<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Free agent forward Al Harrington said on Friday that the proposed sign-and-trade deal that would send him to Indiana is now dead. "The Indiana deal was something that I really wanted to do. I was looking forward to it since it's a place I'm so familiar with. But it didn't happen. I want to be somewhere I'm wanted, and these other teams are really interested. "I feel like I can make an impact with any of those teams, whichever uniform I end up wearing. But ultimately, you have to go where you are wanted." Denver, Golden State, Minnesota and the Los Angeles Lakers will reemerge in the hopes of landing Harrington. [READ]</div> Source
Don't be surprised if this is just a ploy by the Al Harrington camp to get a better deal. He recently fired his agent, and signed on with power sports agent, Arn Tellum. Donnie Walsh is very methodical and patient with his trades. Just look at how long they waited to finally trade Artest for Peja. With all the moves the Pacers made during the offseason they are loaded at the forward position, and Al Harrington is just a luxury for them at this point. I don't think Indiana wants anything to do with taken Edwards back and having his overpaid salary on their roster, along with paying a hefty price for Harrington. The Hawks have a lot of legal issues with their ownership and they have no reason to help out Harrington or Indiana, unless they have compensation for brokering the deal. At this point I think Harrington is frustrated to get a deal done. The money in the free agent market is dried up at this point, and teams with money to spend don't need Al. I think any deal involving Harrington at this point likely includes a team with a trade exception in order to satisfy the Hawks, who want to dump salary, acquire picks, and not take any players back. I know the Warriors had a significant trade exception, but it might have expired already.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">ESPN.com - After what has seemed like an eternity for the Indiana Pacers , the team appears to be closing in on a deal that formally secures the return of swingman Al Harrington. Arn Tellem, Harrington's new agent, said on Monday night that the Pacers are "very close" to finalizing a sign-and-trade arrangement with the Atlanta Hawks that's been weeks in the making. Harrington, according to NBA front-office sources, is expected to sign a four-year contract worth $35.3 million with the Hawks, who will then deal him to Indiana. It's believed that the Pacers will complete the swap without making a cash payment to the Hawks, who originally sought the maximum $3 million that teams can add to trades. Atlanta would receive a future first-round pick in exchange for Harrington. It was not immediately known if Indiana will also acquire third-year center John Edwards, whose departure would remove an extra $1.1 million from the Hawks' payroll.</div> Source Well I guess not...
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Indiana Pacers are on the verge of bringing Al Harrington back to the franchise via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Harrington's agent, Arn Tellem, confirmed the apparent end to the ongoing negotiating saga Monday evening. "It's very close to getting done with Indiana," Tellem stated to The Star through a spokesperson. Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh maintained his policy of not commenting on transactions until they are signed and approved by the NBA office, but he did not dispute the statement. "I hope so," Walsh said. The Pacers are expected to send the trade exception they acquired from New Orleans for Peja Stojakovic and a future first-round draft pick to Atlanta for Harrington and center John Edwards, who also is a former Pacer. Atlanta will sign Harrington to a four-year contract for a reported $36 million before completing the trade. He will be paid $7.6 million by the Pacers next season, making him the second-highest-paid team member behind Jermaine O'Neal. Harrington played the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Pacers. Drafted out of St. Patrick's (N.J.) High School with the 25th pick in 1998, he progressed from "Baby Al," a seldom-used rookie who was treated more like a mascot than a player by his veteran teammates, to a respected veteran who was runnerup for Sixth Man of the Year honors in the 2003-04 season. Frustrated at being stuck behind Ron Artest at small forward, Harrington asked for a trade that summer and was dealt to the Hawks for Stephen Jackson. Harrington averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Hawks last season while shooting 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line. He is expected to start alongside Danny Granger and Jermaine O'Neal on the Pacers' front line. Edwards, a 7-foot center, played for the Pacers in the 2004-05 season, averaging 1.2 points in 25 games. He averaged 1.8 points in 40 games for the Hawks last season. His future with the Pacers is uncertain, as they will have 18 players under contract if the trade is finalized. He has one year remaining on a contract that will pay him $1,080,000 next season. Earlier Monday, Walsh and Pacers owner Herb Simon refuted weekend media reports that trade talks for Harrington had ended. "We've offered a fair deal," Simon said. "(Harrington) has got to make his decision. He wants to play with us and we want him to play for us. We've always liked him."</div> Source Walsh's patience is going to pay off again for the Pacers.
