Atlanta Hawks: All-in with max offer for Joe Johnson
When the Hawks meet with Joe Johnson in Los Angeles soon after the start of the free-agency negotiating period at 12:01 Thursday they are prepared to offer him a six-year contract for the maximum amount allowed, according to people with knowledge of their plans.
The exact amount of maximum contracts won’t be determined until a league audit is completed over the next week, but it’s expected to total about $119 million for a player with Johnson’s experience. The other teams making pitches to Joe can only offer him five years at about $92 million. I still believe that a gap of up to $27 million or so will be too much for Joe to turn down regardless of what other teams have to say about teaming up with LeBron or Bosh (or both), earning more in endorsements, or anything else not having to do with $27 million.
As a Bird-rights free agent, Johnson is eligible to receive from the Hawks a six-year contract starting at about $15.8 million with maximum raises of 10.5 percent in each year (the raises are based on the first-year salary and don’t compound). Keeping in mind that the numbers are not finalized, the year-by-year breakdown of the contract would look something like this: $15.8 million in 2010-11, $17.5 million in 2011-12, $19.4 million in 2012-13, $20.8 million in 2013-14, $22.4 million in 2014-15 and $24.1 million 2015-16. Joe would be 34-years old during the final season of the deal.
Before you ask, I’m wearing my beat writer’s beanie and keeping my opinion on this move to myself. Bret LaGree at Hoopinion . THHB at Peachtree Hoops and atl_hawk_luv at Hawks Str8Talk all offer reasonable takes on why they don’t like a max deal for J.J.
In analyzing this for yourself, keep in mind that the Hawks wouldn’t have the cap flexibility to find a comparable replacement for Joe in free agency. So if you want him gone, it means accepting that the Hawks probably wouldn’t be as good without him in the short term (LaGree and atl_hawk_luv explained why they think that’s OK). Also remember that if Joe accepts the deal and continues to produce at his current level for a couple years he could be a very tradeable asset in the future; his contract wouldn’t necessarily become an albatross.
MC
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672 comments Add your comment
darrell starks
July 1st, 2010
12:52 pm
Like i said before this sign of joe make no sense, if the hawks don’t pursue and allstar player, if you sign joe the hawks will have 2 make a strong decision on josh and horford.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
nobody
July 1st, 2010
12:55 pm
drmaryb: If its not allowed then why are people from YAHOOSPORTS,whose job it is to know this stuff, proposing S&T with Joe?
nobody
July 1st, 2010
12:56 pm
darell: I would love to have CP3 here. I just thought he was taken off the trading block by the owner. My fault
nobody
July 1st, 2010
12:58 pm
I still think Joe can be a complimentary player here. If Teague becomes a good PG. Well not complimentary necessarily but not main guy type stuff. If teague is as good as advertised, we have three legitamite scoring threats. We can be like the celtics. Joe doesnt have to do it all himself.
West Grove
July 1st, 2010
1:02 pm
Someone tell the hawks execs I got some beach front property for sale at Atlantic station.
nobody
July 1st, 2010
1:17 pm
and drmaryb. If sign and trades arent possible, how come the very article you are referencing says he is meeting with them for S&T scenarios.
wesleywhatwhat
July 1st, 2010
1:19 pm
jj is a talented player but not worth a max contract.
to offer him one is a big mistake.
Free
July 1st, 2010
1:34 pm
I don’t think he is good enough to need that much money
PHUCKER_JENKINS
July 1st, 2010
1:40 pm
Call the Hawks P.R. Department and let your feelings be known (404) 878-3800. I just let them know I won’t be renewing my season tickets if he signs that deal!!!!
