PHOENIX -- After a days-long search for a trading partner in a desperate effort to improve at point guard, the Hawks finally managed to swing a deal.
The Hawks agreed to a trade with the Wizards for veteran Kirk Hinrich and athletic big man Hilton Armstrong, the team announced Wednesday night. As part of the deal, the Hawks sent Mike Bibby, rookie Jordan Crawford, swingman Mo Evans and their 2011 first-round draft pick to the Wizards.
Bibby, Crawford and Evans were informed of the trade before the team’s game against Phoenix on Wednesday night. Jeff Teague replaced Bibby in the starting lineup.
Hawks coach Larry Drew declined to comment on the trade before the game because it hadn't yet been approved by the NBA.
The Hawks made the trade after coming up empty in their attempts to trade for point guards Devin Harris and Raymond Felton. Hinrich is expected to take over for Bibby as the team's starter.
The Bulls selected Hinrich, 30, with the seventh overall pick out of Kansas in the 2003 draft. The Hawks expect him to shore up their weak perimeter defense, which has put stress on the overall defense as players scramble to help against dribble penetration.
The Hawks also hope Hinrich (6-foot-4, 190 pounds), who has earned a reputation as a hard-nosed player, will provide toughness and leadership. He and Hawks forward Marvin Williams went at it during a game in Chicago last season, with both earning technical fouls.
"I've always been a super fan of Kirk," Williams said. "Watching him at Kansas, he just competes, man. In college, coach [Roy] Williams would always make reference to Kirk Hinrich and say he has that toughness and that attitude."
Armstrong (6-11, 235) is limited on offense and doesn’t rebound well for his size. But he’s an athletic leaper who could find a role helping the Hawks protect the rim.
That also has been a weakness for the Hawks, especially when Josh Smith isn't in the game.
"I think in the paint he can block some shots and be able to add that inside presence and help us out down there a little bit," Smith said.
The trade is another move for the Hawks that could help them now at the expense of future flexibility and development of young players.
Both Armstrong and Evans’ contracts expire after the season. Hinrich is scheduled to make $8 million next season compare with salaries of $6.2 million for Bibby and $1.1 million for Crawford.
That would add roughly $700,000 to the Hawks’ estimated $65 million in committed salaries for 2011-12.
The Hawks also had to part with the draft pick and Crawford, whom they acquired in a draft-night trade in 2010 after the Nets selected him No. 27 overall. The shooting guard had played sparingly this season, appearing in 16 of 56 games.
The trade is the latest indication that the Hawks don’t believe Teague is ready for a larger role. Teague, the No. 19 overall pick in the 2009 draft, had played in 47 of 57 games for an average of 11.6 minutes before Wednesday's game.
The Hawks acquired Hinrich after a wide search for a trading partner.
A league source with knowledge of the Hawks’ inquiries said the team tried to swing a trade for Harris before the Nets sent him to Utah in a deal that got them All-Star Deron Williams. The source said the Hawks also were rebuffed when they inquired about Felton after New York traded him to the Nuggets as part of the Carmelo Anthony trade.
The Hawks also had interest in Cleveland point guard Ramon Sessions, according to the source.
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