Atlanta Hawks: J.J. Flirts With Miami Heat
Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald reports that J.J. says the Heat is a “great situation” and that he’s willing to switch from shooting guard to small forward to play alongside Dwyane Wade. The interest between J.J. and the Heat is mutual, according to Wallace.
It’s hard to get a read on Johnson regarding free agency. Depending on which day you asked him, he was liable to stick to his “keeping all my options open, we’ll see what happens” line, go with the “I’d love to stay in Atlanta” stance or occasionally let slip the flirtatious signals he sent to the Heat via Wallace. Is Johnson just being a good businessman or does he really want to leave the Hawks? He insisted that the way the season ended, with fans booing him off the court in what could be his final game, didn’t sour him on staying.
J.J. has said before that he doesn’t care about being The Man. Of course, like all players, he would like to be paid like The Man. And if the Heat strikes out on LeBron and decide J.J. is their guy, they’ll have to make the same determination as the Hawks: Can J.J. abandon the deliberate, ball-dominating offensive style he slid into with the Hawks? As bad it was at times with the Hawks, imagine how well Iso-Joe would play when D-Wade is option No. 1.
My feeling is the Hawks haven’t ruled out the possibility that J.J. can change his style if surrounded by the proper personnel and with some strong urging from the coach. He wasn’t Iso-Joe in Phoenix, after all. But neither was he The Man there, so it’s no certainty that he can modify his game.
MC
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315 comments Add your comment
I MUS WRITE
May 13th, 2010
6:18 pm
spell check ewwwwww
The Truth
May 13th, 2010
6:18 pm
I see already in less then a week, the absence of JJ is making the heart grows fonder of him by the fans. A few days ago we all wanted to run him out of town. Here are some past stats just to keep a prospective:
During the 4-years JJ played for Phoenix he Averaged 13.3 PPG. Those numbers are comparable to Josh Smith first 4-years as a Hawk of 13.65 PPG. Marvin was not far behind, in his first 4-years, he averaged 12.5 PPG as a 4th scoring option.
So the Hawks saw potential in JJ and acquired him from Phoenix @ 12.5 PPG and made him their Alpha Dog All-star player. During his tenure as a Hawk, he has averaged nearly 22 PPG.
As I listened to Hubie; he suggested that it will be hard to replace JJ scoring of 22 PPG and 5 assist in the current market therefore we should try to keep him. Perhaps he is correct. However, since JJ came to us @ 12.5 PPG, why can’t we take that same approach again? Invest in potential. There might be emerging players with all-star potential if they were given the opportunity. Salmon is a perfect example. He is certainly capable of being an all-star if a team anointed him as their Alpha dog. Not just Salmon; there may other diamonds in the ruff just waiting for their chance. Is JJ that much of an exception?
I MUS WRITE
May 13th, 2010
6:30 pm
Terrell that would be a nice trade for us,and Laimbeer would be my choice
hawkville
May 13th, 2010
6:49 pm
Ramon, if Haywood is matched up on a guard, u get the same results. As far as who’s more athletic, your opinion my opinion. And numbers can be misleading, Haywood had touches Za Za dirty work. It’s not an up grade
hawkville
May 13th, 2010
7:10 pm
One more thing, Marvin sucks, he was giving plenty of touches he just couldn’t knock down the open jumper, couldn’t establish post up position without falling, and he couldn’t score on his man consistently nor make a play for others. He did make FTs and lay-ups/dunks (he had to be open of course) it’s kind of like Woodsen, u c it over and over but refuse to admitted it.
o.O-Mac-Town -Macon, Georgia- Westsider-O.o
May 13th, 2010
7:11 pm
I dont see why people think the Hawks are doomed if we lose JJ.
#1 …we want a team that can make deep runs in the playoffs, right??? Well not only has Joe Johnson not played like the superstar he supposedly is in the playoffs, he hasnt even played like a QUALITY role player (like Pietrus)…..THAT’S A BIG MINUS
#2……JJ has freedom and luxury most players dont. JJ had the advantage of playing on a team that only ran one play…with that play being an ISO for himself.
I’m sure there are enough guys out there now averaging 10-15 PPG who would be 20+ PPG scorers if they were allowed the minutes COMBINED with the amount of ISO plays for themselves that JJ has.
