Friday, January 14, 2011

Hawks Obtain Three-Time All-Star Antoine Walker

Atlanta also lands guard Tony Delk, as Jason Terry and Alan Henderson head to Dallas


ATLANTA (August 4, 2004) -- The Atlanta Hawks have obtained three-time All-Star Antoine Walker and Tony Delk from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Jason Terry, Alan Henderson and a future first-round draft pick, according to Hawks’ General Manager Billy Knight. “We have acquired two outstanding talents in Antoine and Tony and both will address important needs on our basketball club,” said Knight. “They bring a tremendous amount of big-game experience, a winning attitude and playoff expertise to our revamped roster. Antoine is a proven All-Star who has the ability to play many positions for us, and he will fit in nicely in our system. Tony will give us steady play on a nightly basis at the point and he has the chance to really produce in Atlanta.”
Last season, the versatile Walker (right) averaged 14.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 34.6 minutes, as the only Maverick to start all 82 games. He finished second on the talented squad in rebounding as well as assists, in addition to hitting 42.8 percent of his field goals, 26.9 percent from three-point range and 55.4 percent from the foul line. Walker recorded 60 double-figure scoring games, and finished with 20 or more points 18 times.
An eight-year veteran, he has posted 19.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 4.2 apg in 38.8 mpg over 610 career contests. He earned All-Star berths in 1998, 2002 and 2003 (in Atlanta). Named to the NBA All-Rookie team in 1997, Walker led the league in three-pointers made in 2000-01 (221) and in minutes played in 2001-02 (3,406).
The Chicago native possesses significant playoff experience, having played in 31 postseason contests, averaging 18.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 3.5 apg (.406 FG%, .360 3FG%, .699 FT%). He was originally selected in the first round (sixth overall) of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Celtics.
Another former Celtic, Maverick and Kentucky Wildcat, Delk is also a veteran with solid experience (465 career games in eight seasons), and has notched 8.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg and 1.9 apg in 21.5 mpg (.405 FG%, .337 3FG%, .772 FT%) over his career.
Originally selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the first round (16th overall) of the 1996 NBA Draft, he has also spent time with Golden State, Sacramento, Phoenix in addition to Boston and Dallas. Delk played in 33 games (11 starts) last season, averaging 6.0 ppg and 1.8 rpg in 15.4 mpg (.380 FG%, .303 3FG%, .841 FT%). He scored in double figures seven times, and missed a total of 59 games due to injury.
Delk (right) had his most productive season to date in 2000-01 (with Phoenix), playing in all 82 games and averaging 12.3 ppg and 3.2 rpg, scoring in double figures 53 times. The 6-2 guard poured in 53 points (without making a three-pointer) in a contest at Sacramento on January 2, 2001.Walker and Delk were also traded together on October 20, 2003, when Dallas acquired the pair in exchange for Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch, Chris Mills and a first-round pick. Both players helped lead the University of Kentucky to the 1996 NCAA championship (along with former Hawk and current NY Knick center Nazr Mohammed). Delk was named MVP of the Final Four and the Midwest Regional, scoring 24 points in the title game against Syracuse.
Terry, selected by the Hawks 10th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft, finishes his Atlanta career with averages of 16.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 3.3 apg in 403 games (341 starts), shooting .427 FG%, .367 3FG% and .827 FT%).
Terry ranks prominently in several Hawks career lists including three-pointers made (2nd), three-pointers attempted (4th), free throw percentage (3rd), assists (8th) and steals (6th). The 6-2 guard was second on the team in scoring last year at 16.8 ppg, and led the club in assists each of the last five seasons.
The trade of Henderson snaps his stretch as the second-longest tenured player with the same team in the NBA currently (behind Indiana’s Reggie Miller), having spent his first nine seasons with the Hawks. He was slowed by injury (various back ailments) last season, appearing in six games and averaging 4.0 ppg and 3.5 rpg (.476 FG%, .667 FT%).
The winner of the 1997-98 Most Improved Player award, Henderson had his best offensive season in that campaign averaging 14.3 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Over his 485-game career (202 starts), he has posted averages of 9.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg (.461 FG%, .641 FT%). He was originally drafted by the Hawks in the first round (16th overall) of the 1995 NBA Draft.

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