Atlanta Hawks: J.J. willing to play for less money in New York?
ESPN.com’s Chris Broussard says the Knicks will meet with J.J. in Los Angeles soon after free agency opens at midnight Thursday.
That’s no surprise since New York is one of a handful of teams with the cap space to offer J.J. a max deal and it’s always been speculated J.J. would look at the Knicks because of his his strong relationship with coach Mike D’Antoni from their Phoenix days. Until now I’d always heard New York wasn’t very interested in Johnson, but apparently that’s not the case. Broussard says the Knicks think J.J. can sell LeBron on teaming up in New York, which seems to be kind of a backwards arrangement.
The most interesting part of Broussard’s story is that he reports Johnson is willing to take less money from the Knicks, who can’t pay him as much as the Hawks due to salary-cap rules. According to Broussard, J.J. believes he can make up the roughly $25 million difference through endorsements and stock shares in Madison Square Garden. (Edit: I’m pretty sure paying a guy in stock options would be against NBA rules because it is a circumvention of the salary cap. Edit2: A helpful reader emailed to point out the league has already addressed this specific situation.) If the Hawks resign themselves to J.J.’s departure, he could get the $25 million and they could get an asset through a sign-and-trade.
Don’t ask me about the stocks, but J.J. hasn’t been a very marketable player, nor has he been very enthusiastic about marketing himself. Not sure how much that changes even playing in New York, especially if he’s on a team with either LeBron or Amare. And I’m still waiting to see all these older free agents willing to forsake $20-30 million in salary just so they can be more famous, play on a better team, bring in extra endorsements, live in a better city or whatever.
In any event, J.J. taking less money to play elsewhere is the scenario most feared by Atlanta . Rumblings that J.J. may be willing to do just that before free agency has already begun will only increase the Hawks’ nervousness about his departure. Getting the word out there certainly gives J.J. more leverage with the Hawks, who at some point may have to decide if they will give J.J. a six-year, maximum-level salary.
I wouldn’t think J.J. would be a New York kind of guy–if he thinks he got it bad here after fading in the playoffs, wait until he’s the goat in that city. I’ve always thought the Bulls would be J.J.’s most likely destination if he left Atlanta. Just a couple days ago K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune reported that J.J. was ready to make an early commitment to the Bulls.
But then Jonathan Abrams wrote in the New York Times that the Bulls are the favorites to land LeBron and Bosh, which would not leave money for J.J. Then again, maybe Bosh really is headed for Miami and then J.J. and LeBron can team up in Chicago.
Already you can see how free agency is going to be a pretty silly season.
MC
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311 comments Add your comment
TheAntiMe
June 27th, 2010
11:03 pm
If Joe Johnson got his iddy biddy feelings hurt by the fans here in Atlanta, just wait until the fans in New York get on his case. Joe is going to cry like a little girl.
JeJe
June 27th, 2010
11:04 pm
“Arenas
…Is making 20 Million/year and has played in 42 games in the past 2 years!
How in the hell is that taking a pay cut to stay in DC with the hopes of winning a Title?
You don’t take 20 Million/year to win a Title – you take 20 Million/year to put it in the Bank!
Just Stop it!”
HE TOOK A PAYCUT OF 15 MILL OVERALL ON HIS CONTRACT. THE ASSUMPTION WAS HIM, JAMISON, BUTLER, AND HAYWOOD AND THE OTHERS WERE A GOOD ENOUGH CORE TO WIN A RING
ARE YOU RETARDED
JeJe
June 27th, 2010
11:06 pm
LOL JAMAL SURVIVED IN NYC. NOT JOE
EFFORTLESS GARBAGE PLAYER
JJ Sucks
June 27th, 2010
11:06 pm
Joe is a traitor ti this team, Were so close and he wants to bail. He can go ahead and go suck with the Knicks or Bulls they deserve him. I think the Hawks can sign a player like Mike Miller or Josh Howard and 55 Jordan Crawford is the man, Hey re-sign Chills promise him a starter.
