New Orleans —- Mike Bibby got the word Friday night that he might need to start packing for Atlanta, which he did.

But the Hawks' new starting point guard won't be in town anytime soon.

Instead of Bibby settling in for a nice homestand with the Hawks, 21-28 and in the ninth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, he joins them just in time for a five-game Western Conference road trip that begins in Los Angeles on Tuesday and makes a stop in Sacramento on Wednesday.

The Hawks traded for the veteran point guard Saturday, completing a five-for-one deal by sending point guards Tyronn Lue and Anthony Johnson, veteran center Lorenzen Wright, second-year forward Shelden Williams and a second-round pick in the June draft to Sacramento.

The Hawks have until their next game to add a player to their roster to comply with the NBA minimum of 13.

"I'm just happy to be there [with the Hawks]," Bibby said Saturday night. "It's a good group of guys, a young team, and I'm glad to be a part of what's going on there. I think we can do some things."

If "some things" include helping the Hawks end the NBA's longest current playoff drought, eight years, then that's music to the ears of Hawks fans who have been waiting what seems like forever to get back to the postseason.

The missing piece in a rebuilding process that began four seasons ago has been a quality starting point guard, a role that Bibby, a 10-year veteran who served as the catalyst for five straight playoff seasons for the Kings, is ready to fill.

Speedy Claxton was signed in July 2006 but has struggled with injuries and played only 31 games. Rookie Acie Law IV was the 11th pick in the last draft, but still needs seasoning before he's ready to run a team.

Bibby is ready to go now. And he's an upgrade over the veterans the Hawks sent packing.

"It's definitely a good trade for the Hawks," Lue said by phone from Mexico, where he was vacationing over All-Star weekend. "Bibby's a great point guard. And Acie can learn a lot from him. ... If you could trade me and AJ for Bibby, you've definitely upgraded the point-guard position.

"Hopefully, this will be what the Hawks need to get to the next level."

That was certainly the vision of Hawks general manager Billy Knight, who pulled off a shocking deal by snatching Bibby away from teams such as defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland, which has coveted a sweet-shooting veteran floor general to pair with All-Star forward LeBron James for years.

Bibby, who missed the first 36 games of the season while recovering from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, averaged 13.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 15 games (12 starts) for the Kings this season.

"Mike's a great guy, and I've always liked his game and what he brings, and I think he's a great fit alongside [Hawks All-Star and captain] Joe Johnson," said Knight, who used the expiring contracts of Lue, Anthony Johnson and Wright to help get the deal done. "We were really just fortunate to be in a position that we could pull this type of deal off. Because it's rare to trade for a starting point guard, and Mike is one of the premier point guards in the league. ...

"I expect this move to energize us, and I've shared that with all of our guys I've talked to since we started this process."

Even though he knew it meant losing good friends like Lue and Wright, Joe Johnson was sold on the idea Saturday, acknowledging that Bibby presents defenses with all sort of quandaries when trying to decide whether to focus on Johnson or his new backcourt partner.

"They say you have to give up something to get something in return," said Johnson, who will play in his second consecutive All-Star Game tonight. "That's what we did. We had to give up some guys that helped us get to this point to get a guy that can help us get to the next level. And that's what I think we've got in Mike Bibby."

BIBBY'S NUMBERS

........FG% ..3p% ..APG ..TO....PPG

Season...406...393 ..5.0 ..2.5 ..13.5

Career...441...371 ..6.2 ..2.5 ..16.7

THREE REASONS THE HAWKS' TRADE FOR MIKE BIBBY WORKS

1. They didn't have to part with any of their core players. Marvin Williams and Josh Childress have been mentioned in numerous trade rumors, and for the Hawks to get a player of Bibby's caliber without giving up either of their coveted young talents —- Josh Smith and Al Horford —- is a bonus.

2. By trading for Bibby before they leave for their five-game Western Conference road trip, the Hawks have him on board for what could be their toughest remaining stretch this season. Back-to-back sets with the Lakers/Kings and Warriors/Jazz precede a trip finale in San Antonio. The Hawks will know quickly if Bibby is up to the task.

3. Getting Bibby without having to take on any additional players, particularly those with bad contracts, gives the Hawks flexibility next season, when Bibby will be in the final year of his contract (which pays him $14.5 million). The Hawks will have the option of re-signing him or using his high-dollar expiring contract for another blockbuster trade.

On ajc.com/sports: Go online to vote on the Hawks' trade and discuss it with beat writer Sekou Smith.