Atlanta Hawks: Still waiting on J.J. (Sat. Update: Hawks confident, patient)

SAT. UPDATE: Despite the rumblings about J.J. bolting to team up with another All-Star , the Hawks remain confident he will accept their max contract offer.

There hasn’t been discussion about a sign-and-trade because Joe still hasn’t given Atlanta any indication he doesn’t want to re-sign. The Hawks expected the process would take a few days so, from their perspective, nothing has changed. Hawks blog legend Sekou agrees that everything is still on track for an agreement.

Note to my blog people: I’ve been trying to avoid posting new blogs unless there’s a significant development in the story so you can continue your comment threads. If you are interested in more frequent updates/chatter/discussion, you can follow me on Twitter. If you are not on Twitter, you should be. . . .

The apparent hesitation by J.J. to accept the Hawks’ six-year, maximum contract offer has led to speculation that perhaps he’s waiting to see what happens with LeBron and other top free agents before committing to Atlanta.

(UPDATE: Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com reports that J.J. “wants to see how things shake out with the other maximum-salary free agents” before making a decision. He quotes a source saying the chances of J.J. accepting the offer are “slightly” better than 50-50.)

SI’s Ian Thomsen reported earlier today that J.J. and Stoudemire remained “open-minded” about taking less money to sign with the Knicks if LeBron goes there (though now it looks like Amare already is committed to New York) . Under that scenario, which Thomsen described as a “longshot”, either J.J. or Amare (or both) would have to take even less than the non-Bird max to play with LeBron in New York since the Knicks don’t have the cap space to give all three max deals.

Meanwhile, the Hawks continue to wait on Joe. There still have been no indications that he won’t accept their offer. His agent says Joe is “comfortable” and “happy” in Atlanta. In their last meeting, the Hawks reiterated their desire to offer him $27 million more than what he can get on the market. So I’m not sure what’s the hold up.

If you are still hoping for a J.J. sign-and-trade, the transaction would have to happen all at once. When the signing period opens on July 8, the Hawks couldn’t sign J.J. and then trade him later in a separate transaction. Under CBA rules, if J.J. re-signs with the Hawks he’s not eligible to be traded for 90 days or until Dec. 15, whichever comes later.

MC

304 comments Add your comment

Hawks73

July 3rd, 2010
8:30 am

I am having a hard time reconciling what is the right move in this situation with J.J. For all the negatives that Joe has (in regards to playoff performance), he also has quite a few positives. He plays hard most if not all the time, he produces at a 20 + pt clip, plays decent to pretty good d, pretty good distributor of the ball, and overall has a strong desire to win/succeed.

It would be impossible for the Hawks to immediately replace J.J. due to several factors. 1.) The NBA salary cap restrictions 2.) The lack of strong ownership group/willingness to build a champion to attract free agents 3.) The lack of cache and credibility with the current coach (even though I like him).

If I am assessing the whole picture honestly, J.J probably isn’t worth the max @ 6yr, 120mill, but what, if any options, do the Hawks really have? I believe that from a fans perspective, I would much rather see this team make the max offer (which they did), and either keep J.J. or try to work on a sign & trade. I can’t fathom that letting J.J. go for next to nothing would give this team something to build on…just how I see it.

vava74

July 3rd, 2010
9:09 am

I am getting fed up with the 2 second tier thing:

http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM

JJ’s numbers in the clutch are better than Durant’s.

But Durant – who is still a work in progress defensively – is a “sexier” choice and JJ is stuck on “second tier” status.

He was averaging 27,5ppg 7,5rpg and 4,5rpg on .477 FG% after 4 playoff games against MIL.

Did he sulk and sucked after the chemistry issues emerged? Yes, but he was stuck in a lose-lose situation: bad coaching and bad chemistry.

He just wanted to walk out as soon as possible and who can really blame him?

Mentally he does lack the “edge” but he has never been in a good situation with the Hawks.

Paul Pierce before he got Garnett and Allen “led” the celtics to a 24 win season and was on the trading block. Now he is known as “the Truth”…

Go figure.

