Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson is back
Joe Johnson’s agent, Arn Tellem, confirmed in a blog post at Huffington Post that Johnson accepted the terms of a six-year contract offer from the Hawks. Johnson and the Hawks finalized the details of the deal on Sunday but a contract can’t be signed until July 8 under free-agent rules.
In the blog post, Tellem offered some insight into J.J.’s decision:
When the free-agency period kicked in, Joe made a point of talking to the Hawks first. Their owners and new coach, Larry Drew, impressed Joe with their commitment to making the team championship-caliber. In turn, Joe felt equally committed to the Hawks, his teammates and the city of Atlanta.
With all his success, Joe remains as grounded as he was a decade ago at our first meeting in Little Rock. His priorities are his family, his friends and his game. Joe could have forced a sign-and-trade deal for five years with another team, but he decided that winning in Atlanta would be more meaningful. When the Hawks offered the maximum — six years — he happily reciprocated.
For his next act, Joe plans to actively recruit other top free agents to Atlanta, a place not unlike his hometown, where he feels comfortable and appreciated.
J.J.’s contract is expected to be worth roughly $120 million, with the exact value to be determined after the league completes its audit later this week. Once the contract is signed, the Hawks will have about $63 million in salaries committed to 10 players for 2010-11. That includes J.J.’s projected salary of about $15.8 million and Jordan Crawford’s rookie-scale salary of about $1 million.
The total doesn’t include the $4.8 million qualifying offer for restricted free agent Josh Childress, who has drawn interest from Washington. The Hawks would have the right to match an offer sheet Childress signs with another team. Childress has until July 15 to notify Greek team Olypiakos if he plans to opt-in for the final year of his contract.
MC
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298 comments Add your comment
John Koncak
July 4th, 2010
6:13 pm
Hawks fans I guess I can walk the streets of Atlanta now.
chuckw/deadjournalist
July 4th, 2010
6:13 pm
Najeh – Re: T-Wolves. Don’t forget they are in on Lee and also close to signing a Euro 5 to a mult-year deal
Jim Bob Cooter
July 4th, 2010
6:13 pm
The $120 million Spear-Chuncker.
Jim
July 4th, 2010
6:14 pm
With JJ back, the Hawks will have some very good seasons, win some big games, battle as one of the top 5 teams in the east, make it into the 2nd round of the playoffs – with luck maybe make it to the conf finals.
That will be about it. In the grand scheme of things, that’s not bad. It will draw decent crowds and keep a fan base. The alternative with losing JJ wouldn’t be good short term. Long term, who knows. If Lebron’s team is stacked, Hawks wouldn’t be beating them for the next 6 years anyway. At least the Hawks won’t be a laughing stock for the forseeable future.
J from the A
July 4th, 2010
6:15 pm
So, it seems that the Trailblazers are shopping for trades. They are in need of a starting SF and have a trio of centers on roster. Though I am not one of the ones saying we should be actively shopping Marvin, might it be in the Hawks interest to trade him for one of the Trailblazer’s bigs? Then we could use whatever monies the DSG are willing to use to bring in a quality (perhaps even near-All Star quality) small forward to fill in the starting role the Marvin would leave.
Josh
July 4th, 2010
6:15 pm
Why not sign Boozer on the mid-level, trade Marvin and Bibby to Golden State for Ellis (GS history has shown they do these type of deals) . Sick line up.
C-Boozer (Za Za)
PF-Horford
SF-Smith
SG-Johnson (Jamal Crawford)
PG- Ellis (Jamal Crawford)
JeJe
July 4th, 2010
6:17 pm
“still on this, i see. your mistake is assuming that this is as personal for me as it is for you. the truth is i don’t care if J.J. stays or goes beyond covering the story. i’m dispassionate about all things in sports with the exception of my Louisville Cardinals. it really makes no difference to me on a personal level what happens with J.J. or anything else with the Hawks. that you insist otherwise is actually kind of bizarre and would amuse the people who know me and hear me talk about the Hawks. but, oh well . . .”
So you don’t care what happens to the team? How can you be enthusiastic about writing about it if you don’t care what happens?
