UPDATE: Still no word on an agreement between J.J. and the Hawks. There’s been no indication that a deal won’t happen soon, with J.J.’s agent telling Marc Berman of the New York Post: “[H]e’s comfortable in Atlanta, happy, and they can offer him one more year.”
If J.J. likes the team and the money, all that’s left for the Hawks is to wait . . .
Talked to a person with insight into ASG’s rationale for offering J.J. a max contract. Basically, the plan is for the Hawks to re-sign J.J. and then add the necessary pieces to make them a true contender in the Eastern Conference.
Letting Joe leave would mean the Hawks would be worse in the short term, and the Hawks aren’t prepared to take that step back (the sign-and-trade options aren’t so appealing as to assure the team would maintain or improve). Once they made that philosophical decision, they took a look at the market for J.J. It quickly became clear that a few teams with cap space were ready to offer him the non-Bird max, so the Hawks made an aggressive play to re-sign him and hope that pays off with a commitment from J.J. soon.
Atlanta’s basketball people recognize that re-signing J.J. alone isn’t enough to improve the team (because, well, it’s basically the same team) and ASG is not opposed to exceeding the luxury-tax threshold to sign the right player. That’s a good thing since they don’t have much choice. If J.J. re-signs, the Hawks would have about $68 million in committed salaries when including Chill’s $4.8 million qualifying offer and Jordan Crawford’s rookie-scale salary. The NBA projects the tax threshold will be about $68 million, so the Hawks would be bumping up against it with only 10 11 players under contract.
That leaves a minimum of three two open roster spots. If Chills signs an offer sheet (Washington is interested) and the Hawks don’t match it (they haven’t ruled out matching or working out a sign-and-trade) then the committed salaries would be roughly $63 million with four three open roster spots. The Hawks want a bona fide center and ASG is open to using the mid-level exception to sign one. They also will explore trade opportunities, though there haven’t been any serious discussions about potential moves because Rick Sund is focused on J.J. right now.
Here is where the draft ties into ASG’s thinking. The Hawks traded down with the belief that Jordan Crawford (he needs a nickname, right?) would still be there at No. 27. They liked Kentucky’s Daniel Orton and would have taken him with the No. 31 pick but he went 29th to the Magic and they didn’t like any of the other centers available. So they sold the No. 31 pick for close to $3 million, and that money could help offset their potential luxury tax bill and also the hit they would take for missing out on the tax escrow rebate.
ASG rejects the view expressed by David Aldridge and others that a potential sell of the team influenced the max offer to J.J. Michael Gearon Jr. has insisted that he is not interested in selling his share. It’s expected that Steve Belkin eventually, finally, mercifully will be bought out and another investor will be sought. The Hawks are said to be one of the few teams with no debt on their franchise.
So a future sell of the team is not what’s driving the decision to max out J.J., according to the person privy to ASG’s plans. It’s about the belief that re-signing J.J., adding more pieces and improving their tactics and approach under L.D. will allow the Hawks to finally take the next step. As far as I know, all the speculation about using J.J. in a sign-and-trade is off base, perhaps a way for skeptical observers to rationalize what they see as a bad contract offer from the Hawks. It’s always possible, I guess, but I haven’t heard anything that leads me to believe they want to send J.J. along (a sign-and-trade obviously would require his permission) and everything to suggest they really want him back.
I understand why many of my blog people (and it seems pretty much everyone on the Interwebs) believe this was a bad move. As I said before, Hoopinion, Peachtree Hoops and HawksStr8Talk all offered reasonable, clear-headed explanations as to why they feel the Hawks should move on without J.J. if his price is too high. I’m just trying to offer you as much insight as possible into why ASG did made the decision to offer the max.
If J.J. re-signs and the plan doesn’t work, with J.J.’s contract becoming a burden and their other moves also falling flat, then the Hawks will be judged harshly.
MC
444 comments Add your comment
GT Alum
July 1st, 2010
7:06 pm
Sorry, I would not equate not bringing back Joe to what the Hawks did when they traded away Mookie and Smitty. Needed the double negative there.
