Kirk Hinrich Traded To Hawks For Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, First-Round Pick

Crawford starred at Xavier, averaging more than 20 points per game, before making himself eligible for the draft. But he’s certainly most famous for his dunking ability, and in particular his dunk on LeBron James during a Nike event that led to some wild conspiracy to keep video of said dunk a secret.

Young will be a restricted free agent at season’s end. If the Wizards won’t or can’t keep him, Crawford will be there waiting in the wings. If Washington decides to make Young the starting two-guard for the near-future, Crawford will be there waiting for his opportunity, just as Young did before him.

The Kirk Hinrich trade to the Atlanta Hawks has now been made official, with both the Hawks and Washington Wizards issuing press releases announcing the move. The Wizards receive guards Mike Bibby and Jordan Crawford, forward Maurice Evans and a first-round pick in exchange for Hinrich and center Hilton Armstrong.

The trade gives the Hawks an upgrade at the point guard position and improves their perimeter defense, all while trimming salary this season and adding only $500,000 next season. For the Wizards, this turns a veteran that does not fit into their long-term rebuilding efforts into a first-round pick and a player in Crawford that was a first-round pick last year.

The trade provides the Hawks with a defensive upgrade at point guard, where Bibby had lost a step. Hinrich has bounced back and is having the best shooting year of his career, and he has plenty of playoff experience. It’s a definite upgrade for them, and they only add $500,000 to their payroll for next season.

The Wizards, meanwhile, continue their philosophy of rebuilding around young talent and stockpiling draft picks. Hinrich was not turning them into a playoff contender, and they were able to get younger by trading him. The team seems to covet Crawford, and the first-round pick is likely to be in the late teens or early 20s.