Atlanta Hawks: J.J. to Mavs, Knicks, Bulls, Rockets . . . or Hawks?
Is there cash in that boot?
Another day, another Joe Johnson rumor.
This time it’s Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reporting that the Mavericks are interested in acquiring J.J. They are over the salary cap, so the only way to do that would be through a sign-and-trade agreement. That means J.J. would have to want to play for the Mavs and Dallas and Atlanta would have to come to an agreement on a trade.
The key line in Wojnarowski’s story is this: “Johnson is determined to get the sixth guaranteed season on a contract that could only come with re-signing in Atlanta or a sign-and-trade arrangement, sources say.” This is along the lines of what I’ve been saying all along, that guys just don’t leave $25-$30 million on the table. The signals being sent out by J.J,’s camp are clear: If Atlanta offers the most cash, Johnson will re-sign. If not, he will look elsewhere. What’s not clear is if the Hawks are willing to pay J.J. the max if that’s what it takes to keep him.
The thing to remember when all of these stories leak (in addition to the fact that leakers always have an agenda) is that no one knows for sure what J.J. is going to do. Last week the word was J.J. was ready to make an early commitment to Chicago. Then he was willing to take less cash to play for the Knicks. Now the latest is that he really wants a sign-and-trade, and perhaps he will look at Dallas (or Houston, as an enticement for Bosh to also sign there).
The AJC’s Mark Bradley asks if Atlanta wants J.J. back and that’s a good question. He mentions how the city of Cleveland has pretty much begged LeBron to come back. Bradley is talking about the fans, but it also seems the Hawks organization has been relatively subdued in its public recruitment of J.J. as compared to the teams of other top free agents.
In Miami, for instance, the Heat have gone all out to show the love for D-Wade. There’s been no reason to guess if the Heat wants D-Wade and if they will pay the max to make it happen. You can say that’s because it’s a no-brainer for Miami to pay D-Wade the max, and you would be correct. However, the Heat also went crazy for Udonis Haslem, who is a good player but not a star.
Hawks management, meanwhile, has been pretty quiet in regards to J.J. Soon after the season ended GM Rick Sund said the Hawks will do all they can to re-sign J.J. and has repeated that statement a couple times. But that’s been about it as far as public pleadings for J.J. by Atlanta’s brass. That hasn’t changed even as all these stories surface suggesting that other teams are ready to make aggressive pushes for J.J.
Anyway, we will soon see how it all plays out. I’m sticking with my belief that J.J. will re-sign with the Hawks if they offer the most money. They are still in control of this process.
MC
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278 comments Add your comment
Michael Cunningham
June 28th, 2010
2:54 pm
@ILL-logical: “The leadership question becomes even more crtical when I see the media led rush to annoint ALL Star Al as the leader of the team. Per your observations upon your arrival on the scene,the Hawks could use an Alonzo Mourning type in the locker room. AAA doesn’t fit into that category ,IMHO, by a long shot.”
i see what you are saying. when Al made his comments during the playoffs, he prefaced them with “I’m not the kind of guy to get in a guy’s face . . .” which suggests even he realizes he doesn’t have that “Zo-type” personality. but he’s still young so maybe he can develop into a more vocal leader, especially as continues to build cred through his play. we already know he’s a winner from his Gators accomplishments.
Michael Cunningham
June 28th, 2010
2:55 pm
@ Rondo: “Hey MC didn’t the Hawks have anything to do with getting JJ’s father out of jail early…saw a story on Fox Sports the other day and JJ’s father was up for parole and he told the jailers he was JJ’s father and they didn’t believe him…So they told him if he is JJ’s father call him and prove it..He called and JJ answered and told them it is true and told them to release him for parole..DO you think MC that the Hawks are using this peice of information for leverage?”
haven’t heard of this. sounds pretty bizarre to me.
Michael Cunningham
June 28th, 2010
2:56 pm
@G-MAN: i just checked a few minutes ago. the roster is not quite final but should be soon.
Grandad
June 28th, 2010
2:58 pm
@ Lewis from previous blog:
Beaubois would fit in with Teaguer just fine.
RB = combo guard [on def especially] long arms.
BU pg & Rondo-esque defender. *Beautiful fit*
Plus adds competition to position.
By the way Mb on the other blog & we on this board
are always quick to name a starting line-up & backups.
HC’s do the same w/o players ever practicing even one time.
When did the days of earning your job on the floor…..pass away?
Some Sense
June 28th, 2010
2:59 pm
Joe, simply put, is NOT a max salary guy; only a handful of players in the league are, and e’one knows who they are. He is not one of ‘em. Max contracts aren’t for a top twenty player…MB says he’s to fifteen; that’s still not max contract territory.
