Hawks Trade For One Point Guard and Draft Another at No. 19

The Mike Bibby days are numbered in Atlanta.

This is the case after the Hawks dealt veteran Speedy Claxton and their 11th overall pick in the 2007 draft, Acie Law, to the Golden State Warriors for Jamal Crawford earlier today.

Five hours later, Atlanta selected Jeff Teague as the 19th pick in the 2009 Draft.

Teague spent two years as the point guard at the University of Wake Forest where he caught national exposure by averaging 30 points a game during the Demon Deacons’ four-game stretch that sky-rocketed the team to the No. 1 ranking.

Both Teague and Wake Forest hit a wall in March; this caused Teague to ponder whether he should return to school or not.

At 6’2” and 180 pounds, Teague draws comparison with former Hawk point guard, Jason Terry. Just like Terry, he is an explosive off-the-ball player who finds ways to score when there appear to be none. He can shoot from the perimeter, but going to the basket is his forte. His ability to create on the move leads to more trips at the foul line, where he shot .812 in his final season at Wake Forest.

A return to the second round for the Atlanta Hawks already looks harder than this past season and we have not even started the preseason.

The two teams that made it to the Eastern Conference Finals have already made their moves.

Shaq is returning to the East, where he will see if he can get LeBron James a championship just like he did with Dwayne Wade.

Meanwhile, Shaquille’s former team and home of current nemesis, Orlando Magic, have given up a good-looking young talent in Courtney Lee, for some Vinsanity (Vince Carter).

Also, the Boston Celtics are tired of being ignored, and have suggested possibilities of trading away Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen.

Allen, I can understand.

After all, it was not him in the playoffs getting a triple-double every other night. But, Rondo, why him? All I know is that I fell in love with Rondo after watching him in the playoffs.

I think the Hawks should be ringing Danny Ainge’s cell phone.

I would even consider having Allen on the team if we could get Rondo. That way, the Hawks would get a solid perimeter shooter, something they need, and plus someone else besides Joe Johnson, who can create their own shot in Rondo.

Bibby is on his way out and I think that Josh Smith should join him.

Smith is never going to establish his perimeter shot. He is a terrific athlete, but he is not a good enough basketball player. It would be better for the Hawks to move him while his value is still there. But, his stock is fading fast.

Smith did shoot .492 from the field this season, but he shot .270 from the 3-point line and .588 from the foul line. It was his worst season from the free throw line and also a decline in his 3-point shooting.

Now the lineup is, Rajon Rondo at the point, Jamal Crawford at shooting guard, Joe Johnson at small forward, Marvin Williams at power forward, and Al Horford holding it all down in the middle. Allen (Ray Allen) would absolutely come off the bench or maybe steal a spot from Crawford.

Not bad.

All can run the floor and have the ability to keep the court spread. Williams adds more to the offensive end, especially where Smith didn’t. Last season Williams shot .458 from the field, .806 from the foul line and .355 from behind-the-arc.

Speed and outside shooting are back and are critical in today’s NBA. The Orlando Magic proved that this season. Cleveland just got slower in O’Neal, the Magic probably stayed the same with Vince, and I'm not sure what the Celtics are thinking, but, I think speed is where the Hawks should go.

There are not many who can move the ball like Rondo can.