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
7:06 pm
FIRST OFF I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE. NO MATTER WHICH WAY U CUT IT, YOU ARE NOT GETTING A TALENT LIKE JOE JOHNSON IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, PERIOD. NOW WE CAN REALLY SEE WHAT JOSH HAS, WHAT THIS CORE IS MADE OF. TRADING MARVIN, JOSH, BIBBY WILL GIVE YOU RIGHT PIECES TO BUILD AROUND JOE AND AL. YOU BUILD AROUND A PLAYER LIKE JOE. YOU DON’T LET HIM WALK FOR NOTHING. WE CAN’T MOVE LIKE WE ONCE COULD, BUT THAT IS HOW MOST CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE BUILT, THRU TRADES. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OKC, TRADING FOR PROVEN PIECES IS THE WAY TO GO!! JOE JOHNSON IS THE FIFTH BEST PLAYER IN THIS FREE AGENT CLASS WE NEED HIM BACK PERIOD. HE IS NOT A LEADER BUT HE IS A SUPERIOR GUARD IN THIS LEAGUE THAT IRREPLACEABLE IF U DON’T HAVE ONE OF THE SUPERSTAR’S WALKING THRU THAT ATLANTA HAWKS DOOR!
@ Aaron: “MC, I’m curious why the Hawks didn’t go all-in last year, fresh off a trip to the 2nd round…it would’ve made things much simpler with JJ, IMHO.”
THEY DIDN’T SIGN HIM OFF THE BAT BECAUSE THEY KNEW HE IS NOT WORTH THE MAX MONEY, BUT THEY HAD TO SEE WHAT HIS MARKET WOULD BE. SMART BUSINESS MOVE, IF JOE WOULD OF WENT OUT THERE AND NO ONE WAS TALKING MAX MONEY, THEN THEY WOULD GOT HIM A LOT CHEAPER. BUT JOE JOHNSON WAS GETTING MAX MONEY FROM OTHER TEAMS, AND THE HAWKS HAD THE ULTIMATE TRUMP CARD, IN THAT THEY CAN GIVE HIM 27 MILLION MORE THAN ANY OTHER TEAM!!
GREAT MOVE ASG! FINALLY YOU HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING EVEN IF IS A LITTLE BIT OF REACH, I UNDERSTAND THE PHILOSOPHY!!!! LET’S GO HAWKS!! I THINK WE ARE ON TO SOMETHING! THIS MOVE SHOWS THEY ARE DETERMINED TO GET US TO A CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER…
JSS
July 1st, 2010
7:09 pm
@ Michael Cunningham…
I’ll take the job if you get that smart behind D. Orlando Ledbetter to get someone to both fact check, proofread and edit his diatribes?
You’re a fantastic job since the end of the playoffs by the way…
ryan
July 1st, 2010
7:10 pm
Hey Cunningham who are the targeting in S&T is a Mello or J. O’Neal a possibility do i here the Pistons are cleaning house.
GT Alum
July 1st, 2010
7:10 pm
ClassicHawks, please learn how to turn off the caps lock key. When I see a big chunk of all caps, I just skip over it, and I’m not the only one.
O'Brien
July 1st, 2010
7:10 pm
I feel better about the hawks selling #31 based on their reasoning. However, they will make the necessary moves to take the next step this season.
JSS
July 1st, 2010
7:13 pm
Ha ha… “doing”
ReddJonn68
July 1st, 2010
7:19 pm
Sund is a joke , we had the chance during the season before this fire sale started to improve this team via trade, there were too many quality players available during the season to pass on. Now we will sign for a max contract & have less money to offer any player that will actually help this team in the long run. Where is this extra money to impove the team suppose to come from. If we had ASG wouldn’t spend it too many hand in the pot. I am & always will be a Hawks fan, but I’m not delusional.
Darrell K
July 1st, 2010
7:19 pm
Please Hawks!!! On everything I love!!!! Do Not Do This Deal!!!! There has got to be a better way!!
