Hawks sign guard Bibby from Kings

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Atlanta Hawks, pushing for their first playoff appearance since 1999, acquired guard Mike Bibby from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for four players and a draft pick on Saturday.

The trade was awaiting final approval from the league and medical tests.

"We're happy to be able to bring in a player of Mike's caliber," Atlanta general manager Billy Knight said in a statement on the club's Web site.

"He's one of the premier guards in the league and a proven winner going back to his college days at Arizona. His ability to score and distribute the basketball will add a new dimension to our ball club."

The Hawks, out of the playoffs longer than any NBA team, are just percentage points off the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Bibby, 29, is due to join them in Los Angeles on Monday.

He will team up with All-Star Joe Johnson to give the Hawks an outstanding backcourt.

In return, the Kings get starting point guard Anthony Johnson, recent first-round draft pick Shelden Williams, guard Tyronn Lue and forward Lorenzen Wright, in addition to a second-round pick in the 2008 draft.

Bibby missed the first 36 games of the season with a thumb injury and averaged 13.5 points and 5.0 assists per game in 15 games since. In his career, he has averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

(Writing by Mike Shalin; Editing by Ed Osmond)