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Trade Deadline: Contenders Deal For Point Guards At Their Own Risk

By Phil Watson

Jan 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks for an opening around Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) looks for an opening around Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mike Bibby #10 of the Atlanta Hawks looks up at the scoreboard during a time out in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2008 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Mike Bibby #10 of the Atlanta Hawks looks up at the scoreboard during a time out in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2008 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2008 at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

The Deal: Bibby Rides To The Rescue In ATL

Atlanta Hawks Get: Mike Bibby
Sacramento Kings Get: Anthony Johnson, Shelden Williams, Tyronn Lue, Lorenzen Wright, Atlanta’s 2008 second-round pick

Mike Bibby had been the guy who helped the Sacramento Kings reach the cusp of the NBA Finals six years earlier, but had missed most of the 2007-08 campaign following surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb.

At the time of the trade on Feb. 16, 2008, the teams were in similar—yet vastly different—places.

At 23-28, the Kings were 8½ games out of eighth place in the West. At 22-28, the Hawks were seventh in the East and looking to secure their first playoff berth since 1999.

A healthy Bibby took over at the point for the Hawks from Johnson, who went West in the trade, and averaged 14.1 points and 6.5 assists per game (Johnson had been averaging 6.7 points and 4.8 assists) and Atlanta was 15-17 the rest of the way, finishing eighth and taking the Boston Celtics—the eventual NBA champs, don’t forget—to a full seven games before going out in the first round.

Bibby stayed with Atlanta for another two-plus seasons before being traded to the Washington Wizards at the 2011 deadline.

Next: Not Even Kidd Could Save Avery