http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dl...608230444/1088
August 23, 2006
Finally, a done deal
Pacers trade to bring back Harrington
By Mark Montieth
mark.montieth@indystar.com
He's returning to his NBA roots and getting a nice pay raise, too.
What excites Al Harrington most, however, is the opportunity to escape the deluge of defeats that sapped his spirit the past two seasons and reacquaint himself with happy postgame locker rooms.
"Money is good and all the stuff that comes along with it is fine, but I want to be back in the playoffs and back on national TV and back with a franchise that wins basketball games," Harrington said Tuesday after learning his trade from Atlanta to the Indiana Pacers had become official. "I missed that the last two years, and now I'm going back to what I know."
In return for Harrington and center John Edwards, another former Pacer who has one year remaining on a contract that pays $1,080,000 next season, the Pacers gave up the trade exception they acquired from New Orleans for Peja Stojakovic and a 2007 first-round draft pick.
Harrington's four-year deal is worth nearly $36 million. He has the option of becoming a free agent after the third season.
The draft pick is lottery-protected through the top 10 picks next season and through higher picks in subsequent years. Atlanta will get the Pacers' draft selection unless the Pacers finish next season with one of the 10 worst records in the league.
The Pacers opened discussions with the Hawks about obtaining Harrington on July 1. Fifty-two days later, it became official.
Harrington is scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis tonight from Las Vegas and will take his physical Thursday. A news conference is expected later that day.
Harrington won't need any guided tours around town. He played his first six NBA seasons for the Pacers, and his mother, stepfather and brother live in Indianapolis.
The Pacers and Harrington view their reunion as the perfect marriage between opportunity and need. He needs to win again. They consider him the centerpiece of a flurry of offseason moves that will make them win again.
They got Harrington, who averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, without giving up a single warm body, although he's indirectly an exchange for Stojakovic.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh, who drafted Harrington with the 25th pick in 1998, sees him as a natural fit with Jermaine O'Neal, Danny Granger, Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley in a versatile, athletic starting lineup.
"With the style of play that we want to play, it's important to have people who can play on the perimeter," Walsh said. "This gives us a whole (lineup) of those kind of players. But when you do that, you want to make sure you have enough size that you can play post defense as well. Al's a big, strong guy who can guard power forwards, and he can go outside on offense.
"He's also a great guy. He's a natural leader, and I think it will be great to have (him) back here. I loved him when he was here, and I'm really happy he's back."
So is Harrington, who believes the Pacers pulled off a heist in obtaining him.
"I definitely look at it like Indiana got over on Atlanta," Harrington told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I don't care what anybody says, but a draft pick can't replace 19 (points) and seven (rebounds)."
Harrington plans to convert his wounded pride to increased production next season.
What are the Pacers getting?
"A beast," he said. "That simple. A beast. It's personal now. Everything is personal."
What's new?
The Indiana Pacers' 2006-07 projected starting lineup lacks a true center but is more athletic and less predictable than last season's unit.
Pos. Player Top 2005-06 statistic Comment
PG Jamaal Tinsley- 5.0 assists Health always an issue, but there's no better choice.
SG Stephen Jackson- 16.4 points Needs more discipline, but has much to offer.
SF Danny Granger- 7.5 points Gets an opportunity for a breakout season.
PF Al Harrington- 18.6 points Brings versatility, enthusiasm and some leadership.
C Jermaine O'Neal- 20.1 points Can play center in an uptempo attack -- if healthy.
How the new Pacers stack up
vs. 2005-06 Pacers
This group should be better than the team that finished last season, but not necessarily the one that began the season. Al Harrington doesn't shoot as well as Peja Stojakovic, but he's a better rebounder, defender and passer. Harrington isn't as effective as Ron Artest, but doesn't offer as many distractions, either. The key will be if Jamaal Tinsley stays healthy and Stephen Jackson controls his emotions.
vs. Miami
Heat rank as the favorite in the East if Pat Riley returns to coach. Shaquille O'Neal, if he can stay healthy, would overpower Indiana's frontline unless David Harrison develops, and Pacers still have nobody to contend with Dwyane Wade.
vs. Detroit
Pistons were smart not to match Chicago's offer to Ben Wallace, but they still took a major hit. They're no more talented than the Pacers from top to bottom, but still tougher and more mature.
vs. Chicago
Bulls have made the greatest strides of any team the past two seasons, and rank as an East contender. Kirk Hinrich has edge on Jamaal Tinsley, but Stephen Jackson would have potential to dominate the smaller Ben Gordon. Jermaine O'Neal could focus on weak-side defense without worrying much about Wallace. Health being equal, these two teams seem evenly matched.
