Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
yea but still, they should have drafted chris paul.
Originally posted by bigeastbumrush
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
More like this:Originally posted by Pointguard
PG: Joe Johnson/Tyronn Lue/Salim Stoudamire
SG: J. Childress/Joe Johnson/Salim Stoudamire
SF: J. Smith/J. Childress/M. Williams
PF: A. Harrington/M. Williams
C: Jason Collier/Zaza Pachulia/Eddy Curry/Tyson Chandler
At center, rumors (ESPN) are that the Hawks are still pursuing Curry/Chandler and that Pachulia may also be a Hawk.Comment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
In an off-season that has produced one wacky transaction after another - from the Milwaukee Bucks offering $47 million to, yes, Bobby Simmons to the Knicks shelling out $10 mil a year in order for Larry Brown to live out his “dream” – there has not been a more puzzling development than the Joe Johnson-to-Atlanta saga.
Whether you feel – as I do – the Bucks grossly overspent this summer in landing not only Simmons but also re-upping with franchise player Michael Redd (six years, $90-96 million) and Dan Gadzuric (six years, $36 million), at least the franchise and its fans have a real sense of optimism heading into the upcoming season. The “Larrygate” scandal was a complete joke with a far-too-predictable outcome, but nevertheless Brown’s Gotham arrival instantly assures the Knicks will be much improved.
But the expected Joe Johnson-to-Atlanta sign-and-trade scenario, which is expected to go down on Tuesday when the league’s moratorium on signings is lifted at noon EST, is both baffling and tragic.
Free agency is all about business and looking out for number one, but here’s a player in Johnson whose career got off to a less-than-desirable start in Boston. While the Celtics were quick to rid themselves of Johnson early on in his rookie season in 2001-2002, the Suns took a flyer on him, and as a result JJ blossomed into one of the more complete players in the league last season while Phoenix emerged into a Western Conference power.
The Suns wanted Johnson then and still very much wanted him throughout the entire off-season as he became a restricted free agent. Teammates, particularly reigning league MVP Steve Nash and Shawn Marion, openly campaigned for his return, while management vowed they would take all steps necessary in retaining his services. How could they not? Johnson is coming off a season in which he averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and shot 46% from the field and a whopping 47.8% from beyond the arc.
Yet despite all the pleas and assurances, Johnson, seemingly a vital cog in Phoenix’s championship aspirations, now finds himself in, of all NBA destinations, Atlanta?
Yes, that’s right. Atlanta, where the lowly Hawks are coming off the heels of a league-worst 13-69 record last season. Atlanta, where, on a good night, 5,000 faithful will show up to Phillips Arena to watch their beloved team.
While the Hawks have been able to stockpile some interesting pieces through the draft the last two years, they don’t figure to be anywhere near competitive for at least three more years. Not in the Eastern Conference, where the likes of Indiana, Detroit, Miami, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington and now Cleveland all expect to be playoff fixtures.
Contrast the Hawks’ dismal situation to Johnson’s former team in Phoenix, where the Suns have quietly had one of the more productive off-seasons in the league with the additions of Kurt Thomas and Raja Bell, and you have to wonder where Johnson’s head is at, especially when the Suns figure to be even better this season than last year’s 62-win squad.
But that’s right, Johnson isn’t about winning. You could say he’s all about the money, but when you consider that Phoenix was ready to match the five-year, $70 million offer that the Hawks coughed up, it’s about more than that, too.
In the end, Johnson leaving the desert for the Hawks is about fame, about being “The Man.” Johnson was a complimentary part in Phoenix - a valuable one, mind you - but in Atlanta the spotlight – whatever spotlight there is in that city – will be focused squarely on JJ. He’ll step in right away and not only be the go-to guy but the leader and face of the franchise.
Johnson will also be playing his favorite position, it seems: point guard.
“I love the idea (of the Hawks inserting Johnson as the team’s starting point guard). I’d love that, having the ball in my hands,” Johnson recently told ESPN.com’s Marc Stein. “I think I’m a great shooter, but I think that’s where I’m most effective, making decisions.”