2 FOR JOHN DREW
July 1st, 2010
1:44 pm
I agree w/ Big Dave & Big Ray ……. The HAWKS made a good move. It plainly shows JJ & the basketball world that we want you. Now do you really want to be here ? If not, ba-bye & hope for the best S & T deal. I can forgive JJ for his comments made towards the ATL fans b/c he was frustrated & we all know you’ll say things you shouldn’t say when you’re emotional ( that was ’bout the most emotion we ‘ve seen from him … as a matter of fact)
But, if he really is a part of this team, then his mission here ain’t finished. Got a different coach, different attitude, everybody says you aren’t a no. 1 type player, but you are the best ATL player . I’d like to see more ” fire in the belly leadership” fro you. You can think in your mind ” i don’t care if they come or not” …. you just can’t say it. Rally your players ….. us against the world ,and play with a chip on your shoulders. Still think we need a legit center, to keep it movin’ forward . GO HAWKS !!! (and take the Braves & Falcons w/ you ……. ALL THE WAY 2 THE CHAMPIONSHIP)
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
2:35 pm
Chris Paul maybe 25, but his left knee is 85!
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
2:38 pm
Nobody
I corrected your reading comprehension of an article. I could care less about any
S&T! That’s NOT my job – I’m a fan, not a GM or player.
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
2:41 pm
Nobody
If joe signs a Max Contract, his rights belong to ASG straight up! They are NOT offering him a
S&T contract …that would be pre-negotiagted with at least one other team involved at the signing.
That is NOT what Sund went to LA to do! Learn – before you type ignorant statements.
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
2:47 pm
Nobody
And furthermore, Joe can NOT do a S&T by HIMSELF! That takes 3 in agreement.
the Cavaliers have already stated they will do a S&T with LeBron up front, therefore
LeBron is limited to only teams who can sign him out-right. That means teams with
Cap-Space available and there are only 5 teams like that!
The call it a Salary Cap! The Cavaliers are refusing to take back any players or expiring conþracts in
Exchange þo make his new deal work! H E L L O … Anybody home Nobody?
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
2:50 pm
* the Cavaliers already stated they will NOT NOT NOT do a S&T with LeBron.
(I.E. They are NOT going to facilitate him leaving)
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
3:02 pm
Nobody
Who said S&T’s are not possible? What language do you read in?
Just admit that you made an egregious statement? You said, “Joe and the Hawks are meeting
With other teams later today.”. And that is a LIE!
Joe is meeting with other teams! He has to listen to every offer being made, that is
What an UFA must do. If three teams fly to LA for a meeting, do you honestly believe
He would be so rude as top not listen to what they have to say?
That is called Professionalism! He still has to make a decision at the end of the day.
No one else can offer him 6 and 119M – so there is only so much they can offer!
The city? – Yes! Playing with LeBron? No on can do that until LeBron signs!
Girls? Yes! A free house? No! A free Rolls Royce? No! What else can they offer besides 5 and 98M?
Nothing! Until another player signs that he wants to play with!
You are definitely nobody when it comes to intelligence.
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
3:09 pm
Nobody
You have lost all credibility here with me on this topic!
Just stop it! I’m done schooling you!
I only BWIBO (blog with iconic bloggers only). Last it checked, you fail to meet that criteria.
I have NO tolerance for IGNORANCE, we can all learn if we want to! I have been wrong a lot and corrected by smarter bloggers than me re: Cap & Trade, more importantly – once I learn, I become
enlightened and then I am no longer ignorant to the facts!
So, just admit what you said was wrong, learn from it and move on!
Just STOP IT!
Ab
July 2nd, 2010
11:39 am
There will be no S&T. Who are they gonna do a S&T for? Lebron, Wade, Kobe? Unless those players want to go to ATL with all their might then no. And who’s gonna sign Lebron or Wade to trade him for the max contract of JJ?
What’s the other alternative? Mavs giving up half their team for Joe? The contract is just too big and he’s just not worth it.
CD
July 2nd, 2010
12:15 pm
After waiting all year to give JJ a max contract.. somthing smells… I think the Hawks are doing a sign & trade… either the Knicks or Dallas are the targeted teams
ASG's Logic For J.J./Update? No Update - True Sports Core Forums
July 3rd, 2010
10:34 am
[...] [...]
jessis
August 21st, 2010
11:00 am
5. Michael Redd Milwaukee
$18,300,000
Really?
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jessis
August 22nd, 2010
10:25 am
keep in mind that the Hawks wouldn’t have the cap flexibility to find a comparable replacement for Joe in free agency.—absolutely true!
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