Atlanta Hawks: J.J. squeezed out of the big summit?
Who's missing from this picture? (slamdunkcentral.com)
ESPN.com reported there was a free-agent summit in Miami over the weekend involving LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh.
Other reports say the meeting didn’t happen and others that say it couldn’t have happened because James was in New York and Wade was in Las Vegas and Chicago over the weekend.
Now I’m watching ESPN respond to those reports by saying that the three players did too meet in Miami!
All of this comes after Stephen A. Smith reported that James and Bosh would join Wade in Miami.
It’s all very confusing. But if there was a meeting in some city somewhere, and if James and Bosh really are considering headed to Miami to play with D-Wade (it seems to be a real possibility), the one thing missing from all of this is Joe Johnson.
Remember, Wade had said J.J. would be included in the summit and now it turns out he wasn’t invited (if in fact there was a meeting). What that would mean for J.J. is that he’s not included in this free agent master plan orchestrated by LeBron and Wade.
What it means for the Hawks is if those three guys really do end up on the same team, that would leave more teams with top-tier cap space than there are top-tier free agents. If the Hawks really are hoping to avoid offering J.J. the Bird max salary of about $119 million, and there has been some resistance to doing so, then this is not the scenario they’d want to see (and that’s not even considering what it would mean for the balance of power in the Eastern Conference).
Of course, all of this is assuming there really was a meeting, and the Big Three free agents really would play for the same team. It’s not even Thursday yet and it’s hard to know what’s true.
MC
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431 comments Add your comment
drmaryb
June 29th, 2010
4:07 pm
Soul_Star
Thank You, I knew I was forgetting something.
Happy B-Day Joe!
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:09 pm
Rondo
Please explain, I’m not sure I follow ?
“Grandad a true hater of today’s athlete who’s attitude of professionalism his generation created.Kind of bigoted
isn’t it.”
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:10 pm
*Beaubois
Ramon
June 29th, 2010
4:11 pm
Beaubois, Crawford, and Crawford. That would be three 2-guards (Beaubois is really a 2 guard -think Ben Gordon), and neither one of the three plays defense. Not only was Joe our best offensive player, he was also the best perimeter defender we had on the team. Remember many times Joe had to guard the opposing team’s PG. Imagine how much better he will be when he’s allowed to guard the team’s 2 guard instead of chasing smaller players around. And Joe legs may be heavy from minutes being played, but he is still a player who is great at avoiding injury considering how often the ball is in his hands. On some teams, Joe isn’t worth the max. But on THIS team, Joe is worth the max. If Marvin, Bibby, and Crawford weren’t overpaid there wouldn’t be any question about giving Joe the deal. So allow the GM to be creative and getting rid of those three deals, while still keeping your 2nd best player (on the court Josh is still the team’s best player I don’t care what anyone says).
Easy explanation
June 29th, 2010
4:13 pm
This meeting was for elite, superstar free agents only. Thus no JJ or Amare Stoudemire.
Astro Joe
June 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
@MC, Yahoo is reporting:
WojYahooNBA Brian Shaw has spent the early afternoon making calls to put together a coaching staff for Cavs, sources say.
Is Coach Drew hiring a staff or did the ASG only commit to paying a single coach for the next few seasons?
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
Ramon:
See my 1:43 post, it will explain “how”.
Not necessarily the best scenario or the
specifics to which you were referring.
But “how”, nonetheless.
JC
June 29th, 2010
4:16 pm
@hawfan2 – Gearon jr. said it himself, and got fined for it – for the right players, they’ll pay the max. If Joe persuaded Bron, Wade or (maybe) Bosh to come to ATL and sign for the max with him, they’d be greeted with open arms. They’re not going to spend if there’s any risk at all, but if you hand-deliver a bona-fide star, they’ll open the checkbooks.
MikeG.
June 29th, 2010
4:17 pm
Joe snubbed at the “free agent summit” maybe, but “the superstar summit” he did not have a chance to be snubbed because he was not now or will ever be a superstar. GET IT THROUGH YOUR HEAD HE IS A SECOND TIER SUPERSTAR. He is real good.
drmaryb
June 29th, 2010
4:21 pm
G-Daddy
Joe didn’t leave Phoenix because they couldn’t win a ring, or didn’t have a PG or C?
He left Phoenix, for a couple reasons,t he main reason he gave was he did NOT want
to play out WEST!
Welcome, EAST coast! That put him closer to his Family in Arkansas so that they could
Finally get to see him play in person. Since then, he has moved key Family members to
Atlanta. They are all settled here now!
WEST coast teams does not appear to be a desire. Besides, he can make more money in Atlanta.
(See Bird Rule)
How many times does this need to be said G-Daddy? LOL! You’re gonna get a spanking!
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:25 pm
Ramon:
RB is a combo guard.
-NOT-
Ben Gordon.
He’s being groomed to be a [1] in Dallas.
Still – he’s a * “basketball player”
by G-dad’s definition.
[1],[2], who gives a crap.
&
He can defend the [1] or the [2].
-think-
Defense 1st !!!