We already have crawford…..so considerin the things i said above……It seems to me like we could even replace JJ with another “scorer” who might not even be a superstar (like Salmons), add other pieces (like a deeper bench and big man/men), a new coach…..and actually be team built better for a playoff run next year.
donald caldwell
May 15th, 2010
1:30 am
everyone talking bout Joe Johnson leaving the hawks and that he stays he needs to be the 2 option on offense.Who needs a 1st or 2nd option guy if the team is playing as a team? HELLO BOSTON CELTICS
Luke
May 15th, 2010
8:35 am
We could let JJ go and Sign John Salmons who can score( obviously he should come at a cheaper price)
I would then try and sign A. Stoudamire…….. Maybe sign and trade…. (posible trade canadiates…chills or M. willaims)
C- Stoudamire
PF- Horford
SF- J Smith
SG Salmons or crawford
PG- Teague or bibby
Bench
Crawfor or salmons
Bibby or Teague
M williams or Chills ( Whoever was not traded)
ZAZA Pachulia
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
9:56 am
I wouldn’t lie but signing Josh Childress back and trading for Bosh or a big man sounds good but not involving J- Smooth now thats a run-out! I mean Joe is my dog and I love him as a Hawk but if he wants to leave , I can’t believe I’m actually saying this but, let him go….man that hurted! But seriously a BIGMAN , a real center is the real solution someone who could defend against other centers like Dwight, who was just killing the hawks. Really you shoild think about this if Joe doesn’t have to go, please don’t let him go he just needs that extra help I am telling you because the minute he goes and gets that extra help he might just end as a MVP candidate or maybe even the MVP to come. Please think about all options.
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
10:15 am
Jusdatfly I am so with you I really see that someone is thinking and not talking out their butt… because its team effort to lose and to win and plus never in these games did I see Joe hug.. Did you?.. So he didn’t cause anything and ashame on these so called Hawks fans when we going through sometimes still stick with the team don’t just boo them. Thats what you call immature ! Getting on J-Smooth like you’ll out there on the court playing the game, you don’t know how it feels to be out there every night and you gonna boo them off , you’ll be the ones getting booo’d… jusdatfly we should talk man I really the way you think …No Homo now don’t take it the wrong way…. I am a real Hawk fan all the way in The Bahamas…..
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
11:30 am
If Joe Johnson don’t work look towards Harris, Lopez and Childress really miss him….Brooke Lopez is another good blocker and aside Josh he will become much better and Harris plays ball Hawks way and he can handle the ball. Think about it Mr. Sunds, PLEASE!!!!!!!
PG- Devin Harris
SG- Mike Bibby
SF- Josh Smith
PF- Al Horford
C- Brooke Lopez
BENCH
PG- Jeff Teague
SG- Jamal Crawford
SF- Josh Childress/Maurice Evans
PF- Marvin Williams/Randolph Morris
C- Jason Collins/Joe Smith
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
11:34 am
Jeff Van Gundy, Avery Johnson, ……… I don’t know someone who can help them with setting screens, defense, and work with the shooting because have good shooters could be the best shooting team…..
pat
May 15th, 2010
1:12 pm
PG Rafer Alston/Mike Bibby
SG Dwyane Wade/Jamal Crawford
SF John Salmons/Marvin Williams
PF Chris Bosh/Udonis Haslem
C Al Horford/Antonio McDyess
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
2:04 pm
Lopez played in all 82 games for a second straight season, this time leading the team in points (18.8), rebounds (8.6) and blocks (1.7), making him one of four players in the league to do so; the others were Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan and Andrew Bogut. He was the only player to top 18.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG and 1.5 BPG.
Lopez posted 33 point/rebound double-doubles, shot .817 from the free-throw line – third among qualifying centers – and led the Nets in scoring 38 times while scoring 20-plus points 34 times. His player efficiency rating (PER) of 20.11 earned him a spot among the league’s top six centers, and according to the Web site 82games.com, he outperformed his counterparts throughout the year.
Brooke Lopez is a good center for the Hawks and also Devin Harris good PG..
Nippz
May 15th, 2010
7:23 pm
So…anyone what do you really think about my squad?