With a myriad of athletic small forwards on the Hawks’ roster who can run the floor, Johnson will surely get the opportunity to be more of a distributor. But unlike in Phoenix, where Johnson was hardly considered the focus of opposing defenses, he’ll surely be the target of numerous double and perhaps even triple-teams this season in Atlanta, and it remains to be seen how he’ll adapt.
Even if the Hawks show improvement this season, and they should, they’ll be lucky to win more than 25 games. Maybe they’ll win 30 in JJ’s second year, and perhaps hover around .500 and compete for a playoff spot in year three. By that time, Phoenix may very well have won a championship.
The Suns, though they would have liked to have Johnson back, aren’t about to crumble anytime soon. In fact, they’re better off without Johnson - and his big ego - at this point.
On paper, yes, Phoenix will hurt without Johnson’s versatility out on the floor. But don’t discount what GM Bryan Colangelo has been able to accomplish this summer.
Colangelo went out and acquired Thomas from the Knicks for Quentin Richardson (I’m going to go out on a limb right here and say that Thomas’ acquisition was the biggest move of the summer by any team, just as far as the impact Thomas will bring to the Suns from a toughness standpoint) and signed free-agent Raja Bell, a tough defender and a very underrated ball-handler and shooter in his own right. With those two moves alone, even with Johnson’s departure, you’d have to consider Phoenix as a legitimate contender.
As valuable as JJ was to the Suns last season, the core of the team remains built around Amare Stoudemire, Nash and Marion (even though "The Matrix" was less than stellar in last spring’s playoffs). Coughing up, as the Hawks are seemingly prepared to do, $20 million up front to a player who may very well have been a malcontent had he returned just was not worth the risk for Phoenix.
The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. JJ will find that out soon enough.
But that’s okay. At least he’ll be regarded as “The Man” for one of the NBA’s worst franchises.
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
Good. Let him go. He's being a selfish prick here. There are reports that the deal is held up, so it might not go through, but still. This guy is pissing me off. He coudlve kept it nice and easy for us and him to win or contend for a championship....but no, like most every other NBA player he's being a selfish son of a bitch and he wants to have his own team. Screw you, Joe. Have fun winning 15 games and collecting all that cash.
Oh, and for that article.....it says that Marion was "less than stellar" in the playoffs. Dead wrong, Marion only sucked it in the Spurs series. He was HUGE in the Memphis and Dallas series'Comment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
ATL should never agree on this sign and trade deal. The GM would be dumb to go along with this deal. Let PHX match up the offer for JJ, they have nothing to loss than keep thier future first rounders. If I am ATL, I'll start chasing after Curry than JJ. Anyway, JJ (on some news) said he doesn't want PHX to match the offer sheet of ATL therefore getting JJ with nothing to loss than salary space.
And even if PHX will take JJ away, ATL has nothing to fear since this won't be the last FA season. There will be quality players who would be available in the future. And with money to offer, it will only be a matter of time before someone comes alone. If ATL continue to suck, they will eventually get the 1st pick which will eventually help the team get back on it's knees.
The worst case scenario for ATL will be if a Duncan or Webber type of player will emerge and they won't have the money to lure those players to ATL because of JJ's max deal. That is if he will come in short jfor ATL.
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
Now that would be hilarious if they pulled out and Phoenix was stuck with that contract and a sour player. I'd actually give ATL props on that one.Originally posted by SarahComment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
Why I can understand your frustration, you dont know the whole story. There are articles that both support JJ and claim PHX management is at fault and that JJ is in the wrong and PHX management did everything right.Originally posted by TheMatrix31
Both sides are gonna stand up for themselves (PHX management will continue to say they wanted to match and would if JJ wanted to be back and JJ will say he didn't like the way PHX handled things, his place on the team, ect) but I doubt we ever know what both sides actually believe. they'll both continue to say what's politically correct.Comment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
Yeah, definitely, PG. I'm just very bitter at the fact that we were so close to a Finals birth, and we're doing HEAVY retooling, which I did not think was that necessary. Oh well, guess thats why I'm the fan and not the GM, right?