JeJe
June 27th, 2010
11:06 pm
IF ASG WANTS TO RESIGN JOE, SEND A COMPILATION VIDEO TO ALL TEAMS OF JOE’S UNDERACHIEVING @$$ IN THE PLAYOFFS
MaxxHawk
June 27th, 2010
11:10 pm
I guarantee that if JJ leaves, John Salmons will be a Hawk shortly after. MC- What is the possibility/probability of the Hawks signing Rudy gay as an RFA?
Recap
June 27th, 2010
11:11 pm
Team tells GM he can into lux tax to win, he sign Collins Team fires woodson for a NEW voice, then hires assistant Team trades DOWN in draft to save 300 thousand bucks A few years ago the Hawks won 13 games. Now they know what they are doing? Pure Comedy.
TROTTINGHOME
June 27th, 2010
11:20 pm
adios Joe…Woody rode you hard in years past….no one stood up for you and said to much on you…now its time to move on and collect a nice chunk of change and play for a coach who knows how to rotate players for the good of the game not the coaches win lose record.
HE’s out of here.
Mr. Clarion
June 27th, 2010
11:26 pm
Hawks management needs to line up a number of sign and trade options otherwise this team will struggle to make the playoffs. I belive alot of this news is just hype to pump up Joe’s value to the Hawks, but sadly it seems to be working. As long as the Hawks don’t do anything stupid, like letting him walk. There aren’t alot of 3rd team all NBA players that we can sign for the mid-level exception. Bottom line re-sign Joe or do a sign and trade for a solid player. July looks like it will be a very intersting month.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2010
12:23 am
Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski — whose Twitter is pretty much the #1 source on which I rely for NBA info, since he’s almost always right — tweets “One prominent agent says tonight: “I think there’s a very good chance the Knicks will get shutout (in free agency)…Even likely…”
So who knows, maybe Joe ain’t headed to NYC after all.
Mike is back
June 28th, 2010
12:27 am
MC, the funny thing about all the hoopla about JJ is that JJ, LBJ, and Wade all…BASICALLY PLAY THE SAME POSITION. Who is going to play the SF…we all know that JJ can play some spot duty at SF, but its not his natural position…same goes for LBJ. They all need to be teamed up with a super star point guard. That’s why Chicago has the upper hand…not only do they have Rose, the have Noah.
There is an old day saying that money talks, and BS walks. I’m with you MC…I don’t see that changing…even if it means passing up on chance to play with the great LBJ. lol
Amidst the worst economic down turn since the Great Depression, and the uncertainty of a lock out in 2012…these clowns are going to tell me guys are going to leave millions of dollars on the table…to go play with their favorite player…give me a F’n break already.
These are media driven rumors…not the players…GET THE F OFF JJ BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How many times does it need to be repeated…that JJ does need to agree to a S & T with the Hawks to sign with another team…daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaam!!!!!!!!
drmaryb
June 28th, 2010
12:30 am
Newkid
STHU! Keep Mr. Stevie Wonder’s name out of your vile and disrespectful mouth.
Mr. Wonder is not your little toy and you should know that he has more sight, insight and
fore-sight than you could ever hope for! You need to come up with another line!
Your’s is tired and what do you know about Mr. Wonder anyway!
I eat newkids and digest them!
Bubba G
June 28th, 2010
12:32 am
JOE Johnson smells like cabbage
Mike is back
June 28th, 2010
12:35 am
My bad, that should read JJ does not need to agree to S & T. You just get tired of hearing about JJ doing an S & T.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2010
12:44 am
I’ve spent some time over the last couple of blogs posting what the Hawks could do if Joe stays, such as trading Jamal Crawford for big man help, using the mid-level on a SF who could challenge Marvin for his starting spot, etc.
