Kevin Willis' 10-year career with the Atlanta Hawks has come to an end. One of the best power forwards in the NBA will be putting on a black and red uniform tonight and playing for the Miami Heat.
The Hawks traded Willis and a No. 1 draft choice to the Heat on Monday for guard Steve Smith, forward Grant Long and a No. 2 draft pick."I think it's a good trade for both teams. We get two quality young players and I think it's going to allow us a whole lot of versatility. It's as great trade for now and for the future. It's one that, once it was presented, there was no way we could pass on it," Atlanta coach Lenny Wilkens said.
But the Hawks certainly missed Willis on Monday night as they lost to the Utah Jazz 104-86. Atlanta was outrebounded 52-37 and outscored 51-29 in the second half.
Willis, 32, averaged 19.1 points and 10.8 rebounds as an All-Star last season, helping the Hawks to a 57-25 record and the regular-season Eastern Conference title.
Still, he had been the subject of trade rumors since late summer.
"Something in the back of my mind told me something was brewing," said Willis, who is expected to play in Oakland tonight against Golden State. "This afternoon (Monday) it came through. It's a weird feeling. I said I could play ball anywhere. I have no hard feelings. We got an exciting team."
The Hawks have now lost Willis, Dominique Wilkins, Danny Manning, Adam Keefe, Snoopy Graham and Duane Ferrell from last year's team.
"With this trade, we're going to have six or seven new faces on a team that won 57 games last year, so it's going to take time," Atlanta's John Koncak said.
Willis figures to team with Billy Owens and John Salley on Miami's starting front line. Guards Khalid Reeves and Harold Miner will get more playing time in place of Smith.
Atlanta has the choice of giving Miami its No. 1 pick in 1995 or 1996. If the 1996 pick is one of the first five, Atlanta can hold off until 1997.
Smith may shift to shooting guard with the Hawks, who already have Mookie Blaylock playing point guard. Stacey Augmon probably will move from shooting guard to small forward.
"This gives us a lot of flexibility in the backcourt, which we desperately needed. We needed an influx of offensive energy, and Steve can shoot from the perimeter," Atlanta general manager Pete Babcock said.
Smith, 25, was a member of the U.S. world championship team - also known as "Dream Team II" - last summer. With the Heat last season, he averaged 17.3 points, 5.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds.
Long, 28, averaged 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds as a power forward. He could take Willis' place in Atlanta's starting lineup.
"Grant Long gives us a solid frontcourt player and rebounder. He's got a toughness about him, he battles every night and he gets his points - 11 or 12 a night," Babcock said.
Willis, in a phone interview from Salt Lake International Airport, said coach Lenny Wilkens "came up to me at the first home game and said there were a couple teams interested, and Miami was very interested. They left it at that, and today he told me it went through. I had a great career in Atlanta. I hold no grudges."