The Boss

July 3rd, 2010
9:13 am

I’ll say it once more:
JJ’s Contract 2010 = John Koncak of the 80’s

tony

July 3rd, 2010
9:18 am

Asked if he had any more thoughts on the topic after sleeping on it, J.J. said:

“It was tough. I don’t think we’ve heard the boos like that in the five years since I’ve been here. When I first got here, man, there were probably like 100 people out there in those seats. I won’t say everybody is a diehard, but they’ve shown us a lot of support over the years. In the heat of the battle you tend to say a lot of things. But it was tough, man. I was a little [ticked] off but I am over now.”

What does 100 people in the stands have to do with him not caring if the fans showed up at the ball games? When he got to Atlanta they average around 7,722 fans a game so JJ is a derogatory lier. He knew before he came to Atlanta that the team was a bad team so what does he expect. If he was a fan he probable wouldn’t go to 1 game to watch a bad team play.

Sign John Salmons and Brendan Haywood and let JJ move on.

JeJe

July 3rd, 2010
9:28 am

“That’s the whole point of becoming a free agent. It’s the whole reason Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce opted out. Not because they don’t want to be with their current teams — in fact Pierce has already re-signed with the Celtics — but because they want to see what’s out there, and maybe they just want the attention from other teams because it makes them feel good.”

Great point, Najeh.

vava74

July 3rd, 2010
9:37 am

Tony,

Tell me what Haywood has to show for his career as accomplishments?

He is beyond 30 and has brought close to nothing to Dallas (who got bumped in the first round if you did not notice).

What has Haywood accomplished during his career beyond amassing hamburgers and coasting in all his years playing with the Wizards?

A few good games against Howard? So what?

And Salmons? Yes, he is a fine offensive player but he can’t defend his own shadow and JJ completely wiped him out of the map in the playoffs.

Is that your solution to replace an ALL NBA THIRD teamer?

Is that your solution to replace a guy with these clutch stats UNDER A BAD offensive system: http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM (only 20% of his buckets came assisted!!!!!).

Check the link man. Check the link and tell me that you can easily replace that offensive ability ALLIED with JJ’s defensive ability?

Again, I acknowledge that Salmons is a pretty good player, but he is not as complete. BY A MILE.

How many guys in the top of that list defend as well as JJ?

JeJe

July 3rd, 2010
9:40 am

Is that your solution to replace a guy with these clutch stats UNDER A BAD offensive system: http://www.82games.com/0910/CSORT11.HTM (only 20% of his buckets came assisted!!!!!).

Check the link man. Check the link and tell me that you can easily replace that offensive ability ALLIED with JJ’s defensive ability?

Again, I acknowledge that Salmons is a pretty good player, but he is not as complete. BY A MILE.

How many guys in the top of that list defend as well as JJ?

———-

1) Joe likes to take defensive possessions off

2) Joe CANNOT score easy baskets

3) Fire SUND

vava74

July 3rd, 2010
9:42 am

The Boss,

Comparing an ALL NBA THIRD TEAMER with Koncak is a certificate of stupidity that you lay on yourself.

Get a grip and lay off the Meth.

The only reason why Koncak got that contract is because he was a “great-white-hope(less)-log-of-wood”.

He was nothing but a role player (7pts 5reb), JJ is a clutch performer with all round ability and highly regarded in the league and within the top 5 in his position (for me he is #3 SG in the league and a top 10 talent regardless of position).

darrell starks

July 3rd, 2010
10:04 am

I don’t like the money that the hawks offer jj, but in actuality they have no choice, there are no other player the hawks can sign that can keep them in the hunt come playoffs, and please don’t say salomon he is not on the level of a jj.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!