If Joe leaves, the picture is a little cloudier. The Hawks could go one of two ways. They could either try to get the next best thing and continue to make the playoffs (and most likely get beat in the first round) or they could take a step back and retool. My preference would be the second option, and it would start with sign-and-trading Joe for expiring contracts, draft picks, and cheap players with trade value. If he does choose to go to NYC, getting Wilson Chandler or Danilo Gallinari (to push or replace Marvin) and either Eddy Curry’s expiring contract or Tracy McGrady sign-and-traded on a one year deal, along with a draft pick or two, would be a decent start. If Joe wants to go to Chicago, something along the lines of Taj Gibson and a first-rounder would work.
A team can go one of two ways with an expiring contract. They can either let the contract expire in the hopes that they can sign a high quality free agent with the vacated cap space (like the Bulls, Knicks, Heat, Clippers, etc. have done this summer) or they can flip those expiring contracts for players on other teams if they don’t feel they can sign a similar caliber player outright in free agency. The 2011 free agent class is not all that strong, and if Carmelo Anthony re-signs with Denver as expected it will get even weaker. If the Hawks go the FA route, they are going to be looking at players of the caliber of Jason Richardson or Michael Redd to sign at SG, and neither one is even on Joe’s level, let alone an upgrade.
With that being the case, I’d like to see the Hawks get expiring contracts and/or trade exceptions and draft picks in exchange for Joe and then flip them for available stars on other teams — in particular, with the cash-strapped Hornets admitting CP3 might be available for the right price, that could be a good place to start. No, the Hornets are not going to trade CP3 just for cap space. But if the Hawks offer multiple first-round picks, Jamal Crawford’s expiring deal, and whatever expiring deal they get from the Knicks AND agree to take back Emeka Okafor’s contract? I think it’s possible that a deal like that might interest the Hornets.
Either way, in the event Joe leaves, the “sign-and-trade for expiring contracts and flip those contracts and other trade assets for another star” method seems like the way to go. I’m not a huge fan of the idea of trying to immediately replace Joe with a poor man’s version of him to try to make the playoffs as a 7 or 8 seed.
drmaryb
June 28th, 2010
1:09 am
Mike is Back
And, I for one am glad as hell! I am so sick of all these fools on here typing all this dumb ISH!
Najeh
Thanks for the yahoo twitter update!
Joe's place Joe speaking
June 28th, 2010
1:14 am
Hey najeh what is Adrian from yahoo Twitter id? Thanks!
drmaryb
June 28th, 2010
1:19 am
All the crazy people please read
Mike is Back Post @ 1227 AM!
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2010
1:30 am
@WojYahooNBA
Baker
June 28th, 2010
1:33 am
If the Hawks want to get past the Magic, the Cavs, whoever, we need a top tier guy. Joe Johnson is a great player but he’s not in the top tier, and certainly not anymore. Save the $$, and go get a premier guy. Keep as much of the rest of the team as possible.
Mike is back
June 28th, 2010
1:35 am
Najeh, not you too dawg. Nobody has to due an S & T with the Hawks to get JJ. Its up to JJ to agree to a S & T…not the Hawks.
The Bobcats are in a worst position than we are. Its all about the mighty dollar. That’s why you wonder why some bloggers go through all the trouble to post under different names…just to spew hate at JJ. The Hawks are the one on the outside looking in. We can only hope that JJ will agree to an S & T…if he decides to leave.
cdog
June 28th, 2010
1:42 am
RIGHT ON DRMARYB!YOU HIT THE BULLSEYE WITH YOUR COMMENTS. AND ALSO, YOU CAN’T WIN THE KENTUCKY DERBY WITH A MULE’THATS WHAT I HAVE BEEN PREACHING AND THATS WHAT RICK SUND AND THE ASG DOING TRYING TO DO.I’M A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL COACH SO I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE, A COACH IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PLAYERS HE IS GIVEN.PUT RED AUEBACH, PHIL JACKSON, DOC RIVERS AND PAT RILEY WITH THIS HAWKS BUNCH WE HAD THIS PAST SEASON AND SEE HOW MANY CHAMPIONSHIP WE WIN, NONE OH YEAH ADD WE DON’T HAVE A GM , WE HAVE RICK SUND’THE ONLY THING SUND WANTS FROM THE HAWKS IS 1. SAVE MONEY BY PUTTING CHEAP PRODUCTS ON THE FLOOR 2. HE ONLY WANTS A PAYCHECK 3. HE CAN CARE LESS ABOUT A CHAMPIONSHIP AS LONG AS HE FILLS THE PHILLIPS ARENA FOR EVERY HOME GAME SO HE CAN KEEP HIS CELL PHONE STUCK IN HIS EAR AND DO NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE TEAM 4. SUND DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE.THIS GM JOB IS OVER HIS HEAD
drmaryb
June 28th, 2010
2:10 am
Mike is Back
Najeh knows how it works. He is speaking in the hypothetical thaþ Joe chooses his
New team and that team may need to do a S&T to fit him under their cap.