BrittishAnger
July 1st, 2010
7:19 pm
You do make some good points, and in all honesty ASG not wanting to take too drastic a step backwards to maintain financial flexibility does show that their mental huevos aren’t horribly scrambled….Honestly, it was initially my hope that JJ just wouldn’t want to come back, after his pitiful performance in the post-season and his comments regarding us (the fans), I figured he wouldn’t want to come back and deal with us; but now my hope is that if he’s intent on returning he would rework the deal to allow some financial flexibility to acquire additional support without bankrupting us or forcing us to “settle” on who is left available to pursue once the initial smoke clears. I honestly don’t like it very much, but pending a Marvin Williams/Mike Bibby trade to loosen up some financial slack, we may just come out of this far less unscathed than initially anticipated…
PapiSean99
July 1st, 2010
7:20 pm
They are crazy as heck man this guy it strictly MID LEVEL exception at best. You are paying MAX money to a 2 player at best!!!
northcyde
July 1st, 2010
7:22 pm
As for MC’s article, the most important part may be the part where the Hawks selling of the 31st pick came because the center they wanted, wasn’t there. And that they could use the money from the sale of the pick to offset potential luxury tax penalties.
If that’s the case, and the Hawks go a little over the luxury tax line to field the team that they want, I don’t think anybody ( including myself ), can criticize their commitment to making this team better.
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
7:22 pm
@ GT ALUM… I REALLY COULD CARE LESS WHO READS WHAT I HAVE TO SAY. ATLANTA FANS ARE THE MOST EMOTIONAL, UNINFORMED FANS IN THE WORLD. THEY COULD REALLY CARE LESS WHAT AN INFORMED, INTELLIGENT ATLANTA FAN HAS TO SAY ANYHOW. SO I WILL KEEP THE CAPS ON AND DO ME, AND I SUGGEST YOU SKIP MY POST EVERYTIME YOU SEE IT, AND JUST DO YOU!! Thanks GT, however for your concern! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWKKKKKS!!! AND FALCONS & BRAVES!!!!!!! LOL!
Derrick
July 1st, 2010
7:24 pm
Just a thought, would it be a bad idea to pursue Shawn Livingston to run the point? We could fit him in at his salary, he made a decent comeback from his injury, and he is a 6′7 point guard. I liked him when he was drafted. I think signing him and then going after a center might help. Unless we can sign and trade JJ for Chris Paul.
Vernardo
July 1st, 2010
7:26 pm
One other positive that I see coming out of this deal is the fact that this team, as is, is pretty loaded. It is by far better than any of the current teams with cap space, and will remain better even if each of them land one big name player. As a result, serviceable vets looking for the MLE would have additional incentive to come to ATL over some of the other cities.
GT Alum
July 1st, 2010
7:27 pm
Well, if you don’t care if anyone reads it, then why do you even bother posting?
Swingman912
July 1st, 2010
7:29 pm
Did someone say the reason we lost in the second round is because ZaZa, Jamal, and Al had bad games? They must not be looking at Joe’s numbers…….If you’re our primary offensive option, then you are going to take the most shots, and of course Joe did in that series. The problem is, hardly any of the shots he took went in. I’m not saying that if Joe showed up that series that we were going to win the series, but we would have at least contended…..that’s the reason why ppl are calling this the worse max offer in free agency this year…..Lets just hope these “pieces” combined with LD’s offense make us at least equally good………CHUUUUUUUUUCH
Vernardo
July 1st, 2010
7:29 pm
Derrick, just out of curiosity, why do you want another PG on the roster? Unless we unload Bibby through a trade, we will have 3 guys that can potentially play the PG position (Teague, Bibby, and Crawford, if necessary). By the way, adding Livingston on top of these guys will only reduce the minutes that Teague will potentially receive next season, and limited minutes for Teague were one of the major complaints from fans this season. If we can trade Bibby, I wouldn’t mind seeing Livingston as our backup PG, but otherwise, I don’t think it would be a good move to add him to the current roster.
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
7:30 pm
HAWKS WON 53 GAMES LAST YEAR. THEY LOST IN THE SECOND ROUND TO A MORE EXPERIENCED, DEEPER, AND QUITE FRANKLY BETTER TEAM IN ORLANDO AND LAST YEAR TO CLEVELAND. AT THE END OF THE DAY THE HAWKS HAVE NOT MAXED OUT ON THERE POTENTIAL OF THIS TEAM!!!!! SO PLEASE STOP SAYING THAT. WHEN YOUR CORE IS 25 AND UNDER YOU STILL HAVE ROOM TO GROW! WE ARE A COUPLE PIECES AWAY FROM A CHAMPIONSHIP SQUAD.
