FanHouse TyronneLue

The Mavericks signed Gerald Green to what is believed to be a one-year deal, thus continuing the tradition of filing their roster with players of questionable talent (like Devean George and Tyronne Lue, for example). Green played for the Timberwolves and (briefly) the Rockets last season, and ultimately finished the year out of the NBA. I'm sure that's just the answer to get Dallas out of the first round of the playoffs.

But let's talk about something important: if Green can stay on the roster until the All-Star break, it means we'll get to see him in the dunk contest! Green took home the trophy in Vegas in 2007, and despite Dwight Howard's Superman winning it last year, Green's Birfday Birthday Cake dunk was by far the talk of the event. Plus, it lead to comments on our event chat like, "Wait, is it even anyone's birthday?" followed by an email of a list of the NBA's birthdays for the day. You just can't buy entertainment like that. Anyway, let's hope the kid makes it to All-Star weekend, so we can see more dunks like this one.

You read that headline correctly. The same Atlanta Hawks that were down by as many as 40 to the Lakers the other night went into San Antonio and held the defending champs to just five first quarter points, which was (obviously) a franchise low for the Spurs. Somehow though that wasn't enough for the Hawks to actually win the game, as the Spurs ended up beating them 89-74.

There are a couple of reasons that the Hawks lost this game, despite the historically poor shooting early from the Spurs. Even though San Antonio only managed the five first quarter points, the Hawks themselves were only able to get 16. That's not exactly a commanding lead, on the road, against a team you're not supposed to beat, that you just embarrassed in their home building. By halftime the Spurs had cut the lead to seven, and in the third they outscored Atlanta 27-11, repaying the first quarter favor and taking an eight-point lead into the fourth.

It only got worse from there for the Hawks, and while we're here, let's talk about that big trade that supposedly was going to push Atlanta into the playoffs. I'm talking about Mike Bibby, who has been less than stellar in his first few games in Atlanta. Tonight was no exception, as Bibby ended up shooting 1-11 from the field with just five assists. Not exactly the help you're looking for from your new point guard, is it? The Hawks are just 1-4 since getting Bibby, who, so far, has been no better than Tyronne Lue ... and if that's not an insult, I don't know what is.

The Atlanta Hawks, in a move designed to make a serious playoff push, have agreed in principle to trade Tyronne Lue, Anthony Johnson, Shelden Williams and Lorenzen Wright to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Mike Bibby, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

The deal is expected to be finalized Saturday afternoon, a person familiar with the situation told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Officials from the Hawks, Kings and NBA will participate in a 4 p.m. conference call.

Wait. What? I was under the impression that teams were not allowed to make trades over the All Star Weekend (hence the whole simma-donna-ing of the Jason Kidd to Dallas talks), but hey, it's Saturday, let's get nuts.

This is actually a very good trade for both teams, on a number of levels. First of all, the Hawks might have their point guard of the future in Acie Law already on the roster, but in order to make a playoff push this year they need a veteran presence in the clubhouse and handling the ball. Bibby provides just that; this is a Hawks team that is more talented than its record.