Even to an ownership group thought of as “cheap”, this should be the main consideration in dealing w/ Joe.
ryan
June 28th, 2010
2:59 pm
I here if Joe is traded to the Rockets we would get Y. Ming is that strong possibility.
Rondo
June 28th, 2010
3:02 pm
I’m sorry MC but that story is true it aired on Sports South, when they do biographies on famous southern stars. I was just reaching on that one I know..shouldn’t have put that out there..that the hawks got the man out early…but he did get out of jail early because he was JJ’s father..Check it out the story aires on Sports South regularly.
Grandad
June 28th, 2010
3:06 pm
MC:
Riddle me this?
from MB’s column: [paraphrase]
‘Jordan Crawford’ would not be brought in to Atl.
& intro’d until just before ‘Summer League’ !
*** MY question ***
Is there a possibility he is to be traded
-or-
part of a trade,
why else,
would they wait so long?????
JOE
June 28th, 2010
3:14 pm
JJ is a good player, not a great player… not deserving of a max contract !!!
Dexter
June 28th, 2010
3:16 pm
I agree JOE
Mystikal
June 28th, 2010
3:17 pm
ORLANDO MAGIC!!! Just look at the Orlando Magic. The hawks are not close to as good as they are, but they are in a financial bind because of Rashard Lewis. He was vastly overpaid for his services years ago and the magic are suffering for it now (and this past playoffs). Joe Johnson is older now than Lewis was when he signed that deal. Plus, Joe has logged very heavy minutes the past 5 yrs. For these reasons, I am AGAINST signing Joe to a “maximum” contract. I do want Joe back and agree we will be worse without him. However I’d rather be set back a year or 2 rather than stuck in a few years with a huge contract for a declining player.
My point above is that the magic are stuck with a declining player on a huge deal. They still have Dwight Howard at least. If/when Joe begins to decline I don’t see Josh Smith/Horford making the difference with Dwight like performances. So as other teams get better (expecially after this summer) we may not even be good enough to make playoffs down road along with being stuck financially. I hope ASG sees this before they make their decision.
tyger
June 28th, 2010
3:20 pm
Lots to consider:
1. JJ may not be a MAX player in our eyes but he’s an asset…
2. Horford is still eluding to dissension in the ranks and the culprit is not JJ…
3. Crawford and Crawford are just what we needed…kudos Sund on that one…
4. Sign + trade opportunities could find new homes for Bibby, Marvin, Evans…
5. Shaq sure would look good in a Hawks uni…
HoosierHawk
June 28th, 2010
3:20 pm
S&T for Beaubois and Dampier (Dallas)?
Aaron
June 28th, 2010
3:20 pm
Best picture yet, MC.
GeeMack
June 28th, 2010
3:24 pm
MC I personally think Joe wants to resign with the Hawks, but in the five years he’s been here they have not put the players around him to be able to compete with elite teams.
MC under the current cap structure could the Hawks resign JJ and sign and trade for a player like Amare using players like J-smoove (youth) and Jamal Crawford (expiring contract)as trade bait?
I thinkg a move like this makes the team better and bring energy to the fan base.
Joe Don't Go Squad
June 28th, 2010
3:25 pm
fudge the mavs. Stay with Hawks.
http://joe_dont_go.WebStarts.com/index.html
Grandad
June 28th, 2010
3:26 pm
S&T
Joe to Dallas
-We get-
*Caron Butler
*Roddy Beaubois
*Eduardo Najera
Salaries should match up pretty close.
Win / Win !
jroc
June 28th, 2010
3:27 pm
Tyger take points no. 2 and 5 off and you would be alright. Nobody wants Shaq aka Big Immoral on their squad. He will turn all the young Hawks out like he did D Wade!
jroc
June 28th, 2010
3:31 pm
If its true about Lebrons mother i bet you Shaq probably set it up. JUST SAY NO TO SHAQ!
bigdave
June 28th, 2010
3:31 pm
“When will his game make one or more of his team mates better players? For instance, Jamal Crawford made Teague a much better assist guy by spotting up when Teague drove the lane. Maybe Joe can help Marvin get his grove by feeding and fanning him sometimes.”
Joe doesnt do this? teammates have to knock down shots..
I Heart Atlanta
June 28th, 2010
3:31 pm
if we do offer joe the max contract and he accepts it, would their be any chance we could do a sign and trade for rudy gay still?? Like Chills Mo and ZaZa for him? Would that work?
Section 303
June 28th, 2010
3:32 pm
I’m for anything that involves Joe Johnson leaving town. The guy is an a$$hole and not worthy of a max deal.