Astro Joe
June 29th, 2010
4:26 pm
Grandad, if at any point in the past few years, someone had suggested trading Joe for Haywood, well, let’s just say they should have been rushed to the nearest Dr. Drew reality show.
drmaryb
June 29th, 2010
4:29 pm
G-Daddy
It’s all fun and games ’til he get his eye-ball poked out!
You can borrow my Prada – Pump and POKE that fool in his bigoted eye-ball..
And don’t help him up. Call an Ambulance to transport him and his eye to Grady.
Hey Rondo,
Respect your elders. Father knows best!
i_am_soulstar
June 29th, 2010
4:30 pm
With all the talk about change, I’m gonna get verbally assaulted for this I’m sure..
But do you guys sincerely think that this team, as currently constructed (JJ included), can’t make it past the second round if 1) Drew turns out to be a quality coach (solves issue of lockerroom chemistry, motivates players to play efficiently, etc.), 2) Teague has a breakout season, 3) The Hawks acquire a quality big man to back up Horford and defend the likes of Dwight Howard and 4) Childress returns to come off the bench or replace Marvin as starting SF???
And I’m gonna go out a limb and say it.. Barring injury, there’s just no way Marvin performs next season the way he did this season (that’s me assuming we saw him at his worst).
i_am_soulstar
June 29th, 2010
4:30 pm
Fire away.
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:33 pm
Mary Ellen
OH BOY !!!
Now Dallas is closer to LR Ark. than any other NBA city
with the possible exception of Memphis.
I’ll check Map-quest on that one.
Now Mary ellen, I did teach Geography for quite a # of yrs.
Plus,
last time I checked…Dallas was not on the west coast.
However, if I keep on, I fear that I shall incur your wrath.
-and-
That scares me & I’m fearless !
Big Ray
June 29th, 2010
4:33 pm
Grandad ,
What is it that I’m worried about? I must have missed something…
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:35 pm
Astro Joe:
Well, that’s not exactly what I’m suggesting.
Just,
I’d rather get somethin’ than nuthin’.
Ramon
June 29th, 2010
4:36 pm
I_am, I honestly think its more likely the Hawks have a better season than last season if they bring back Joe, add a defender on the wing, and bring in a QUALITY veteran big.
Big Ray
June 29th, 2010
4:36 pm
Yeah, any sign and trade with Dallas that includes Joe Johnson needs to include Beaubois (or however you spell his name). Dallas might act up about it, but I’d accept no less.
The next question is do you go for Haywood or Butler? I don’t think we can get both. The only reason I say that is because I think all you can take back in a S&T is roughly half of the outgoing salary. Butler makes over $10 mil by himself.
If I’m wrong, somebody correct me on that….
D Hawks
June 29th, 2010
4:36 pm
I don’t think JJ was at the summit, if it happened, because he has already decided where he’s going. We’ll find out within the next few days where that is. I think that he’s more concerned with getting paid what he feels his market value is than winning a championship.
cp
June 29th, 2010
4:39 pm
O’Brien trust me I feel you but I still don’t see the Knicks being any good any time soon. Walsh is a very respected GM but I don’t remember him doing so well before he left Indiana. Maybe it was more of Bird’s doing than Walsh but either way the Pacers weren’t looking to good under him before he left.
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:40 pm
Big Ray
Just kiddin’ around ’bout you sayin’ the other day
how a typical day on the blog & all;
when you said somethin’ about me flirtin’ with drmaryb.
That’s all.
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:43 pm
Big Ray @ 1:43 PM
That’s how it can be done.
Just change the names to protect the innocent.
drmaryb
June 29th, 2010
4:52 pm
G-Daddy
I lknow, I thought about that afterwards, geography is my major weakness.
Anyway, I dodnt think Phoenix was that much farther away than Texas either.
But, it seems like Joe wanted to definitely be on the East Coast. (Farther East)
How else can you explain choosing Atlanta! A perennial loser? IDK G-Daddy, but
I was sure wouldn’t be opposed to the “spanking”.
Maybe, he didn’t like the South West division. Better team records seem to make it harder to
get to the finals. Except now, we got Boston, Magic, Heat, Cleveland and Atlanta too! (#3 seed = very impressive). Hopefully we can maintain that level.
Forgive me Mrs. G-Daddy, I’ll be easy on him. ROF. LOL.
Ramon
June 29th, 2010
4:53 pm
How many championships does Donnie Walsh have?
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:53 pm
Big Ray + Ramon + others
We send Joe S&T to Dallas for RB + $$$ + draft picks.
-Then-
seperate deal.
Dallas sends Hawks Haywood for Jordan Crawford.
Other names can be bandied about:
*Caron Butler
*Dominique Jones
*the “dust chip” Dampier
CBA expert capologist makes the #’s work.
I don’t trust Sund or the ASG. [post draft]
D Hawks
June 29th, 2010
4:54 pm
Big Ray, the salary exchange on a S&T depends on whether the team that wants Joe is over or under the cap and whether or not Joe wants to sign a full-Bird rights max deal or a smaller max deal. Search this blog because MC and his capologist buddies have covered it ad nauseum and makes my head spin to think about all the options. Bottom line is it’s really up to Joe, not the Hawks, as to whether that comes into play.