Only three to four teams cleared the decks to go for LBJ or Wade. If Joe ends up with a different team, surely
Players will be moved to other teams. Possibly a multiple team trade if necc.
But, Najeh definitely knows his stuff! -smiles-
I love all your posts – BTW!
drmaryb
June 28th, 2010
2:19 am
cdog in da house!
What up cdog baby! I didn’t know you coached basketball? That is so cool! So does Grand-Daddy!
Man, these Hawks are a HOT mess! The PR department, if there is one? Could do themselves a
great service by communicating with the fan base.
Heck, Arthur Blank took out full page add and wrote a letter apologizing to the city when his
Falcons smelled like “Hot. Garbagel” one year! Do you remember that! Arthur cares about his product.
He was looking at purchasing the Braves at one point.
Maybe we can ask him to send us a Blank Check over here, so, we can give it to the Hawks!
LOL!
Joe's place Joe speaking
June 28th, 2010
2:27 am
Thank you najeh!
Matt the Brave
June 28th, 2010
2:29 am
Mark, I’d have to say that his one time speaking out was about the worst decision that he could have made in his entire career. What it boils down to is when he makes that kind of comment in NYC or Chicago, he’s going to be crucified and then whatever endorsements he had will disappear slowly.
I’d much rather see Amare here than JJ, but I don’t really see any big-name free agents coming to the ATL. That said, I’d take a team-player guy who will grow into that A star here in Atlanta and love the crowd.
New York Knicks’ Plan B: Signing Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson – Gather.com | Updated GNews Now
June 28th, 2010
2:29 am
[...] affinity for the Chicago Bulls, it appears the New York Knicks will waste little time …Atlanta Hawks: JJ willing to play for less money in New York?Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2010
3:25 am
“Najeh, not you too dawg. Nobody has to due an S & T with the Hawks to get JJ. Its up to JJ to agree to a S & T…not the Hawks. ”
I know he can sign with whoever he wants outright. The incentive Joe has to orchestrate a sign-and-trade — if he decides to leave — is the extra $27 million he gets by doing so. Of course there’s the possibility he signs with someone else outright and leaves the Hawks hanging. My post above is just a suggestion as to what the Hawks could do if Joe decides to leave.
Like I posted on the previous blog, the Hawks can either a) keep Joe, remain a 50-win team for the near future, but lock themselves in to a roster that probably isn’t going to win a title, or b) let Joe walk, take a significant step back next season in the standings, but give themselves much more flexibility to retool into a title contender in the near future. It really comes down to whether or not you trust Rick Sund to orchestrate such a retooling. I don’t, so if I have to choose, I’d rather see Joe stay.
Grandad
June 28th, 2010
3:26 am
Mary Ellen:
It’s 3:16 & do I know where My children are?
Well an hour ago you were bloggin’.
Just got back from the airport.
# 2 son has been on a plane for 20 hrs.
*[including a layover(30 min New Zealand)]
*[& a couple hrs. in LA]
Spent the weekend watchin’ # 1 grandson play ss.
left mes. will try again tom.
