Tiny Spud Webb was among the best known of the Sacramento Kings, one of the NBA's more obscure franchises.
But with the legs and the contract of a 10-year veteran, the 31-year-old 5-foot 7-inch Webb became expendable and was traded Thursday to the Atlanta Hawks for Tyrone Corbin.The deal was only the first of several moves expected as the Kings try to make the playoffs for the first time in a decade, personnel director Jerry Reynolds said.
It also clears the way for former No. 1 draft pick Bobby Hurley, whose first season was shattered by an auto accident, to show whether he can be an NBA starter, Reynolds said.
The second-round selection of guard Tyus Edney from national champion UCLA in this year's draft also provided a measure of insurance, Reynolds said.
Corbin, a 6-6 forward, will be joining his seventh NBA team, having previously played for San Antonio, Cleveland, Phoenix, Minnesota, Utah and Atlanta.
Corbin, 32, also a 10-year NBA veteran, averaged 6.2 points per game last season. He joins a team that already has Walt Williams, Brian Grant, Lionel Simmons and Michael Smith at forward, and which drafted 6-foot-6 1/2 forward Corliss Williamson with its No. 1 pick on Wednesday.