Kings set to trade Bibby to Hawks
The Sacramento Kings have reached an agreement in principle to trade guard Mike Bibby to the Atlanta Hawks, the Sacramento Bee reported on its Web site Saturday.
The Kings are set to receive four players from the Hawks — guards Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue and forward Lorenzen Wright and Sheldon Williams, according to the paper's sources.
"I had some good times here in Sacramento," Bibby told the Bee Saturday morning. "Sometimes you need a change and you never know where that might take you. I just prayed and asked for what might be the best for my family and this is what happened, so you can't question it."
The trade is pending league approval that may come as early as Saturday, the report said. Sources told the Bee that there is a 4 p.m. ET conference call scheduled between the teams and league officials.
The move would be largely a salary dump for the rebuilding Kings, with Bibby making $13.5 million this season and next and three of the incoming players having expiring contracts.
The Hawks, meanwhile, get an experienced point guard to help them on their playoff push. At 21-28, Atlanta is tied with the Nets and 76ers for the seventh best record in the East, though currently sits outside of playoff position due to tiebreakers.
Bibby missed the first 36 games of the season with a thumb injury but is averaging 13.5 points and five assists in the 17 games he has played this season.
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