Hawks, Suns awaiting NBA's approval on trade

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns were awaiting approval from the NBA on a sign-and-trade deal that would send guard Joe Johnson to the Hawks, an agent involved with the deal said Tuesday.

The Hawks would send Phoenix two first-round picks, second-year guard Boris Diaw and a $4.9 million trade exception for the 6-foot-8 Johnson.

Diaw's agent, Doug Neustadt, said his client was excited about the chance to play for a team that had the best record in the Western Conference last season.

"If this goes through, he's going to a playoff team and he is excited about going to a good team," Neustadt said.

Suns president Bryan Colangelo declined comment on the deal "until our business is complete." Hawks general manager Billy Knight could not be reached.

Because Tuesday ended a monthlong moratorium on trades and signings, there was an apparent backlog for league attorneys to approve.

The 24-year-old Johnson averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists with the Suns last season. He first must sign a five-year, $69.6 million contract with Phoenix that would include a 2005-06 salary of about $20 million. He would become the Hawks' highest-paid player.

Johnson is a restricted free agent, meaning the Suns can match other offers, but he told ESPN.com last week that he asked Suns owner Robert Sarver to let him go to the Hawks. The teams then worked out a deal involving Diaw and the two first-round picks.

Diaw, also a 6-8 guard, averaged only 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds last season.

The Hawks are coming off a league-worst 13-69 season, the poorest record in franchise history. The team hopes Johnson can play point guard and give the team an unusually big backcourt.

Josh Childress, yet another 6-8 player, finished his rookie season as the team's starting shooting guard.

The Hawks also are looking for a center to bolster a front line that already includes forwards Al Harrington, Josh Smith and the team's No. 1 pick, Marvin Williams.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday the team has made an offer to sign Milwaukee center Zaza Pachulia, a restricted free agent who averaged 6.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in a backup role for the Bucks last season.