The Sacramento Kings today acquired forwards Shelden Williams and Lorenzen Wright, guards Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue and a 2008 second round draft pick from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for veteran guard Mike Bibby, it was announced by Kings’ President of Basketball Operations Geoff Petrie. In a related move, the Kings requested waivers on forward Justin Williams and guard Dahntay Jones.

“Today we acquired Shelden Wiliams, Lorenzen Wright, Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue,” explained Petrie. “We’re excited about adding another young frontcourt player who was the fifth pick of the 2006 draft in Williams, along with some experienced veterans to the team. We’re looking forward to seeing how they integrate in with the rest of our roster.

“I want to thank Mike for his terrific all around play. He’s had a great run here as a King and has participated in and contributed to some great moments on the court and I wish him all the best.”

Hawks Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight: “We’re happy to be able to bring in a player of Mike’s caliber,” Knight said. “He’s one of the premier point guards in the league and a proven winner going back to his college days at Arizona. His ability to score and distribute the basketball will add a new dimension to our ballclub.”

“Mike is a veteran point guard who knows how to run a team,” said Hawks coach Mike Woodson. “He’ll bring a steady hand to the position and provide our club with stability, creativity and leadership. “Pairing him with Joe Johnson in the same backcourt will give us a number of options on the offensive side of things.”

“We will certainly miss the contributions of A.J., Tyronn, Shelden and Lorenzen,” Woodson said. All four of those guys are professionals in every sense and we wish them the best.”

Williams, the Hawks’ first round pick (fifth overall) in the 2006 NBA Draft out of Duke, is currently averaging 2.9 points (354 FG%, .673 FT%) and 2.9 rebounds per game through 35 outings. He averaged 5.5 points (.455 FG%, .764 FT%), 5.4 rebounds and 18.7 minutes per game last season as a rookie. Williams was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the month for April, after amassing averages of 11.6 points (.588 FG%, .649 FT%), 10.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 30.4 minutes per game in nine contests. He led all first-year players in rebounds per game and double-doubles (eight), in addition to ranking 5th in offensive rebounds (1.6), 7th in field goal percentage, 8th in free throw percentage, 10th in steals and blocks and 19th in points per game. Williams played a team-high 81 games, of which he recorded 31 starts.

Originally drafted by the Kings in the second round (40th overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft, Johnson returns to Sacramento after spending one-and-a-half seasons with Atlanta. This season, Johnson averaged 6.4 points (423 FG%, 433 3pt%, 80.0 FT%), 2.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game in starting 40 of the 41 games he played in with the Hawks. He ranked second on the Hawks in assists per game. Currently in his 11th season in the league, Johnson has played for Sacramento (1997-98), Orlando (1999-00), Cleveland (part of 2000-01), New Jersey (2001-02 – 2002-03), Indiana (2003-04 – 2005-06), Dallas (part of 2006-07), and Atlanta (1998-99 – 1999-00, 2000-01, 2006-07 – 2007-08). With the Kings, during the 1997-98 season, Johnson averaged 7.5 points (.371 FG%, .328 3pt%, .727 FT%), 2.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. With Atlanta, he tallied a career-high 27 points against Charlotte on 1/18/06.

Wright, a 6-11, 255-pound forward/center in his 12th season out of Memphis, averaged 0.9 points (.250 FG%, .500 FT%), 3.1 rebounds and 11.8 minutes in 12 games with Atlanta this season. Wright’s most prolific game of the year came on December 14 at Detroit where he scored six points (2-3 FG), grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked one shot in 29 minutes of action.

Originally drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers with the seventh overall pick of the 1996 NBA Draft, Wright was in his second tour of duty with the Hawks, having played with Atlanta in 1999-00 and 2000-01, followed by Memphis from 2001-02 — 2005-06, and then returning to the Hawks in 2006-07. Wright came into this season with career averages of 8.3 points (.460 FG%, 647 FT%), 6.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.7 blocks and 0.6 steals and 24.6 minutes in 743 games (444 starts). Those numbers include a career game in Dallas on November 4, 2001 in which Wright set career-highs with 33 points and 26 rebounds, a Grizzlies single-game record.

Currently in his 10th NBA season, Lue averaged 6.8 points (.439 FG%, .435 3FG%, .857 FT%), 1.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 33 games (started three) with Atlanta this season. He has appeared in 493 NBA contests, averaging 9.1 points (.436 FG%, .387 3pt%, .834 FT%), 1.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.60 steals, and 24.1 minutes with five franchises, including the Los Angeles Lakers (1998-99 – 2000-01), Washington Wizards (2001-02 – 2002-03), Orlando Magic (2003-04), Houston Rockets (2004-05), and the Hawks (2004-05 – 2007-08). He enjoyed his finest statistical campaign in 2006-07, posting 11.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg, and 3.6 apg, finishing seventh in the NBA in free throw percentage, including a career-best 13-of-14 from the line vs. Indiana (4/17/07).

Lue is a two-time NBA champion, helping the Lakers win NBA crowns in 2000 and 2001 before signing with Washington as a free agent prior to the 2002-03 season. Lue was selected by Denver out of Nebraska with the 23rd overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft.

Bibby, a 10-year NBA veteran, is currently averaging 13.5 points (.406 FG%, .393 3FG%, .742 FT%), 5.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 31.5 minutes per game through 15 outings of which he started in 12. He has scored in double figures on 12 occasions and tallied 20 or more points in one game. Bibby has led the Kings in scoring twice this season and assists eight times. He missed the first 36 games of the season due to surgery on his left thumb (torn ligament).

An integral player during much of the Kings’ success in the early 2000’s, Bibby’s reputation as a clutch shooter was cemented in the 2002 NBA Western Conference Championship playoff series between the Kings and Los Angeles Lakers when he repeatedly made big shots in his first season with Sacramento.

At 6-2 and 190 pounds, Bibby, who was the longest tenured Kings’ player (eight seasons), owns career averages of 16.7 points (.441 FG%, .371 3FG%, .806 FT%), 6.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game through 690 outings of which he started in 687, including a string of 675 consecutive starts (Vancouver and Sacramento).

Bibby averaged a career-high 21.1 points per game in 2005-06. He holds the Kings’ franchise record for the most consecutive free throws made with 51 (2002-03). Bibby also ranks third on the franchise all-time list in three-pointers made and attempted. He has recorded two career triple-doubles. Bibby was named to the 2003 Men’s National Team by USA Basketball.

Selected by Vancouver (now Memphis) as undergraduate out of Arizona with the second overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, Bibby spent two seasons with the Grizzlies before being traded to Sacramento on June 27, 2001. His collegiate career was highlighted by winning the 1997 NCAA Championship as a freshman.

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