OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong both say they are excited to leave behind Washington's decent into the draft lottery and join the Hawks' run to the playoffs.
The way it happened, though, isn't something most regular folks experience.
In a matter of hours, Hinrich and Hilton changed employers, hopped flights across the country and went to work with their new co-workers.
"I was going to say it's tough," said Hawks coach Larry Drew, who was traded twice during his playing days. "But the better word is ‘weird.'"
The Hawks traded for Hinrich and Armstrong on Wednesday, when the two players were with the Wizards in Philadelphia. By Thursday evening they were in San Francisco waiting for the Hawks to arrive after they played the previous night in Phoenix.
With no gym available, Drew said he demonstrated some plays in the ballroom at the team's hotel and went over some plays with Hinrich and Armstrong. They also participated in the team's shootaround Friday morning.
Drew said Hinrich, who is to become the starting point guard, would play off the bench against the Warriors. Before the game Hinrich was still a bit dazed by the whirlwind of the past couple of days.
"It's the first time I've been traded in the middle of the season," he said. "It was just a crazy day. It was a little bit of a shock. But I was excited to be part of a team that is in the playoff hunt. At this point of my career, all I care about is winning."
Hinrich, 30, is in his eighth NBA season. He made the playoffs with Chicago in five of his first seven years in the NBA, but last summer was traded to the Wizards, who now are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.
In Washington, Hinrich backed up John Wall, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft. The Hawks view him as a superior replacement for Mike Bibby, who was traded to the Wizards along with swingman Mo Evans, rookie Jordan Crawford and a 2011 first-round pick.
Hinrich said he likes what he saw and heard in his initial meetings with Drew and his teammates.
"We have good players," he said. "I think the stuff we are going to do fits me and fits our team. The ball moves a lot. We’ve got good players who can command double teams.”
Armstrong doesn't have as clear of a role with the Hawks as Hinrich. At 6-foot-11 and with long arms, he could help the Hawks defend the basket.
Drew told Armstrong to focus on being physical with his defense and rebounding.
“I just have to be aggressive," Armstrong said. "I can definitely help the team out with that. Play solid defense, talk, get up and be aggressive and hit the boards. Try to play my game and don’t do anything out of character.”
Armstrong, 26, said he's happy to be with the Hawks "especially coming where I came from." He went to the playoffs in 2007-08 and 2008-09 with the Hornets, who drafted him with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Armstrong was traded twice in 2010, first from New Orleans to Sacramento and then from Sacramento to Houston. He said this latest trade was hard because he left behind a daughter and fiance in Washington.
"I'm already on the road, and I call them and say I won't be able to come home and I'll be gone for the next couple months, unexpectedly," Armstrong said. "It's shocking. It hurts. But that comes with the job. It's bittersweet."
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