Atlanta Hawks: Point guard search includes Devin Harris

Los Angeles–It seems Hawks GM Rick Sund has cast a wide net in the team’s search for a bona fide point guard.

In addition to Cleveland’s Ramon Sessions, the Hawks also have inquired about New Jersey’s Devin Harris. Those discussions could pick up now that Harris won’t be going to Denver as part of a deal for ‘Melo, who was traded to the Knicks tonight.

Harris, who turns 27 28 on Sunday, would meet Atlanta’s desire for a capable defender who also can push the pace and create shots for others. But he makes $9.3 million in 2011-12, and adding his salary to the roughly $65 million Atlanta has committed for next season would push Atlanta’s payroll above the current luxury-tax threshold (which could change in the new CBA). Harris also is owed $8.5 million in 2012-13.

It’s not clear whom the Hawks would offer for Harris. Jamal Crawford seems to be the obvious candidate because his expiring $10.1 million contract would allow the Nets to carve out even more cap space for next season–they have just $37 million in committed salaries. Also, the Nets are said to be one of the teams interesting in signing Crawford if he becomes a free agent this summer. But so far there’s been no indication that Sund is looking to move Crawford.

The Hawks also figure to have competition to acquire Harris. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports tweeted tonight: “Dallas, Denver and New Jersey have discussed three-way that would land Harris with Mavs and Felton and Mozgov with Nets, source says.”

However, David Aldridge of TNT and NBA.com later tweeted: “Nuggets will NOT move Gallo/Mozgov to NJ. ‘We got these guys to play for the Nuggets,’ GM Masai Ujiri says.”

Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports tweeted: “Portland considering sending G Andre Miller and C Joel Pryzbilla to New Jersey for G Devin Harris and C Troy Murphy, sources tell Y! Sports”

Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat