romsey31
08-22-2006, 05:17 PM
Indianapolis, Aug. 22, 2006 - The Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday they have acquired forward Al Harrington and center John Edwards from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for a future first-round draft pick.
The sign-and-trade agreement brings two former Pacers back to the team. Harrington, the Pacers’ No. 1 pick (25th overall) in 1998, played six seasons for the Pacers, averaging 10.1 points per game. He was traded to Atlanta on July 15, 2004, for Stephen Jackson. In two seasons with the Hawks, the 6-9, 250-pound Harrington averaged 18.1 ppg including a career-best 18.6 ppg in the 2005-06 season. He also averaged 6.9 rpg in those two seasons.
“We’re very pleased to have Al back in Indiana,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird, who coached Harrington his first two seasons with the Pacers. “We think he brings an added dimension to our team. We know what he can do and he’ll make us a deeper team and a better team. He’s also a very good guy. It’s a pleasure to have his personality back as well.”
“Al was a very good player for us for six years,” said Pacers CEO and President Donnie Walsh. “Going to Atlanta has expanded his game and he became one of the most prized free agents on the market. What makes this special is now Al fits perfectly into the team and style of play we’re trying to achieve. It’s a perfect time for him to come back. It’s also special because Al comes back to a place where he was one of our most popular players and a solid asset in the community. I think it’s a win-win situation for the team and Al.”
Edwards, a 7-foot, 275-pounder who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pacers in 2004, was signed as a free agent by the Hawks last summer. He played in 40 games with Atlanta, averaging 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg. He played in 25 games for the Pacers in the 2004-05 season, averaging 1.2 ppg.
The sign-and-trade agreement brings two former Pacers back to the team. Harrington, the Pacers’ No. 1 pick (25th overall) in 1998, played six seasons for the Pacers, averaging 10.1 points per game. He was traded to Atlanta on July 15, 2004, for Stephen Jackson. In two seasons with the Hawks, the 6-9, 250-pound Harrington averaged 18.1 ppg including a career-best 18.6 ppg in the 2005-06 season. He also averaged 6.9 rpg in those two seasons.
“We’re very pleased to have Al back in Indiana,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Larry Bird, who coached Harrington his first two seasons with the Pacers. “We think he brings an added dimension to our team. We know what he can do and he’ll make us a deeper team and a better team. He’s also a very good guy. It’s a pleasure to have his personality back as well.”
“Al was a very good player for us for six years,” said Pacers CEO and President Donnie Walsh. “Going to Atlanta has expanded his game and he became one of the most prized free agents on the market. What makes this special is now Al fits perfectly into the team and style of play we’re trying to achieve. It’s a perfect time for him to come back. It’s also special because Al comes back to a place where he was one of our most popular players and a solid asset in the community. I think it’s a win-win situation for the team and Al.”
Edwards, a 7-foot, 275-pounder who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pacers in 2004, was signed as a free agent by the Hawks last summer. He played in 40 games with Atlanta, averaging 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg. He played in 25 games for the Pacers in the 2004-05 season, averaging 1.2 ppg.