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
4:55 pm
Mary Ellen
whew, I was skeered.
Rondo
June 29th, 2010
4:56 pm
Ouch!My Eye My Eye! Is there a DOCTOR in the house! The Devil wears Prada and she struck me in the eye!oooouuuuccchhhh!
Junior
June 29th, 2010
4:57 pm
So MC, about that summer league roster? Just wanted to ask again in case it got missed in the mess.
Big Ray
June 29th, 2010
5:01 pm
D Hawks
Gotcha. OH, and it always has been Joe’s choice. I don’t understand why people don’t get that he is in pretty much complete control with this situation.
Grandad ,
I gotcha, LOL.
On the Dallas trade, I actually wanted Dominique Jones in the first place, to be honest.
Big Ray
June 29th, 2010
5:01 pm
In the draft, that is
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
5:02 pm
With Dirk opting out
does…
that effect S&T’s ?
&
the amounts of monies/salaries that can be exchanged ?
In other words was opting out [by Dirk] a ploy
to manipulate and exploit ways Dallas could
operate under the cap and within the system ?
D Hawks
June 29th, 2010
5:03 pm
Have I missed something guys? Where did the JJ to Dallas rumor come from? Remember Joe has to want to play there and Dallas has to want him in order to do an S&T.
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
5:05 pm
Big Ray
I still say somethin’ is funny about
Jordan C. not being intro’d to the Atl.
D Hawks
June 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
Interesting (funny?) post on hoopshype.com: The Knicks are targeting Joe Johnson as their No. 1 free agent choice and believe he’s a better fit for the team than LeBron James, according to an NBA source with knowledge of the team’s plans. “Yes, we think he’s a better player,” the source said of Johnson. “He makes other people better. With LeBron’s people running the locker room that hurts the organization.” SNY.tv
Certainly, this has got to be spin if the Knicks can’t get LeBron and only get JJ. I get the concerns about LBJ’s “people” but don’t tell me that JJ is a better player.
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
5:06 pm
D Hawks
Dallas media
rumors rampant!
drmaryb
June 29th, 2010
5:07 pm
Rondo
Ha ha ha! I’m glad you have a sense of humor! I got the old eye-ball line from an old
Rap-Record, I think? Anyway, having fun with ya!
But, please leave my Grand-Baby alone! I will fight real dirty for him.
Peace!
D Hawks
June 29th, 2010
5:07 pm
Who were these people watching in the playoffs?
D Hawks
June 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
Ah, that makes sense. Thanks Grandad. For my two cents, I think JJ will sign with Atl or NY in that order. Six year max deal here will bring him back. If that happens, I hope we don’t end up regretting it in 3 – 4 yrs.
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
5:10 pm
Rondo
Again – please explain.
“bigoted remark”
from last page.
I did not follow.
Rondo
June 29th, 2010
5:14 pm
Your comment at 3:49
NASCHAWK
June 29th, 2010
5:19 pm
JJ is a tier 2 free agent, why would you invite a tier 2 free agent to the G3 summit.
Rondo
June 29th, 2010
5:28 pm
Since ESPN and Stephen A. Smith and others are spreading rumors I got a juicy one to tell. Word is that JJ was told he couldn’t come to the G3 summit because he didn’t have enough tatoos and D-Wade didn’t want JJ there because he preferred Orange Juice over Apple Juice.Reports have Bosh telling JJ Drink more apple juice because OJ can kill You!
Victor
June 29th, 2010
5:29 pm
Joe Johnson’s not in the same class as those guys, so I see no reason he should be included.
cp
June 29th, 2010
5:30 pm
Here is a vid of Pape Sy.. He is number 10.. Doesn’t look that bad actually..
http://www.lnbtv.net/?videos=3099
Grandad
June 29th, 2010
5:34 pm
Rondo
Hate & bigotry ?
c’mon.
Maybe my choice of words *could* have been
sick of the *media’s constant barrage*
-of-
‘bron bron’.
However, I will not apologize for I said,
“the lad had done nuthin’ wrong” *paraphrase.
The media berated us with Bonds, Vick, Roth, & A-Rod,
as well. I got sick of the constancy of the same thing
every-day. We’ve been hearin’ the LbJ hyperbole for…
??? what two years now. Well it’s here, we are seeing
the crescendo, only problem is we’ve been innundated
for so long, who cares anymore.
Hate, Bigotry:
You do not know me well enough to use those words
in connection with me young man. I should hope
I never hear them again.
Read the whole of what a Man says.
Understand the context in which it comes forth.
I will let it go this once.
It happens again, it will be an insult to my mother.
I think your a good hearted young man, so am I.
However, I suggest, you should not rile me.
Mystikal
June 29th, 2010
5:36 pm
If Joe has a problem with hawks fans, is he seriously entertaining going to New York? They will eat him alive, shouting worse thinks than we could imagine and literally throw stuff at him when he chokes. But if that’s what he wants…
Prison Mike
June 29th, 2010
5:39 pm
Those guys are game changers, why invite an oil changer to this exclusive meeting.