Walker trade is due

Antoine Walker, once considered a cornerstone of the Celtics' franchise, is on the verge of being traded for the second time in less than a year.

Walker is headed to the Atlanta Hawks in a four-player deal with the Dallas Mavericks, according to media reports yesterday.

Jason Terry and Alan Henderson will be sent to Dallas in exchange for Walker and Tony Delk, another former Celtics player, when the deal is finalized today, according to ESPN.com, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and The Dallas Morning News, which all cited unidentified sources.

The Hawks also will reportedly receive a first-round draft choice.

The NBA office was closed yesterday, preventing any trade from being completed until at least today.

Hawks general manager Billy Knight was in Las Vegas for a rookie camp and could not be reached for comment. Other team officials declined comment.

The Mavericks did not return calls seeking comment.

Walker, the Celtics' No. 1 draft choice in 1996, was traded with Delk to the Mavericks last October and can play either forward position.

Walker, who turns 28 Aug. 12, has averaged 19.9 points over his eight-year career, including 14.0 points last season.

Walker, entering the final year of his contract, spent the majority of the season at point forward, a concept coach Don Nelson implemented during his days in Milwaukee more than 20 years ago. Roughly midway through the season, Nelson praised Walker as the most talented point forward he had coached.

Terry, the Hawks' first-round pick in the 1999 draft, averaged 16.8 points and 5.4 assists last season and will help the Mavericks fill the void left when guard Steve Nash signed with Phoenix as a free agent in July.

Henderson, at 6 feet 9 inches, can play center and power forward but has been hobbled by injuries much of his nine-year career. A knee injury limited him to six games last season.

Delk averaged 6.0 points while playing only 15.4 minutes per game last season.

Material from The Dallas Morning News was used in this report.