hier die offizielle quelle:
Hawks lure Speedy Claxton away from HornetsBy Marc Stein
ESPN.com
The Atlanta Hawks, roundly criticized for bypassing Chris Paul in the 2005 NBA draft, addressed their void at point guard Monday by reaching a verbal agreement with Paul's backcourt mate: Speedy Claxton.
Speedy Claxton
Point Guard
NO/Oklahoma City Hornets
Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
71 12.3 2.7 4.8 .413 .769
Claxton's agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN.com that Claxton has committed to leave the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets and sign with the Hawks on July 12, the first day NBA free-agent signings and trades can be made official.
It is believed that Claxton will receive a four-year deal worth $25 million.
The Hawks targeted Claxton after a two-year, $13 million bid to wrest Sam Cassell from the Los Angeles Clippers fell short. Cassell, one of the biggest difference-makers during the Clippers' breakthrough season, opted late Saturday to stay in Los Angeles when the Clippers matched Atlanta's offer.
The Hornets have been the league's surprise spenders since free-agency season began Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET, luring sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic from the Indiana Pacers with a five-year deal worth more than $60 million. But it quickly became clear that the Hornets were cutting ties with Claxton when the team reached a three-year agreement worth an estimated $17 million with Memphis guard Bobby Jackson. Stojakovic and Jackson both worked with Hornets coach Byron Scott when Scott served as an assistant in Sacramento.
Claxton logged key playoff minutes at point guard for San Antonio's 2003 championship team and emerged as a top Sixth Man Award candidate with the Hornets last season as Paul's backup. Yet, Scott frequently played Claxton and the eventual Rookie of the Year together in a small-but-quick backcourt alignment that helped the Hornets (38-44) make an unexpected playoff bid in their first season in Oklahoma City.
The move to Atlanta will likely make Claxton an unquestioned starter, enabling Joe Johnson -- the Hawks' marquee free-agent acquisition last summer -- to play at his natural shooting guard position.
Hawks lure Speedy Claxton away from HornetsBy Marc Stein
ESPN.com
The Atlanta Hawks, roundly criticized for bypassing Chris Paul in the 2005 NBA draft, addressed their void at point guard Monday by reaching a verbal agreement with Paul's backcourt mate: Speedy Claxton.
Speedy Claxton
Point Guard
NO/Oklahoma City Hornets
Profile
2006 SEASON STATISTICS
GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%
71 12.3 2.7 4.8 .413 .769
Claxton's agent, Bill Duffy, told ESPN.com that Claxton has committed to leave the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets and sign with the Hawks on July 12, the first day NBA free-agent signings and trades can be made official.
It is believed that Claxton will receive a four-year deal worth $25 million.
The Hawks targeted Claxton after a two-year, $13 million bid to wrest Sam Cassell from the Los Angeles Clippers fell short. Cassell, one of the biggest difference-makers during the Clippers' breakthrough season, opted late Saturday to stay in Los Angeles when the Clippers matched Atlanta's offer.
The Hornets have been the league's surprise spenders since free-agency season began Saturday at 12:01 a.m. ET, luring sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic from the Indiana Pacers with a five-year deal worth more than $60 million. But it quickly became clear that the Hornets were cutting ties with Claxton when the team reached a three-year agreement worth an estimated $17 million with Memphis guard Bobby Jackson. Stojakovic and Jackson both worked with Hornets coach Byron Scott when Scott served as an assistant in Sacramento.
Claxton logged key playoff minutes at point guard for San Antonio's 2003 championship team and emerged as a top Sixth Man Award candidate with the Hornets last season as Paul's backup. Yet, Scott frequently played Claxton and the eventual Rookie of the Year together in a small-but-quick backcourt alignment that helped the Hornets (38-44) make an unexpected playoff bid in their first season in Oklahoma City.
The move to Atlanta will likely make Claxton an unquestioned starter, enabling Joe Johnson -- the Hawks' marquee free-agent acquisition last summer -- to play at his natural shooting guard position.
Playoffs,naja vielleicht nicht dieses Jahr,aber mal abwarten,was Knight noch aus dem Ärmel schüttelt.