I still think this team deserved one more run.Comment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
Completely understand (Nash anyone
)
It sucks but JJ seems like a good guy with a good head on his shoulders and while he probably has some blame, its probably somewhere around 50-50.Comment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
Johnson is good... but... man!
Is it any wonder that the Hawks have sucked for years now, and will continue to do so for many more.
There does get to be a point where you look past the stupidity of their roster moves over the years, and just plain feel sorry for their fans.
My sympathy is with them in this deal... as it's now going to be a much longer time before the Hawks become a potential playoff team again.
Then again, they can always resort to
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
I think this was a good trade for the Hawks. The first round pick is lottery protected and they needed to bring in a top FA.
They finally were able to do this and this time they did it right. A good FA and a young guy. He can grow with all the young talent they've already assembled through the draft.
Billy Knight is doing a great job so far as GM of the Hawks. He took over a mess and has cleaned it up rather nicely. They'll still have cap room to make another splash next offseason.
And if they're as bad as some people expect, they could get the #1 pick in the draft next year.
Losing draft picks isn't as big a deal as most people make it out to be. You use your draft picks HOPING to get a player of Joe Johnson's caliber. The Hawks got one.
Don't forget how many young guys the Hawks have already gotten through the draft. Contrary to popular belief, it IS possible to have too many high drafted young players. Ask the Clippers or Bulls(letting Curry go, why'd they trade Brand for him? lol).
Johnson/Childress/Smith/Williams is a solid young nucleus to work with. And they're still well under the cap. And with Johnson's deal frontloaded, they'll be well under the cap for years to come.
Just a few years ago, the cap situation looked hopeless. They had acquired so many highpaid aging veterans via trade, it didn't appear that they would ever have the cap room to be a player in free agency. But Billy Knight took over and had no problem trading overrated overpriced players and getting virtually nothing in return. It may have hurt a little shortteam(13 wins instead of 28), but he's given the Hawks hope for the future.
To go along with Zaza Pachulia, the Hawks have also sign Esteban Batista. A foreign player who played on the same team as Tiago Splitter and Anderson Varejao. He outperformed them on that team, but that can sometimes be misleading. On a team weak at the center position, he may be able to contribute.
The Hawks also have the right to two guys playing overseas. David Andersen and Roko Ukic. No telling how good they will be, I wouldn't get my hopes up. But at the same time, either could be the next Ginobili. Who knows.
Future is definitely looking much better than before Billy Knight took over as GM.Comment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
i think its a very good deal for the hawks if joe johnson pans out i mean. How many more lottery picks can a team have. They cant afford drafting these lottery picks that arent proven players.
If they can trade childress or josh smith for a pg during the season and move joe johnson to his natural posisseion at SG
Can you all imagine:
PG:someone good
SG:Joe Johnson
SF:Marvin Williams
PF:Al Harrington/josh smith depending on who will stay
C:Collier
That lineup has good promise to it, i mean they can sign a good defending center next off-seasonComment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
Jason Collier is awful. I don't think Al Harrington is in the long term plan. And Josh Childress is a keeper.Originally posted by AtlantaFalconFanComment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
The point guard could be sharp-shooter, Salim Stoudamire.Comment
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Re: Joe Johnson a Hawk
Yeah, that's the forgotten man. I didn't even mention him. He's a great shooter and will be instant offense off the bench.Originally posted by highlight_reel
I think part of the reasoning behind bringing in a big PG like Joe Johnson was you can play him next to Salim without having a defensive liability. It's what the Hawks never had when Terry was here. When you have a PG sized spot up shooter, you have to get a big guard with PG skills to put next to them. Joe Johnson is one of the few in the NBA that can pull it off.Comment
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