BobWeiss
June 28th, 2010
3:40 pm
If Dallas is in the mix, we should simply trade Johnson for Dampier’s expiring contract ($13m). That will give the Hawks another year to trade for a replacement for Johnson. Otherwise, we lose his entire salary slot and will have to fill the position with the mid-level exemption. Dampier will have tremendous trade value close to the trade deadline.
jroc
June 28th, 2010
3:41 pm
Section 303 can i get your season tickets it they do resign Joe?
GeeMack
June 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
I Heart Atlanta
Why would Memphis want Zaza, Mo, and Chills?
Rondo
June 28th, 2010
3:46 pm
Wow Bob Weiss doesn’t want the hawks to be a contender next season saying wait a whole season to sign a replacement for Joe….WOW! The nerve of that guy!
Section 303
June 28th, 2010
3:49 pm
jroc, I would still get season tickets if Joe re-signs. But, until I hear him apologize, the guy can go f**k himself.
I’ll be more than happy to take my chances without him. Will never beg and plead for some a$$hole to play for my favorite team.
cp
June 28th, 2010
3:50 pm
I dont know if the Dallas rumor has any truth to it but at this point it cant be no worse than the ones ESPN keeps throwing out there. At this point it seems as if ESPN is just making up stuff just to get people to talk. ESPN has become a big joke…….. If the Dallas rumor is true then if I was the Hawks I wouldn’t agree to a sign and trade if Dallas doesn’t include Roddy in the deal. If they want Joe they would have to give up Roddy. If they wont then no deal.
Section 303
June 28th, 2010
3:52 pm
cp, who is “Roddy”? I’m drawing a total blank…
And, you are right. ESPN is a joke. Well said.
jroc
June 28th, 2010
3:59 pm
I think he is talking about a trade for the Falcons Roddy White to Dallas for a un-named player section 303. I guess cp can’t wait for football season.
J from the A
June 28th, 2010
3:59 pm
@BobWeiss: re: S&T Joe for Dampier: That’s actually a sensible idea … it’s not a far-fetched pipe dream like many are pitching on here … it wouldn’t be a blockbuster … but it would give the Hawks (1) a legit big man in the rotation, (2) mid-season trade bait if needed, and (3) wouldn’t cause salaries to hold Hawks down in the long run.
I guess it would be a similar S&T proposal as my half-joking suggestion to S&T for Curry, except Dampier would probably be a much better S&T deal.
GeeMack
June 28th, 2010
4:00 pm
Mystikal
I am not sure how you say the Magic are suffering for the Lewis deal? They won 52, 59, & 59 games during the regular season, 2 trips to the ECF and an NBA finals appreance.
Boston may lose Ray so they go into this season as the favorites in the east. I will take over where the Hawks are any day.
Rondo
June 28th, 2010
4:09 pm
J from the A what would trading jj for Dampier accompolish? Thats foolishness like the trade Memphis made to LA for Pau Gasol. Are you crazy trading your best player for a sore foot garbage man? Get out of here with that hot garbage.
Astro Joe
June 28th, 2010
4:21 pm
@MC, off the topic, but Horford discussed the chemistry issues amongst the players (a recent AP report related to Joe’s free agency), so can you provide any insight within your guidelines as a reporter? You also reported when Drew was hired that someone would reach out to Joe to discuss locker-room issues. There is all of this swirl but very few specifics. Can you provide some insight? Were RandMo and Collins about to come to blows are were the issues related to more “prominent” players?
Sautee
June 28th, 2010
4:23 pm
Grandad,
Give me a call
Sautee
June 28th, 2010
4:24 pm
AJ,
Maybe RandMo got between Collins and his cheeseburgers.
Astro Joe
June 28th, 2010
4:25 pm
Roddy, Roddy is Rodrique Beaubois. The French guard who just completed his rookie year.
Astro Joe
June 28th, 2010
4:27 pm
Sautee, that would certainly send me into an Arenas-type confrontation with my teammate
KevinM
June 28th, 2010
4:31 pm
Okay, someone tell me where Joe has stated he wants to come back. Someone tell me where it says Chills wants to come back. I think he comes back anywhere but here, and I don’t want to pay Chills what he wants anyway. We haven’t seen him play in 2 years. You think he has gotten better in Greece? Really? We gave away his jersey number the day he left.
Get these 2 guys a contract signed and go out West and get us some talent.
- First choice is Sacramento, where I would like to pry DeMarcus Cousins away.
- Go to Dallas and get us an expiring Dampier, and waive him without repurcussions and get us some immediate help during the season or bring up Caron Butler and a draft pick.
- Go to the Clippers and get us Eric Gordon who would fall out of favor if Joe wanted to be a Clipper.
- Go to Houston, get us a Battier/Ariza and lets get serious about a postseason improvement.