G’nite all.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 28th, 2010
3:30 am
Another common argument people usually make to point out why sign-and-trades are hard to pull off is that a player won’t want to join a roster that doesn’t have good players on it already. But Joe is not going to go to New York or Chicago to play with Taj Gibson or Wilson Chandler. He’s going to go there to play with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Amare Stoudemire. If anyone objects to such a deal, it will be Joe’s new team, not Joe.
Grandad
June 28th, 2010
3:33 am
@ cdog – so we’re fraternity brothers.
30 + yrs. retired. [didn't want to] *[had to]
Hasta la vista baby
June 28th, 2010
6:49 am
You are not as big a star as you think you are Joey boy. Enjoy New York. they’ll eat you alive then spit you out
South ga boy in the atl
June 28th, 2010
6:50 am
Whew !! Tom glavine will breathe a sigh of relief when this is over next weekend. Why you ask ? Well, Glavine won’t be the most hated former ATL pro athlete that left town in a “toddler
fit” cause he ” won’t mo money and attention.” hehe. Go to “the city” JJ. When your standing around by yourself asking “where’s Labron?” then you will get plenty of attention from “NY fan.” Yea, UNWANTED ATTENTION. Lol. Yes Tommy G says “thank you” JJ for taking the distinction from him. Now bring on Rudy Gay You sorriest excuse for ownership this side of the Florida Marlins, otherwise known as the ASG
O'Brien
June 28th, 2010
6:54 am
While we are on the subject of sign and trade, there is one important point to keep in mind. Except for the Hawks, is there any team out there (especially the ones under the cap) that wants to pay JJ 6 years, $119 mil? I don’t think so.
Now if the Knicks are in danger of striking out, they might do it. But if they are going to do a sign and trade, wouldn’t it more likely be for Bosh, LeBron or Stoudemire, so they can get the 6 year max deal? I think JJ is the one guy most teams will try to convince to sign outright.
As for going to the Knicks for less money, I don’t think he will, unless LeBron or Stoudemire signs there first.
Grandad, Ken Strickland,
I think LD will play his best players, regardless of whether or not they are a rookie. But in my opinion, I don’t think Jordan Crawford will outplay Mo Evans enough to start over him. Why? Mostly because of defense.
Jordan Crawford will have to learn how to play NBA defense. Can you imagine him trying to guard DWade, Kobe, and JJ? Or trying to chase Ray Allen? Mo Evans is not a great defender, but keep in mind he played last year mostly as an undersized SF. As a SG, Mo’s defense is ok. And I think that gives him the edge.
DMR
June 28th, 2010
6:55 am
To paraphrase J.J. during the playoffs: I couldn’t care less if he shows up or not. The world won’t stop turning if Johnson leaves Atlanta. It may set the Hawks back a few steps, but OWNERSHIP has already done that. This hodge-podge of a group known as the ASG is worse than anything free agency can do to this team. They are reminiscent of the Smith family and the Falcons.
I think if Joe leaves town the Spirit group should go with him. Hell, even if Johnson doesn’t leave town the Spirit group should go.
MsDee
June 28th, 2010
7:16 am
Joe really should think about it b4 leaving us because if he decides to match up with LeBron, Wade, or any one of the other all-star players, he better know he would be able to gel well with him. Not sure if yall notice but all 4 years that Joe made it to the All-Star game, he NEVER looked comfortable around the All-Star crowd. He didnt REALLY break out of that shell til Horford joined him last season.
Also, I hear fans saying how he thinks the fans were bad on him here, he betta watch-out for the fans where ever he goes. Well the fans might not necessarily worry about Joe, its LeBron And Wade that he as to worry about cause if he plays well in the regular season for those guys but goes ghost again in the playoffs, LeBron or Wade wont be too happy. He says he wants to be a Robin for those guys, well he would have to suit up and perform at all times!
doc
June 28th, 2010
7:26 am
comments from al horford:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Alw8075M5YyqiG.7tBK6kL6LvLYF?slug=ap-singapore-horford-johnson
Q
June 28th, 2010
7:26 am
LET HIS BUTT GO! I BET THE HAWKS OVERPAY AND RE-SIGN HIM THO. JUST LIKE THEM TO MAKE A BAD MOVE LIKE THAT. WHEN U WANT THEM TO SPEND THE MONEY, THEY DON’T. WHEN U WANT THEM TO HOLD ON TO IT, THEY SPEND IT. AND ON THE WRONG PLAYERS. THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN IS FOR JOE TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE HAWKS HANDS AND GO AHEAD AND SIGN WITH NEW YORK. AT LEAST THAT WAY THEY CANT SCREW UP, , , , AGAIN!
