It's bye-bye Bibby

It happened to Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and Doug Christie, and now it has happened to Mike Bibby.

The Kings traded Bibby, the last of the team's stars from its glory years, to Atlanta on Saturday for guards Anthony Johnson and Tyronn Lue, forward-center Lorenzen Wright, forward Shelden Williams and the Hawks' 2008 second-round draft choice.

The Kings waived center Justin Williams and guard Dahntay Jones to make room for the new players.

The reasons behind the deal for the Kings and the Hawks are clear and different. Atlanta is a young team attempting to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1998-99. Sacramento, meanwhile, is trying to clear salary cap space to become a player in the free-agent market as well as increase its ability to make trades. Three of the players acquired by the Kings have expiring contracts. Williams has one year remaining on his contract at $3,395,760 with a team option in 2009-10.

Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie noted that the team did not just acquire expiring contracts.

"We wanted to try and keep the team moving forward, and it's a chance for us to look at a young frontcourt player," Petrie said of the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Williams, the fifth pick of the 2006 NBA draft.

Bibby said he was a bit surprised to hear Atlanta was the destination but not that he was traded.

"I had some good times here in Sacramento," said Bibby, one of the league's better clutch shooters. "Sometimes you need a change, and you never know where that might take you. I just prayed and asked for what might be the best for my family, and this is what happened, so you can't question it.

"I'll always have love for the people in Sacramento, the Maloofs and Geoff."

Bibby and Petrie ran into each other at the Kings' practice facility shortly after the deal received league approval.

Petrie acquired Bibby in a 2001 trade that sent Jason Williams to the Grizzlies .

"I think when times like these come around and you have to trade someone with whom you've had a significant relationship for a long time," Petrie said, "there is a level of nostalgia that goes along with that. Mike was a particularly strong contributor to our efforts here."

Bibby said he also spoke to the Maloofs and thanked them for supporting him over the years.

"I got traded," he said, "but we left on good terms."

Said Petrie: "We talked, and I think we both felt we had a terrific run. I know we appreciated what he did, and he said he felt the same about what we did with regards with him."

The Kings not only acquired Bibby from the Grizzlies but eventually signed him to his current seven-year, $80 million deal.

Petrie also brought Johnson into the league when he made the College of Charleston product the 40th overall pick of the 1997 draft. Former Kings coach Eddie Jordan, now Washington's coach, gave Johnson the opportunity to run the Kings' offense 11 years ago. The 33-year-old now has a chance to do it again.

"I haven't really watched (the Kings) too much this season because Mike was out," said Johnson, who was in his third stint with the Hawks and also has played for New Jersey, Orlando, Cleveland, Dallas and Indiana.

Johnson said having moved aroundmakes this transaction easier to handle.

"Whenever one door closes, another opens up, so I'm going to try and take advantage of the opportunity. I'm going to show up and hoop and do the best I can."

Few people within each organization were willing to discuss the trade talks, in light of a proposed deal between Dallas and New Jersey earlier this week that was put on hold. The Mavericks and Nets would exchange point guards Jason Kidd and Devin Harris as the central figures. However, the trade has not received league approval because of a contract situation involving Dallas swingman Devean George.

Bibby began packing even before the trade was finalized. He left Saturday night for his home in Phoenix but planned to take his physical in Los Angeles, where the Hawks play the Lakers on Tuesday. He'll return to Sacramento on Wednesday, when the Hawks play the Kings in their only visit this season to Arco Arena.

Bibby was a key figure in the Kings' run to the Western Conference finals in 2002.

Sacramento lost to the Lakers in overtime in the deciding seventh game at Arco Arena.

Los Angeles then swept New Jersey in four games for the NBA title.