SACRAMENTO—At last season's trade deadline Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich was looking forward to the chance to leave the struggling Wizards for a playoff team.
It's different this time around for Hinrich. His name is circulating in trade rumors because of Atlanta's glut of guards and his expiring contract but Hinrich hopes he's still with the Hawks after Thursday's deadline.
“I like our team,” Hinrich said before the Hawks played the Kings late Sunday. “I feel like we can be a dangerous team come playoff time. I want to be a part of that.”
Hinrich said it's the fourth consecutive year he's been part of trade speculation near the deadline but he's only been traded twice. The Bulls sent him to Washington on the night of the 2010 draft and the Wizards traded him to Atlanta in February 2011.
Hinrich left lottery-bound Washington to become the starting point guard for the Hawks last season. He suffered a hamstring injury in the final game of the first-round playoffs series victory against Orlando that kept him out of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Chicago.
Hinrich, 31, had shoulder surgery last offseason that kept him out until Jan. 25 this season. He's backed up Jeff Teague at point guard and started five games at shooting guard when Joe Johnson was out of the lineup.
Hinrich's contract expires after the season and Atlanta is deep at guard, two factors that have made him the subject of trade conjecture. He said he's accustomed to it by now.
“You go out there and play the best you can and not worry about it,” he said. “If something is going to happen, it will happen and you deal with it from there. You can't let it affect you. It's just how this league is. It's probably lot harder on my family more than anything.”
Hawks coach Larry Drew said he's told the team not to worry about trade rumors.
“This time of the year when a lot of names and rumors start floating around, it can easily become a distraction,” he said. “If you allow it to distract you, it can put a little discomfort into your game where you are always thinking about it. Why concern yourself with things you have no control over?”
Green still out
Hawks guard Willie Green missed his sixth consecutive game because of injury. Green suffered a back injury Feb. 29 and said that's led to problems with his hamstring and groin.
“It all stems from my back,” he said. “It's a matter of it calming down and the soreness getting out. Once that happens, I'm good to go. I'm just trying to wait patiently and not cause any more damage.”
Etc.
Hawks forward Ivan Johnson missed the game Sunday because he was back home in Texas for a family funeral and also is expecting his first child soon. Drew said he wasn't sure if Johnson would re-join the team before Tuesday's game at Denver. . . .
Drew played for the Kings in their first season in Sacramento in 1985-86. In light of the city's recent arena deal that will keep the team here for at least another 30 years, local reporters asked Drew about his memories of his first game in Sacramento. “I remember everybody was dressed like they were going to the prom,” he said. “People were in tuxedos. It was a big thing. People were excited.”
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