Jimmy

July 3rd, 2010
10:12 am

I don’t like it that JJ is taking so much time to decide.
While he waits, free agents are getting signed elsewhere.
I hope the Hawks are not going to sit by while losing out on other potential FA’s.
Don’t let JJ hurt the team…replace him.
It shouldn’t be this hard to decide.

darrell starks

July 3rd, 2010
10:18 am

Signing joe is a plus if the hawks can bring in a star player beside him then joe will be suitable player because we all no thats joe is not a number one, but if your looking at the bigger pic. the hawks have 2 make a big decision between josh and horford because of the position they play, both player are power forward and have high demand in the value of bringing back a star player, soon or later the decision will have 2 be made.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

extremus

July 3rd, 2010
10:20 am

The NBA is broken, and has been for some time, with regard to competitive balance. No other pro sport is determined as much by individual efforts as basketball, so it’s no wonder so many of those guys are egomaniacal divas with little or no loyalty to a city or its fans. They’ll gladly form an alliance of convenience to get that ring, and honestly none of them really care whether it’s in a New York, a Cleveland, or an Atlanta; they just go where the most money and sense of prestige is. When they’re tired of the town or simply find a better offer, they’re off again, so why should we even care what they do?

What’s especially disturbing about a group of big-name free agents getting together and/or watching each others’ inclinations is that an even more unbalanced share of the talent will be falling into the laps of bigger or richer markets. And what that means is the rapid decline and eventual demise of many smaller-market teams and possibly a massive implosion of the entire NBA into a much smaller league within the next decade, probably. It doesn’t take a math genious to realize that losing tons of money each year means that it WILL happen for many franchises across pro sports pretty soon; it’s stupid to stay in business if that’s the case. So in the end, we can pretty much say that greed and money ruined professional sports. And I mean that in the past tense; the worst is only still to come.

darrell starks

July 3rd, 2010
10:23 am

Look at boston they kept paul, traded jefferson a young up and coming star player for kevin, and traded there 5th pick for allen, and won a title, so if the hawks are going do the same, big decision are going 2 have 2 be made.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!

terrell

July 3rd, 2010
10:28 am

Hesitant to sign a 126 mill$ contract, when your’re not an elite player is INSANE. I woulda already had the pen in my hand when Sund arrived in LA. lol!

Jimmy

July 3rd, 2010
10:31 am

extremus:

You said it all!
I know it is not collusion for those stars to get together like that…but it should be.
When players can manipulate the market and teams in this way, it should be collusion.
The NBA is truly broken.

JoJo the Godfather

July 3rd, 2010
10:31 am

The ideas that the Hawks are looking to rid themselves of Marvin Williams and sign a high profile, though aged, free agent center, leads me to believe that the Hawks may at least experiment with Josh Smith as a STARTING small forward (Drew already teased that Josh needed to drop some weight to play for him)…we’d probably only be talking about half the first quarter before subs are made…i can’t imagine Shaq or Big Z signing with Atlanta just to come off the bench…the perception would at least have to be that they were a starter even though they may only play backup minutes…could Josh start and end a game at small forward (say 10-15 minutes total), while playing PF in between (20-25 minutes)???

Steve

July 3rd, 2010
10:32 am

Boston is offering 32 yr. Paul Pierce a 4 yr. deal worth 80+ m.

Dallas is offering 32 yr. old Dirk a 4 yr. deal worth 80+ m.

Knicks offering an oft injured, no defense Amare a 5 yr. deal worth 100m

Grizz’s gave Gay – a 1 dimensional player a 5 yr. 80+ mill. deal

Giving a guy who will be 34 at the end of the contract a 6 yr. 120m is not too off base in this market. Josh is looking like a bargain at less than 11m.

Trent

July 3rd, 2010
10:41 am

Why are we waiting on Joe? Let go with plan B. Joe does not want to be here in Atlanta. Why are we not looking at some of the other free agents? This ownership group remind me of the Smith family that use to own the Falcons. All who are die hard Atliens know what I’m talking about.. Stop waiting!!!!!! GO TO PLAN B. Joe is not a show stopper..

JoJo the Godfather

July 3rd, 2010
10:47 am

When guessing about sign and trade options with New York, keep in mind that Houston has the right to swap picks with New York next year, and Houston gets New York’s 2012 1st rounder as well…So as some of you are in favor of S&T deals with New York, you’re looking at a late pick next year (the lower of New York & Hosuton), and/or waiting until 2014 for a pick (you can’t trade away 1st rounders in consecutive years).

Grandad

July 3rd, 2010
10:49 am

-Hatter-

Well said.