BOTTOM LINE…
JeJe
July 1st, 2010
7:37 pm
Execute a deal of Marvin + Bibby for Monta and I will recant every negative statement I ever made to anyone here or about the owners
JeJe
July 1st, 2010
7:38 pm
We need to try move Joe to the 3.
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
7:39 pm
TO VENT GT, TO VENT. MAYBE ITS LIKE MY CONFESSIONAL BUDDY. CAPS ARE MY FRIEND. EVERYONE NEEDS A VOICE EVEN IF NO ONE IS LISTENING. IMMA DO ME!
Thanks.
JeJe
July 1st, 2010
7:40 pm
HOW THE HELL DO WE GET ALL THESE BLOGS ABOUT HOW GEARON SAID WE’D “REACT” WHEN FREE AGENCY CAME, YET THE SECOND FREE AGENCY BEGINS HE OFFERS A MAX CONTRACT?
LOL.
WORST OWNERSHIP IN THE NBA
Bailey
July 1st, 2010
7:41 pm
JeJe,
I can understand your logic in moving Joe to the 3, considering the overabundance of guards the Hawks have, but I think this would reduce Joe’s effectiveness a bit. One of his main advantages is his massive size. He’s so much bigger than most SGs that he can consistenly post them up, overpower them, and shoot over them. If he is moved to the SF position, that advantage will disappear for the most part. He’ll be quicker than more SFs than SGs, but speed is not necessarily Joe’s strongest area.
GT Alum
July 1st, 2010
7:42 pm
ClassicHawks, you’re right, we’re a couple of pieces away. Most people are scared because if the Hawks sign Joe, they are going to be close to the luxury tax, which they’ve tried to avoid in the past. People were afraid they wouldn’t pay the tax to pick up those pieces.
If what MC was told is really the Hawks’ thinking, we’ve got hope. But the way the Hawks and the Thrashers have given a lot of people (including many outside of Atlanta) the impression that they don’t know how to run a winning team. I’m pretty sure most of us doubters are hoping they prove us wrong.
JeJe
July 1st, 2010
7:44 pm
“what cap space? there is none. there are cap exceptions and trades.”
The Atlanta Hawks are shopping Marvin Williams and Mike Bibby in an attempt to free up cap space, according to league sources.
Realsquawk
July 1st, 2010
7:47 pm
Thanks for the insight I figured it was something like that, but I hope they have not completely closed their minds to sign and trades and I hope they have some big signings in mind.
Chip Shot
July 1st, 2010
7:47 pm
@ClassicHawks
“IMMA DO ME!”
DO YOU! CLASSICHAWKS DO YOU!
cp
July 1st, 2010
7:48 pm
I cant lie I’m more interested in the Marvin trade than the Joe signing.. If we can get rid of both Duck and Bibby I will be popping bottles this weekend in celebration of getting those two out of here.
Francois
July 1st, 2010
7:52 pm
cp, if we end up getting rid of “Duck and Bibby” for even worse players and virtually no cap space, you might be popping bottles for reasons other than celebration this weekend.
I Heart Atlanta
July 1st, 2010
7:53 pm
@classicHawks AMEN IM WITH YOU WE DO STILL HAVE ROOM TO GROW I AM WITH YOU LMAO
@MannyT I don’t get it but i love the show the boondocks lol
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
7:56 pm
@ CHIP SHOT, U ALREADY KNOW! @ GT ALUM. THEY HAVE PUT A GOOD PRODUCT ON THAT BASKETBALL COURT EVEN IF THEY HAVE NOT REACHED THE SALARY CAP. THE THRASHERS WILL NEVER BE OF A GREAT INTEREST IN ATLANTA BECAUSE THIS A BLACK CITY. GEARON IS HAWKS MAN AND HE WANTS A WINNER. MONEY IS TIGHT WITH THESE GUYS BUT TRULEY THE ASG WANTS A CHAMPION ON THE BASKETBALL COURT. THEY HAVE DONE EVERYTHING IN THERE POWER TO PUT A GOOD PRODUCT ON THAT COURT. THE THRASHERS, MAN THEY NEED TO SELL THEM, I COULD NOT EVEN TELL YOU WHO COACHES THEM. BLACK CITY AND HOCKEY=FAILURE!! ALL DAY AND ALL WAYS!!