Better results/players on the West side of the NBA versus dealing with the East rivals.
Could Sund be creative enough and have a gentleman’s agreement to work with Joe and Chilz while they make moving arrangements.
Our team should be better long-term come August 1 once this market has cleared up some.
leedsatlanta
June 28th, 2010
4:33 pm
If we can get Bulter and Heywood for Johnson in a sign and trade, do it!
Sign Salmons and bring back Childress.
This team is upgraded at SF, PG.
PG TEAGUE
SG SALMONS
SF BUTLER
PF SMITH
C HORFORD
Backed up with this tasty bench!
PG CRAWFORD/BIBBY
SG CHILDRESS/CRAWFORD
SF EVANS/WILLIAMS
PF PACHULIA/SMITH
C HEYWOOD
BobWeiss
June 28th, 2010
4:39 pm
Trading Joe Johnson for Dampier obviously isn’t a popular move, but there are several reasons it makes sense. First, as one of the AJC columnists wrote a few weeks ago, if Johnson signs with another team, we wouldn’t be able to use his lost salary to find a replacement. We would only be able to use $6-7 million, a level that wouldn’t get us much of a replacement. Second, trading for Dampier would give us another season to find a replacement at Dampiers current salary ($13+ million). Finally, there is a good chance we could pick up additional 1st round picks by trading from Dallas and another team that would want to dump salary for an expiring contract.
If the Hawks were ever going to make a run at trading for a player like Chris Paul or another disgruntled star, Dampier’s expiring contract would be a very attractive (and necessary) piece to facilitate such a move. As for giving up on next season, I would have much preferred Dampier in the Orlando series as opposed to the pathetic performance from Joe Johnson. At least it would have given us another body to throw at Howard. Joe Johnson is a nice player, but he is far from a top 15 player in this league like everyone seems to think he is.
Steve
June 28th, 2010
4:46 pm
Can we sign Joe for six years, but not at the max.? I’m assuming we can. Let’s see, 18m for the 1st 2 years, 17m 3rd yr., 16m 4th yr., 15m 5th year, 14m 6th year – what’s that, a 6 year deal worth 98mill. – I think that’s about right for a healthy JJ. And he’d be 34 at the end of that contract – maybe play a couple of more years or so after that. Would 6 years – 100m keep JJ?. I for one want him back. We’re so close to be a contender – I hate to see us go backwards now.
Simpdawg
June 28th, 2010
4:47 pm
Rondo,
Thanks for setting J from the A straight. I agree with you 100%. You don’t trade your best player for an over paid over rated injury prone center. I do like Grandad proposed
sign and trade deal with Dallas:
Joe to Dallas
-We get-
*Caron Butler
*Roddy Beaubois
*Eduardo Najera
dc
June 28th, 2010
4:59 pm
If joe wants to leave then do a sign and trade…Teams like Dallas, New York Chicago have some Talent. we could get Deng from Chicago( an upgrade from marvin) or Caron Butler (hopefully) But I would like for us to get a big man if we could… Eddy Curry…..eh…..He would give us a low post presence and if it does not work out…his contract expires I know he has some Issues but I would hope that playing on a winning team…Aslo any chance the hawks get to dump bibbys contract They BETTER do it
cp
June 28th, 2010
5:27 pm
lol thanks Astro… I guess I should have put Roddy’s last name… Yea jroc I cant wait for the football season to start. Well I at least have the summer league coming up .
bigdave
June 28th, 2010
5:28 pm
not that you can believe anything that this guy says but Stephen A. Smith says that Lebron James is going to Miami to join Wade and Bosh..
http://media.ccomrcdn.com/media/station_content/13749/SAS_on_LBJ_and_Bosh_headed_to_Miami_REVISED_1277746052_7166.mp3
bigdave
June 28th, 2010
5:29 pm
so.. i guess Joe and Amare go to Chicago..
todays NBA and these athletes kill me..
bigdave
June 28th, 2010
5:31 pm
or maybe its todays journalism…
pleased with your level headiness MC, @ the end of the day.. money does talk.
Michael Cunningham
June 28th, 2010
5:32 pm
@Grandad: “from MB’s column: [paraphrase] ‘Jordan Crawford’ would not be brought in to Atl. & intro’d until just before ‘Summer League’ ! Is there a possibility he is to be traded
-or- part of a trade, why else, would they wait so long?????”
i keep seeing conspiracy theories about this. all i know is the Hawks said before the draft they probably wouldn’t bring in the player they picked until closer to the minicamp on July 9.
truthspitter
June 28th, 2010
5:34 pm
Hassan Whiteside at #24 or 31 was the correct move. Leave Joe these people are losers