INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Pacers finally completed a sign-and-trade deal with the Atlanta Hawks for forward Al Harrington on Tuesday.

In this Feb. 27, 2006, file photo, Atlanta Hawks forward Al Harrington dunks against the New Jersey Nets at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Harrington is returning to his original team as the Indiana Pacers completed a sign-and-trade deal with Atlanta on Tuesday.[AP]

The Pacers acquired Harrington and center John Edwards in exchange for a 2007 first-round pick. Harrington spent the first six years of his career with the Pacers before spending the last two in Atlanta.

"We've had Al before," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said. "He was a good player for us when we had him the first time. He comes back with more seasoning. Most importantly, he fits in with what we're trying to do at this point."

Walsh and team president Larry Bird considered Harrington one of the summer's top three free agents, along with Ben Wallace and Peja Stojakovic. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for the Hawks last season and was the central figure to the Pacers plans to recover from a 41-41 season that ended with a first-round playoff exit.

The deal followed weeks of speculation. Negotiations slowed when Harrington fired agent Andy Miller and replaced him with Arn Tellem earlier this month. Reports then surfaced that Harrington was likely headed elsewhere, but Walsh said Tuesday that negotiations never died.

Harrington is expected to be a key to Indiana's transformation from a defense-oriented team to an up-tempo, athletic squad. The Pacers also have added rookies James White and Shawne Williams, guards Jimmie Hunter, Orien Greene and Darrell Armstrong and forwards Marquis Daniels, Maceo Baston, Rawle Marshall and Josh Powell. In all, the Pacers have added 11 players since the end of last season.

Harrington, by far, was the most important one.

"We're very pleased to have Al back in Indiana," Bird said. "We think he brings an added dimension to our team. We know what he can do and he'll make us a deeper team and a better team."

The sign-and-trade deal that sent Stojakovic to the New Orleans Hornets gave the Pacers a $7.5 million trade exception that Walsh said made the sign-and-trade with Harrington possible.

The trade brings the Hawks additional financial room as well as the draft pick.

"We feel this move brings us valuable assets, including additional salary cap flexibility as we move forward," said Hawks general manager Billy Knight. "When Al came to us, he brought a winning attitude to our franchise and he always put the team first. We are certainly in a better position now having had Al as a member of the Hawks."

Walsh is glad to finally have the deal done. He said it has been a media blitz since the beginning, though no one with the Pacers organization was talking to reporters.

"There was all this talking with the press," he said. "It was a daily litany."

Walsh said the Pacers haven't sought a 3-point shooter to complement the influx of rangy, athletic forwards because guard Sarunas Jasikevicius and forward Danny Granger are capable perimeter threats. He hopes the moves make the Pacers a more exciting team.

"That's what this is about, is making it fun again."