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
8:00 pm
@ I HEART ATL. YEAH MAN YOU HAVE THREE ALLSTARS, AND JEFF TEAGUE BUST IS A$$ TO BECOME A STARTER. JEFF TEAGUE IS THE WILD CARD, IF HE EVEN TAPS A PART OF HIS POTENTIAL THIS YEAR, THIS TEAM WILL BE SUUUUUPPPPPPER SCARY!! JEFF TEAGUE HAS THE TALENT TO BE A SUPER-STAR! TRUST THAT!
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
8:03 pm
@ JEJE. THE OWNERSHIP REACTED TO THE MARKET. WHICH WAS THE RIGHT MOVE. YOU GUYS HAVE TO COMMEND THIS MOVE, STOP DISSING IT. IT IS THE RIGHT MOVE AND THE DRAFT WAS DONE RIGHT AS WELL. BOTH YEARS OF SUND’S ADMINISTRATION. YALL GOTTA WAKE UP AND SEE WHAT IS GOING ON. THE RIGHT MOVES ARE BEING MADE. LETS WIN NOW, FORGET ABOUT LATER.
I Heart Atlanta
July 1st, 2010
8:04 pm
YEA HE DOES TEAGUE IS SUPER ATHLETIC AND FAST AS HELL HE COULD BE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
July 1st, 2010
8:06 pm
“I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE’RE YELLING ABOUT!!!!!!!”
–Brick Tamland
I Heart Atlanta
July 1st, 2010
8:06 pm
WIN NOW WIN NOW WIN NOW WIN NOW WIN NOW
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
8:10 pm
MC
Spanking the kids is – Rich!
Great Job! Want to compliment you for hogging the beat and feeding us guppies some
solid facts to chew on. I’m tired of chewing on each other – I literally got food poisoning
from eating some bad and illogical postings all week. LOL.
I pretty much thought the ASG had a plan to improve upon this past season and post season.
I like what I am hearing, but I want to see Joe sign that dotted line before exhaling.
Fantastic Job – MC! ;0. Mmmmwah!
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
8:10 pm
TEAGUE WAS BALLING HARD LAST YEAR. WOODY WOULD NOT GIVE THAT KID THE PROPER RUN. THATS PROBABLY WHY WOODY NOT HERE ANYMORE! BESIDES MONEY, THEY GAVE LARRY DREW THIS JOB BECAUSE HE WAS A NBA POINT FOR 10 YEARS AND HE HAS ALREADY SAID JEFF TEAGUE IS HIS TO DEVELOPE AND HE SEE MASSIVE POTENTIAL. I THINK TEAGUE IS GOING TO BE GREAT! HE SO FAST, SO EXPLOSIVE WITH TONS OF SKILL. WHEN HE PUTS IT ALL TOGETHER HE COULD BE SPECIAL!!!! BARRING INJURY HE COULD BE A GREAT PG FOR YEARS TO COME. HE HAS THE HEART OF A LION AND HE IS ALSO A LEADER. AL AND TEAGUE LEADING AND JOE DOING WHAT HE HAS TO DO. I’M TELLING YOU NOW AS LONG HAS THEY STAY HEALTHY THIS TEAM IS GOING TO GET BETTER AS IS. WE WILL ADD MORE VET PEICES AND THEN IT’S ON AND POPPIN!! TRUST THAT!! AND NOW YOU KNOW!!
TS
July 1st, 2010
8:10 pm
In giving JJ a max deal, the best Atlanta contract comparison off the top of my head is Derek Lowe, i.e., they are massively overpaying now, and they are REALLY going to regret it in a couple years. At least Lowe’s deal is only 4 years.
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
8:15 pm
Najeh
OMG! Get your gat and kill the messenger. Put a cap in Mr. CAPS! Geez!
Just Stop it!