August 23, 2006
Finally, a done deal
Pacers trade to bring back Harrington
By Mark Montieth
mark.montieth@indystar.com
He's returning to his NBA roots and getting a nice pay raise, too.
What excites Al Harrington most, however, is the opportunity to escape the deluge of defeats that sapped his spirit the past two seasons and reacquaint himself with happy postgame locker rooms.
"Money is good and all the stuff that comes along with it is fine, but I want to be back in the playoffs and back on national TV and back with a franchise that wins basketball games," Harrington said Tuesday after learning his trade from Atlanta to the Indiana Pacers had become official. "I missed that the last two years, and now I'm going back to what I know."
In return for Harrington and center John Edwards, another former Pacer who has one year remaining on a contract that pays $1,080,000 next season, the Pacers gave up the trade exception they acquired from New Orleans for Peja Stojakovic and a 2007 first-round draft pick.
Harrington's four-year deal is worth nearly $36 million. He has the option of becoming a free agent after the third season.
The draft pick is lottery-protected through the top 10 picks next season and through higher picks in subsequent years. Atlanta will get the Pacers' draft selection unless the Pacers finish next season with one of the 10 worst records in the league.
The Pacers opened discussions with the Hawks about obtaining Harrington on July 1. Fifty-two days later, it became official.
Harrington is scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis tonight from Las Vegas and will take his physical Thursday. A news conference is expected later that day.
Harrington won't need any guided tours around town. He played his first six NBA seasons for the Pacers, and his mother, stepfather and brother live in Indianapolis.
The Pacers and Harrington view their reunion as the perfect marriage between opportunity and need. He needs to win again. They consider him the centerpiece of a flurry of offseason moves that will make them win again.
They got Harrington, who averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, without giving up a single warm body, although he's indirectly an exchange for Stojakovic.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh, who drafted Harrington with the 25th pick in 1998, sees him as a natural fit with Jermaine O'Neal, Danny Granger, Stephen Jackson and Jamaal Tinsley in a versatile, athletic starting lineup.
"With the style of play that we want to play, it's important to have people who can play on the perimeter," Walsh said. "This gives us a whole (lineup) of those kind of players. But when you do that, you want to make sure you have enough size that you can play post defense as well. Al's a big, strong guy who can guard power forwards, and he can go outside on offense.
"He's also a great guy. He's a natural leader, and I think it will be great to have (him) back here. I loved him when he was here, and I'm really happy he's back."
So is Harrington, who believes the Pacers pulled off a heist in obtaining him.
"I definitely look at it like Indiana got over on Atlanta," Harrington told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I don't care what anybody says, but a draft pick can't replace 19 (points) and seven (rebounds)."
Harrington plans to convert his wounded pride to increased production next season.
What are the Pacers getting?
"A beast," he said. "That simple. A beast. It's personal now. Everything is personal."
What's new?
The Indiana Pacers' 2006-07 projected starting lineup lacks a true center but is more athletic and less predictable than last season's unit.
Pos. Player Top 2005-06 statistic Comment
PG Jamaal Tinsley- 5.0 assists Health always an issue, but there's no better choice.
SG Stephen Jackson- 16.4 points Needs more discipline, but has much to offer.
SF Danny Granger- 7.5 points Gets an opportunity for a breakout season.
PF Al Harrington- 18.6 points Brings versatility, enthusiasm and some leadership.
C Jermaine O'Neal- 20.1 points Can play center in an uptempo attack -- if healthy.
How the new Pacers stack up
vs. 2005-06 Pacers
This group should be better than the team that finished last season, but not necessarily the one that began the season. Al Harrington doesn't shoot as well as Peja Stojakovic, but he's a better rebounder, defender and passer. Harrington isn't as effective as Ron Artest, but doesn't offer as many distractions, either. The key will be if Jamaal Tinsley stays healthy and Stephen Jackson controls his emotions.
vs. Miami
Heat rank as the favorite in the East if Pat Riley returns to coach. Shaquille O'Neal, if he can stay healthy, would overpower Indiana's frontline unless David Harrison develops, and Pacers still have nobody to contend with Dwyane Wade.
vs. Detroit
Pistons were smart not to match Chicago's offer to Ben Wallace, but they still took a major hit. They're no more talented than the Pacers from top to bottom, but still tougher and more mature.
vs. Chicago
Bulls have made the greatest strides of any team the past two seasons, and rank as an East contender. Kirk Hinrich has edge on Jamaal Tinsley, but Stephen Jackson would have potential to dominate the smaller Ben Gordon. Jermaine O'Neal could focus on weak-side defense without worrying much about Wallace. Health being equal, these two teams seem evenly matched.
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