However, if you’ll notice, I said; what I said.
-Then-
in a very light & somewhat comedic tone;
made the above…..^…..statement.
alluding to yourself.

My admonishment came prior.

I realize [and I thank my lucky stars] you are not my son.
-Also-
Were, you my real son, you’d be wearing dentures right now.

“Just for the record, I have no problem a) verbally jousting with any one” ‘TS’

Therefore I will continue to enjoy amusing repartee’
both with my friends plus those who amuse me.

drmaryb is my friend & I am most “Cavalier”
when someone [I don't know] acts rudely.

Now, enjoy the day, as will I.
Once again, no harm no foul.

One more thang, you ain’t my Great-Grandad either.
Now have a good chuckle & don’t be so quick to think
I’m admonishing you every time I mess with you.

DP

July 3rd, 2010
10:49 am

vava74, Joe Johnson is a top 10 talent? You must be smoking crack. Tell me with a straight face which of these 15 guys Johnson is better than.

LeBron James
Dwayne Wade
Kobe Bryant
Dwight Howard
Kevin Durant
Tim Duncan
Pau Gasol
Deron Williams
Chris Paul
Rajan Rondo
Brandon Roy
Steve Nash
Derrick Rose
Carmelo Anthony
Dirk Nowitzki

DP

July 3rd, 2010
10:52 am

It’s amazing that the ASG put a max deal on the table and is letting Johnson shop around the league. Pull the offer, tell his agent they’re done with Johnson but will consider sign and trade deals until July 8.

KevinM

July 3rd, 2010
10:55 am

JJ to NY or CHI tells you he is intrigued with playing WITH other elite players. But he has Smoove and Al here and Teague will get his chance. Is it JJ just wants a change of scenery? Because he knows that once the Hawks come up short again, he will be the villain after one season at a max contract.

I understand how much we don’t want JJ back for that number. We will probably feel this way each offsesason going forward. But as much as we want to push JJ out the door, I am not sure a fair return can be had…..

- We don’t need Deng, another forward.
- We don’t need Curry, as his contract helps little for the current season.

If we can get picks from Chicago and NY, I am more in line with that thought process because for them to purchase JJ, they need to ante up part of their future to secure him.

Who knows where this goes, but if we can get the Knicks’ or Bulls’ 1st rounder for the next year or 2, then I can be convinced this is better for the Hawks as a whole.

We have seen how far we can go with JJ; now let’s see how far we can get moving JJ out and replacing him with multiple pieces. I like Crawford in his role for this coming season.

lewis

July 3rd, 2010
10:55 am

JJ is a super-fire competitive player . I thought I wanted him gone but I don’t. He was exhausted from the regular season + the Milwaukee series in the playoffs. He’s every bit the player Paul Pierce is if not better, and I think Pierce is great. JJ has a beautiful shot, he’s big and can shoot over / fade away, he’s a lock down defender with speed when he wants to be.

There’s the 6′8 slow shooting slow to develop his offense JJ, and then there’s the 6′6 JJ who can run and shoot and be a glue type defender. But in order to bring out the best in a player the situation has to be right, he’ll be comfortable signing in Atlanta, but its vital that he’s willing to sort out issues in the locker room with Josh Smith or whoever else don’t like him.

Also vital we get that big on the bench. Seeing as how he’s already syphoning funds from the organization, I guess we’ll have to do with Bibby as the 3 pt sniper on the bench for now. I liked Channing Frye but he was very weak in the playoffs and plays questionable defense. The type’s of backup BIGS who play on championship teams, aka Lamar Odom, Rasheed Wallace, can post-up, rebound and play D effectively at the C position, and shoot the 3 ball. Who’s around? Who’s available? Can Scola defend at C? He’s smaller than Horford and Smith but actually knows how to get in position. I like Gallinari but I don’t know if he can defend. I know for a fact Bonner’s D is atrocious. Brad Miller..eh…Jefferson doesn’t defend….don’t think Kevin Love is available….I don’t mind Villanueva but he’s hard to look at and gets paid too much. YI Jianlin maybe? Just looked through the entirety of NBA players.

