On the flip side, here are the trouble spots in Bibby's game plan:

Overall, Bibby will be a steadying influence on all of his teammates. However, his arrival does seem to indicate that the Hawks are disillusioned with A.C. Law's development.

Also, the 4-for-1 exchange necessitates several other roster moves.

Bibby will certainly be delighted to part company with Ron Artest, and his chops can probably be stoked by the possibility of leading the young Hawks into the playoffs.

For all these reasons, the Hawks' grade for this transaction is B plus.

Sacramento's end

During the next 22 games, the four newcomers have much at stake. Each of them will presumably play all-out in order to establish themselves as attractive free agents (only Shelden Williams is under contract for another season). Is it possible that the Kings might be interested in retaining their respective services? Or not?

Anthony Johnson is 33 years old and has established himself as a big-league point guard who is much more effective as a starter than as a sub. He's strong, solid, takes good care of the ball, facilitates the offense, and always plays hard. If he's a step slower than most other point guards (with the notable exception of Sam Cassell), AJ can score when he must and is a surprisingly reliable 3-point shooter. His defense is problematic, as his ability to drive the ball to the hoop and finish. But he's an excellent teammate who can be a valuable player for another year or two.

Tyronn Lue is a career backup at the point-guard slot. Although he has quick hands on defense, Lue's best asset is his ability to score — especially in clutch situations. He does this with an accurate jumper that he can unleash from downtown and also on tricky pull-ups and fades. Lue definitely has the speed and the talent to be a game-changer. As he approaches his 31st birthday, Lue's uptempo skills show no sign of fading. If the Kings won't re-sign him, somebody else surely will.

Lorenzen Wright used to be a physical interior defender, a dead-eye set shooter from 15-18 feet, a runner and a rebounder. But at the relatively young age of 32, his skills are decidedly in decline. Might he be bought out and then released?

Shelden Williams tries to be a bully in the paint, but doesn't fool anybody — especially the referees. Even though he was a lottery pick (fifth overall) in the 2006 draft, he's never proved that he can play in the league. Despite the fact that his contract runs through the 2008-09 season, Williams is strictly roster-fill.

With four new players to deal with, the Kings have some roster-shuffling to accomplish, too. Could the banishment of Ron Artest be next on their agenda?

Overall, the Kings gain a potential keeper in Lue. With both Lue and Beno Udrih in the mix, Johnson might be demoted to a semi-permanent seat on the bench — a possibility that could easily transform him from a good guy into a malcontent. There's no future in Sacramento, and most likely anywhere else, for Williams and Wright.

Obviously, the Kings' goal here was to create enough cap space to them to go free agent hunting next summer.

In any event, the Kings' end of the bargain rates a C-plus for now, and an Incomplete pending the results of their spending binge during the off-season.