MsDee
June 28th, 2010
7:33 am
With us, Joe is more comfortable..I see him laughing and carring on with Josh Smith, Bibby, & Marvin at times..With us, he could be killing 2 birds with 1 stone..Getting the money he wants while being comfortable around teammates with no pressure from the Super-stars of this league.
tony
June 28th, 2010
7:40 am
Sign John Salmons(SG) and let JJ go. Also sign Brendan Haywood(C) before some other team signs him.
MsDee
June 28th, 2010
7:41 am
I think Horford is just making a ’safe’ comment about Joe b/c, 1st of all, he says, “He hasnt talk to Joe about it yet but he believes he will be back”..well, how do u know that if you havent spoken with him yet?? Also, It’s a ’safe’ comment b/c I dont truely think Horford wants Joe back. Joe never fed Horford the ball where he could be more effective. I would often see Horford with his hand up after running the floor just to have it put back down cause the ball NEVER showed up.
I have mixed feelings if Joe should come back or not. Joe was under Woodson for the past 5 years with all that ISO JOe, but if he stays, Joe may perform the way we would have hoped he would with the ball movement and all.
mark
June 28th, 2010
7:43 am
jj is the lastest verison of danny manning. cya and wouldn’t want to be ya
Statick
June 28th, 2010
7:50 am
Meh. Just let him go. He won’t be an All-Star in NYC.
robdawg08
June 28th, 2010
8:03 am
Somebody missed the spelling tests in school. It is Horford not Hordford and LeBron not LaBron. That’s what happens when you post under 50 different names from 7:00am to 7:00am the next day. Get a freaking life…
It will be interesting to see who signs with Miami since they have the state salary tax advantages no other teams (save Orlando) can offer.
If three of the big six free agents go there they can immediately be a threat to win the NBA title next year. It is a testament to the financial bungling of Hawks management that they aren’t in the mix to land a couple of these good players. Thanks for nothing Hawks brass !
sam'l
June 28th, 2010
8:04 am
joe is that good. sorry.
no more DuMB comments……even if those are your initials
JeJe
June 28th, 2010
8:06 am
PLAYERS DIDN’T GET ALONG ON THE HAWKS? WHERE;’S THE LEADERSHIP?
JOE IS A LEADER? LOL
dap01
June 28th, 2010
8:06 am
Whoever signs JJ to a max will regret it. He is not a max player and any team (especially one without a lot of money like ATL) will regret signing players to a max, when clearly that player is not a max player.
Robert
June 28th, 2010
8:15 am
See ya JJ.
I agree with another post, Rudy Gay and Childress. They will more than make up for the loss of JJ. Younger too.
Max Money
June 28th, 2010
8:23 am
This is all a shrewd ploy to get max money out of the Hawks. JJ and his agent are playing the ASG. JJ’s camp is not sure how committed the ASG is to giving him MAX money. Sund has said that they will do “whatever is necessary” to keep JJ, but of course they have never said that they would pay the max. Knowing the ASG, it is a valid assumption that they will try to offer “more than everyone else, but less than max”. This is clearly their SOP. So, the more leverage JJ has (as in taking less $$ from NY), the more likely he is to force their (ASG) hand.
Is he worth it? I personally don’t think so. A sign & trade would be the way to go if possible.
Next Year
June 28th, 2010
8:31 am
Question: I know that the Hawks wont get anything (salary cap wise) if JJ leaves this year. What happens next year? I mean does that leave us with a large amount to spend NEXT year?