawks and the rest of the league, my guess is #5. I think the Hawks will try to tank but they won't even be able to do that right and so wind up at five!

 

[Chaplin]

After a fleeting analysis of the Hawks and the rest of the league, my guess is #5. I think the Hawks will try to tank but they won't even be able to do that right and so wind up at five!

Considering the best we can get is #4, I'd say most of us would be real happy with #5.

 

[George O'Brien]

Of course if they tanked this year and next, then the Suns could get the number one pick. OK, probably not.