Jerry West

July 3rd, 2010
10:58 am

As sign and trades go, if that’s the route this goes, am I wrong in wanting to pick up a trade exception and use that to acquire Rip Hamilton?

3 yrs left on his deal, 12 mil or so per, last yr not fully guaranteed. He doesn’t wanna be in Detroit, they don’t want him, and he seems like he’d fit in well.

nash

July 3rd, 2010
10:59 am

Is there any chance that the Hawks could make a move for Rudy Gay and another player for Joe. The numbers could work well for the Hawks. Memphis is next door to Ark (could make Joe push for the trade) and we would get a cheaper younger play with similar skill, and have save like 40 mill to get a extra player or two

DP

July 3rd, 2010
11:00 am

I left Chris Bosh off the list. That makes at least 16 who are clearly better than “top 10 talent” Joe Johnson. There are plenty of others who could be debated as better than Johnson, including Amare Stoudemaire, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Carlos Boozer. Blake Griffin would likely be on the list had he not missed his rookie season with an injury.

Ty-Stick

July 3rd, 2010
11:02 am

I understand how signing Joe makes the team better as opposed to not signing him. However,waiting on Joe to decide on 120 mil is putting the home team in a bad position. Players who can actually make us better are on the move to other teams while we wait on Joe. Obviously, like some have mentioned, Joe’s heart is not in Atl. Why give him 120 mil when his heart is not with the Hawks. Why isnt Joe going out like the other stars to recruit players to Atlanta. That in itself shows that he could care less about the home team. If it was my money, my position would now be sign and trade. We need a team with players who are willing to do what it takes to get Atlanta (team) to the next level. This is why you don’t trade Josh Smith!

drmaryb

July 3rd, 2010
11:07 am

DP

And, they will never play here.

lewis

July 3rd, 2010
11:07 am

Enter your comments hereJJ is a super-fire competitive player . I thought I wanted him gone but I don’t. He was exhausted from the regular season + the Milwaukee series in the playoffs. He’s every bit the player Paul Pierce is if not better, and I think Pierce is great. JJ has a beautiful shot, he’s big and can shoot over / fade away, he’s a lock down defender with speed when he wants to be.

There’s the 6′8 slow shooting slow to develop his offense JJ, and then there’s the 6′6 JJ who can run and shoot and be a glue type defender. But in order to bring out the best in a player the situation has to be right, he’ll be comfortable signing in Atlanta, but its vital that he’s willing to sort out issues in the locker room with Josh Smith or whoever else don’t like him.

Also vital we get that big on the bench. Seeing as how he’s already syphoning funds from the organization, I guess we’ll have to do with Bibby as the 3 pt sniper on the bench for now. I liked Channing Frye but he was very weak in the playoffs and plays questionable defense. The type’s of backup BIGS who play on championship teams, aka Lamar Odom, Rasheed Wallace, can post-up, rebound and play D effectively at the C position, and shoot the 3 ball. Who’s around? Who’s available? Can Scola defend at C? He’s smaller than Horford and Smith but actually knows how to get in position. I like Gallinari but I don’t know if he can defend. I know for a fact Bonner’s D is atrocious. Brad Miller..eh…Jefferson doesn’t defend….don’t think Kevin Love is available….I don’t mind Villanueva but he’s hard to look at and gets paid too much. YI Jianlin maybe? Just looked through the entirety of NBA players

ILL-logical

July 3rd, 2010
11:09 am

@ ArchiBALL: Good get. It certainly illustates how the times(and market) have changed. Thanks

DP

July 3rd, 2010
11:11 am

drmaryb, not sure what your point is. I was pointing out that there are at least 16 players in the NBA who are clearly better than Joe Johnson as a rebuttal to the guy who claims he is a top 10 talent. I agree that none of them would play here, but that doesn’t mean it is smart business to give a 6 year max deal to a 29 year old who is no better than the 17th best player in the league with a history of disappearing in the playoffs.

drmaryb

July 3rd, 2010
11:17 am

Drmaryb @ 1042 AM is actually The Village Idiot!

