Manning Finally Exits, Dominique Arriving : Pro basketball: Clippers give up team leader and top scorer for high-scoring Hawk All-Star and conditional No. draft pick.

ATLANTA —  The Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers traded star forwards Thursday night, with Dominique Wilkins and a No. 1 draft pick going to the Clippers for disgruntled Danny Manning.

The deal was announced at the NBA trade deadline of 6 p.m. PST and ended weeks of discussions about where Manning would end up.

“We have been exhaustive in our efforts,” Clippers Vice President Elgin Baylor said. “We are excited to bring such a charismatic and electrifying player to the Clippers.”

Both Manning and Wilkins are to become unrestricted free agents after the season, meaning they could sign with any NBA team with no compensation going to their former clubs.

Atlanta gave Los Angeles its No. 1 pick in 1994 or 1995. Manning also was sought by Houston, Portland and Miami.

Wilkins, 34, is a 12-year veteran and eight-time All-Star who has spent his whole career with Atlanta. He is ninth on the NBA’s career scoring list with 23,292 points.

After averaging at least 25.9 points a game over the last nine seasons and 29.9 in 1992-93, Wilkins’ average dropped to 24.4 points in 49 games this season.

The 6-foot-8 forward was one of the most flamboyant players in the league during the late 1980s, earning him the nickname “The Human Highlight Film.”

Although his point production fell this season, he remained Atlanta’s prime offensive weapon and led the team to a 36-16 record, tied for first with New York and Chicago for best in the Eastern Conference.

He now goes to the Clippers, who are last in the Pacific Division with a 17-34 record.

Manning, a versatile 6-foot-10 forward, told the Clippers he would not re-sign with them after his original six-year deal expired after this season. Faced with this, the Clippers chose to get what they could.

Manning, 27, is having perhaps his best season, averaging 23.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 38 minutes a game this year.