From Deseret News archives:
Pacers pull off trade, bring back Harrington
The Pacers acquired Harrington and center John Edwards in exchange for a 2007 first-round pick. Harrington spent the first six years of his career with the Pacers before spending the last two in Atlanta.
"We've had Al before," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. "He was a good player for us when we had him the first time. He comes back with more seasoning. Most importantly, he fits in with what we're trying to do at this point."
Walsh and team president Larry Bird considered Harrington one of the summer's top three free agents, along with Ben Wallace and Peja Stojakovic. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Hawks last season and was the central figure to the Pacers plans to recover from a 41-41 season that ended with a first-round playoff exit.
The deal followed weeks of speculation. Negotiations slowed when Harrington fired agent Andy Miller and replaced him with Arn Tellem earlier this month. Reports then surfaced that Harrington was likely headed elsewhere, but Walsh said Tuesday that negotiations never died.
Harrington is expected to be a key to Indiana's transformation from a defense-oriented team to an up-tempo, athletic squad. The Pacers also have added rookies James White and Shawne Williams, guards Jimmie Hunter, Orien Greene and Darrell Armstrong and forwards Marquis Daniels, Maceo Baston, Rawle Marshall and Josh Powell. In all, the Pacers have added 11 players since the end of last season.
Harrington, by far, was the most important one.
"We're very pleased to have Al back in Indiana," Bird said. "We think he brings an added dimension to our team. We know what he can do and he'll make us a deeper team and a better team."
The sign-and-trade deal that sent Stojakovic to the New Orleans Hornets gave the Pacers a $7.5 million trade exception that Walsh said made the sign-and-trade with Harrington possible.
HERMANN LOOKING TOS SIGN: Argentina star Walter Herrmann is close to signing a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats.
The 6-foot-6 Herrmann, who has scored 48 points in Argentina's two victories in the world championships, said he hopes to ink a one-year deal before the tournament ends Sept. 3.
"They'll give me a physical sometime soon, and the deal will be finalized after that," he said Tuesday before Argentina practiced.
Bobcats coach and general manager Bernie Bickerstaff said they are working on getting a physical completed in Asia.
"We have an agreement in principle," Bickerstaff said. "We are working out the logistics."