So we ALL know who that is! That’s what one has to do, when you didn’t get enough Hugs as
a kid. You can always tell by the level of ignorance in the words.

Yawn! ;-0

O'Brien

July 3rd, 2010
11:20 am

The hawks have hitched their wagon to JJ from day one, and management has not done a good job providing alternatives.

If BK hadn’t screwed up 2 drafts (Marvin and shelden), we might have had a contingency plan.

If rick sund did not give Marvin, bibby and Zaza $18 mil per year (including guaranteed 3year deal to bibby), we might have had a contingency plan.

But right now, all we can do is offer JJ the Max, and hope he accepts. It may not be ideal, but I think its our best option.

drmaryb

July 3rd, 2010
11:23 am

A Hawk in the hand is better than two Hawks in the bush.

Grandad

July 3rd, 2010
11:35 am

DP

Did any of those guys have to play for Woodson.
-Therefore-
stifling his progress & meandering his
learning curve during his prime

Oh Yeah – as for your list:
*D.Howard -> apples to oranges
*Duncan -> used to be better, no more, old
*C.Paul -> inj. if he heals 100%, okay, until then…
*Roy -> c’mon, what’s he accomplished ?, paper mache knees,
over-rated, Joe’s better – anyway, Joe’s more durable, tougher.
*Rose -> debatable right now.
*Melo -> Joe more complete, Melo better offense.
*Nowitzki -> ditto [melo]

** All said with a straight face **

D21

July 3rd, 2010
11:45 am

“ryan

July 2nd, 2010
10:17 pm

If we loose Joe Johnson i am done with the Hawks i don’t care what you people say if loose him the Hawks are a lottery team if that is what you people want SO BE IT. We are not getting Wade, LeBron, Bosh, or Amare . Joe who we can get If loose him be careful what wish for.”

I am not for Joe leaving, but I can say that if he stays for 120M, I will still be for ATL, but I won’t be with Joe.
If he’s conformtable in ATL like he said, and is ready to take less money to win with NYK, why should he steal all the money here ?
ATL has not the money NYK has, so why taking more here than elsewhere ?

Damn, this is just some logical reflexion.
If he gets 120M here, he kills part of possibilities of improvement.
Even if ASG tells they will spend and pay some Tax, they are not Marc Cuban.
It will need more than only paying 5M in Tax to be on the same level that the best teams.

If Parker and Ginobili were not enough smart to only be paid between 10M and less than 15M, one of them would not be with the Spurs and they won’t have all these titles.

Joe is no Duncan. Joe is a Ginobili. He deserve no more than 15M.
A 90M/6yrs deal is what he should get here, and keep the 30M for the MLE for next year since they will use the MLE this year without paying Tax (unless they also match Childress).

Even Arenas know for his big ego had refuse his 120M to take “only” 111M.
And he kills his team, while saying the difference will help the team to improve.

It’s all money thing, and no sport or anything else.
If he takes 120M, he just prefers getting 70+120M from ATL, instead of getting 70+90 but having more chance to win a title here.

If all was smart decisions, he should hesitate between taking 90M/6yrs in ATL, or try to get a sign-&-trade for the highest he can get in town like NYK or CHI or DAL where they makes money even while loosing because of big market, or with guy like Cuban.

It’s not ATL that has to overpaid (not talking about the avoiding to loose him for nothing, just the smart decisions that should come from smart guys).

If no one is seeing that, and prefer continue to use bad example like Gay or Stoudemire, instead of using good example like Billups, Parker, Ginobili… guys with title or NBA Finals experience,… just continue like that.

We don’t do good things by copying bad deals, we do it by copying good deals, and as Sund said enough that he wants to build a team like DET was, how can he send a 120M offer like that ?

i_am_soulstar

July 3rd, 2010
12:11 pm

Sounds like Joe’s thinking about championships. The only team that would possibly surround him with better pieces than Atlanta is Chicago. Can’t blame him though, what 2 guard wouldn’t wanna play with Derrick Rose. Joe’s already comfortable in Chicago, as he spent a good part of last summer there.

I can’t feel Joe’s pulse. Are we losing him?