ClassicHawks
July 1st, 2010
8:18 pm
DEREK LOWE IS NOT JOE JOHNSON. DEREK LOWE IS RAY ALLEN. SKILLED BUT OLD, BUT DOESN’T DO IT ALL. JOE IS 6′7′ WING MAN WHO CAN DEFEND, SCORE, REBOUND, PASS. 20,5,5 THERE IS ONLY A HAND FUL WHO DOES THAT. LOWE ROBBED THE BRAVES, BUT AT LEAST HE’S SERVICEABLE. WREN WENT PITCHER CRAZY, BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE A CONTENDER WITH THE BRAVES AS WELL!! STOP WHINING ABOUT MONEY THAT YOUR NOT SPENDING. PROBABLY DONT EVEN HAVE SEASON TICKETS. SO SHUT UP WITH THE MONEY SPLURGING, IT TRUELY SUCKS, BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS EVERY YEAR!! ATLANTA FANS ARE STOOOOOOOOPID!
doc
July 1st, 2010
8:19 pm
northcyde, both najeh and i on different blogs about a couple hours apart independently said about the same thing exactly, jj by the numbers is in the range of the 1a stars if he got to the line as much as the 1a protected players do. maybe the max contract will allow the refs to see him in a different light. his numbers would easily push to 25 ppg if he got the type of calls d wade, kobe or the queen get, easy, because all of a sudden guys have to give him some more space and he has 4 points a night more in free throws made not attempted. maybe stern will send out his posse to see it happen.
but to argue this:”
“The reason we lost in the 2nd round was ZaZa, Horford, and Jamal all played terribly, even though Joe played great”
heh heh you lost your mind dude or want to seriously pull chain. the guy still has not stepped up and a lot of stars dont, such as ray allen for example, in the big time. i hope that your comments were more of the “forecast of the future than a delirious mind.n
Saint Richt
July 1st, 2010
8:19 pm
True contender……………………funniest thing I have heard today.
I Heart Atlanta
July 1st, 2010
8:24 pm
SEASON TICKET HOLDER RIGHT HERE
drmaryb
July 1st, 2010
8:25 pm
Reading is Fundamental
Comprehension skills 101:
“nope you can have it”.
Refers to the job of proof reading the blop! Not owning it! And, the owner is willing to pay
Max-Money in exchange that: you never post on MC’s blog ever again!
I for one, hope and pray that. “Je-Azz”. Can pull the pen out of his anal-spinchter and sign
on the dotted line. Then, we can get a restraining order to enforce unlawful blog entries!
Sign him up – Puh Lease!
(comment dictated but not proof-read.)
Najeh Davenpoop
July 1st, 2010
8:27 pm
Damn, people comparing Joe’s max deal to Derek Lowe? Joe is younger and better than Lowe was when he signed his deal. Come on now. You gotta at least give Joe that level of credit.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 1st, 2010
8:29 pm
I don’t think northcyde’s 6:49 PM comment was actually made by him. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
northcyde
July 1st, 2010
8:30 pm
And let me say this about the fan comment, since some of you are still soooooooo hurt by it.
I was at Game 3. The “fans” in that arena literally turned on the Hawks before the 1st quarter was even over. Some of the were booing after JJ’s 3rd shot. And as the booing continued throughout the 2nd quarter, you could see the disgust on all of the players faces. The harder they tried to press, the more they would mess up.
So as that chorus of boos rained down in that arena at halftime, both the team and the fans gave up. The game got worse after halftime, and the boos continued. People stuck around at the end of the game, just to boo the team off the court.
Why did they boo?
Did they boo because they didn’t like the Hawks anymore?
Or did they boo out of frustration, knowing that the series was all but over with the Magic being up 3 games to zero?
It wasn’t until then, that JJ commented on the fans and their booing. And he made it out of the same feelings of frustration that the fans were feeling.
*********
So let me ask you “fans” who are still mad at JJ for his commens 3 months later . . .
Do you REALLY BELIEVE that JJ hates the fans? Or do you believe that his comments were in the heat of the moment after a real bad loss?
For a guy who people criticized for being too quiet for years, do you REALLY BELIEVE that JJ hates, or doesn’t like the fans?
Do you REALLY HATE JJ for one incident, after 5 years of basically saying nothing, or doing nothing to get into trouble?
It’s time for some of you to simply man up ( or woman up ) and let that go.
Derrick
July 1st, 2010
8:31 pm
Vernardo, You make really good points. I see it this way, SL is 24 (I think), Bibby, not so young. Teague looks good and with more minutes, maybe he will shine. I like Crawford off the bench. He is an undeniable force in that role. I know we need a center as well, but I like the idea of a PG that causes mismatches, especially if we can get one for a decent price. His health does come into question though. It’s just a thought.