Hawks & Blazers To Swap Stars

July 31, 1999 / 2:56 AM EDT / AP

The Atlanta Hawks will trade all-star guard Steve Smith and backup Ed Gray to the Portland Trail Blazers for guards Isaiah Rider and Jim Jackson, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

The deal is likely to be announced Monday as the NBA trading and free-agency period begins, the newspaper said in early Saturday editions. The earliest the trade can be announced is Sunday.

"Atlanta doesn't really want to get rid of Steve, but for someone like him they would be able to get two starters," Smith's agent, Charles Tucker, was quoted as saying.

Smith has career averages of 17.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists, and Gray averages 6.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists.

Jackson averages 17.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Rider's figures are 18, 4 and 2.8, but he is among the most heavily fined and suspended players in the NBA. He was suspended three games last season and 12 overall during three seasons in Portland for violations ranging from flagrant fouls to spitting on fans.

By trading Smith, 30, the Hawks would end a commitment of $36 million over the next four seasons to a player who missed 14 games last season with bruised knees.

Rider, 28, will make $5.4 million next season in the final year of a $25.5 million rookie contract.

Jackson, 29, will get $3 million over the next two seasons. Gray, 23, was Atlanta's first-round draft pick out of California in 1997.