Section 303

July 3rd, 2010
12:15 pm

dp, I haven’t seen your list of who is better than Joe Johnson. I will help you out on one thing, though. No way…I repeat, NO WAY, Chris Bosh is better than Joe. Bosh might be the most overrated player in the league.

I’m mad at Joe, too, but don’t get silly.

Big Ump

July 3rd, 2010
12:15 pm

I like your post at 9:09am.

i_am_soulstar

July 3rd, 2010
12:15 pm

Grandad,

Hell yeah. One thing people don’t give Joe enough credit for is durability and completeness. Melo who’s a terrific scorer is just plain lazy on the other end of the court. And these other guys are on and off of the trainer’s table. Joe’s as tough as they come (next to Kobe) in regards to playing with injuries.

But maybe we value dependability more than others.

i_am_soulstar

July 3rd, 2010
12:21 pm

I still can’t see him leaving 20 million on the table. As Wade said, It’d be hard for Bill Gates to leave 20 million on the table.

Big Ump

July 3rd, 2010
12:22 pm

Truth Serum; great post at 9:09am

i_am_soulstar

July 3rd, 2010
12:32 pm

DP

July 3rd, 2010
11:00 am

I left Chris Bosh off the list. That makes at least 16 who are clearly better than “top 10 talent” Joe Johnson. There are plenty of others who could be debated as better than Johnson, including Amare Stoudemaire, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Carlos Boozer. Blake Griffin would likely be on the list had he not missed his rookie season with an injury.

DP,

What are you smoking and how much for a quarter sack???

D21

July 3rd, 2010
12:35 pm

“i_am_soulstar

July 3rd, 2010
12:21 pm

I still can’t see him leaving 20 million on the table. As Wade said, It’d be hard for Bill Gates to leave 20 million on the table.”

For doing what ?
The guy only want to be the richest possible, that’s why he plays basket-ball ?
If he really wants to win, I think that the 70M he already earned, and the 100M he could get now is enough if you get opportunity at winning a title, isn’t it ?

How is it possible that you prefer 190M and no title than 170M and more chances ?

What’s why he should even lower the offer if he stays here, because the more he gets, the less ATL will improve. Maybe he would if we could make some trades for at least one Max guy, but since they did not succeed in that, it would need to build like DET in the past, and doing that doesn’t match offering 120M to one guy.

Mr. Riley

July 3rd, 2010
12:38 pm

with all the FA’s floating around, why isn’t the ownership making a play for other players???…man this team is hopeless….better yet, LEAVE JJ, WE DONT NEED YOUR SERVICES….okay ownership, lets make a play for lebron and rudy gay…and throw in Dirk for good measure..

Grandad

July 3rd, 2010
12:39 pm

i_am_soulstar

Right on!

Dependability + other high character traits.
Joe + low profile = great image for himself & team.

jose

July 3rd, 2010
12:40 pm

See, it starts from the top. ASG is CONSISTENTLY INCONSISTENT while the players are COSISTENTLY INCONSISTEN.

Section 303

July 3rd, 2010
12:43 pm

Mr. Riley, there’s this thing in the NBA called a Salary Cap. Study it and get back with us. I think you’ll have a better understanding as to why the Hawks are not after LeBron or Dirk.

tony

July 3rd, 2010
12:47 pm

Truth-Serum, I just read where John Salmons signed a 5 year contract with the Bucks in $40 million range. I really like the way he plays the game.

vava74, I never said Haywood was a spectacular basketball player but he’s a good rebounder(9rpg) and he is a decent shot blocker(1.5 bpg). The only knock on him is he’s not a good free throw shooter(61%) but he will be able to contain D.Howard better than Al Horford which will keep Al out of foul trouble against the nba bigs. The Marvericks didn’t do well in the playoffs because they don’t have a good coach so get off Haywood back young man.

Salmons did a better job against us than JJ did against them in the playoff sir. JJ shot under 40% with 25 turnovers against the Bucks whereas Salmons shot 40% with only 12 turnovers against the hawks. They nearly beat the hawks without their best player. I will take Salmons over JJ on any day of the week.