JeJe
July 4th, 2010
6:18 pm
Sign Boozer for the MLE?
LOL!
Is encouraging to see ASG is committed to winning, even if it’s a potential lie
colorado bulldog
July 4th, 2010
6:19 pm
@JMAr “…Better question – what has Rick Sund done right?”
Trading 3 dogs the previous GM stuck us with to GS for J Crawford.
Letting Josh Smith find a suitor and matching his salary.
Drafting Teague.
Not signing Woodson past this year.
Dawg A
July 4th, 2010
6:22 pm
I have purchased four lower level season tickets since 1999 and two years ago added two to make six season tickets. This are tickets I purchase to use for my business. I have said all along if the ASG is dumb enough to resign Joe after what I saw in the playoffs this year…. then I WILL NOT RENEW!!!! Yes I am speaking with my wallet!!!!
Maybe they don’t need my money!!!!
JeJe
July 4th, 2010
6:23 pm
“@JMAr “…Better question – what has Rick Sund done right?”
Trading 3 dogs the previous GM stuck us with to GS for J Crawford.
Letting Josh Smith find a suitor and matching his salary.
Drafting Teague.
Not signing Woodson past this yea”
What has he done wrong?
1) not trading before the deadline this year to make us better
2) resigning Bibby and Marvin for awful deals with no TEAM options (we have Marvin’s pathetic self for four more years, all guaranteed)
3) Keeping Woody for 2 more years
Tony
July 4th, 2010
6:25 pm
Rono…I like the way that you think…while JJ is a welcomed commodity to Atlanta, we will be well suited to add a center…why in the world has this not been addressed. I would like to know what our AJC writers can dig up on this…and yes, that one yr contract to A.I. not a bad idea. If it doesnt work, cut him.
ZAZA
July 4th, 2010
6:27 pm
Looks like about 80% of the reaction is negative. Nice work Spirit. Thank you for financially ruining this team right before you sell it and scurry away with your tails between your legs.
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
6:29 pm
I am more concerned about Larry Drew…..Woody was the worst…..his rotations were horrible…..his pulling a hot player because of the number of fouls he had was a momentum killer What will Drew do? Up tempo? Why should we expect greater effort for him?
Reid Adair
July 4th, 2010
6:30 pm
Michael, I explained it the last time. It’s simple. Anyone who has read your coverage of Joe Johnson since before the playoffs can see it. Deny it all you want. You think this is good for the Hawks, and a lot of us don’t.
Again, this is a blog, not a news article. You’re certainly entitled to express your opinion in your posts. By the way, when do we get to hear, “I told you so”?
MitchC
July 4th, 2010
6:33 pm
I didn’t like Joe Johnson’s comments, but, it’s already been established that if we let him walk, we wouldn’t be able to sign a player with comparable talent to him, so the Hawks did what they had to do. If he helps take the team deep into the playoffs, we can put up with his attitude. My only concern is the numbers he puts up on the court. I dont have to like him as a person.
This was the right move by the Hawks to re sign him. Re signing him will keep the Hawks as a solid playoff contender for the next several years.
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
6:33 pm
Will the Spirit pony up and sign Horford to a long term deal after making this financial commitment to JJ?
Section 303
July 4th, 2010
6:36 pm
Najeh, I’m reading the book “Good Save the Fan”, by Will Lietch. He has glossary sections in the book, in which he gives summaries of various sports figures. One of the sports figures is Najeh Davenport. I never realized your namesake on here is also called “The Hamper Sh#tter”. Too funny….
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
6:37 pm
Hey JeJe….your list is dead on!
Fundamentals
July 4th, 2010
6:39 pm
I’m excited to hear the Hawks are moving forward quickly and early. We now have time and tradeable players to get players on our team that fit into Drew’s system. I think Drew made it clear he wants Joe and Jamal to be more efficient. Oh yeah, all this IMO, this should mean strong point guard play and play calling to get them the ball for what they’re good at, jumpers in the flow of the game.
What is Marvin doing this summer?
What will Horford add to his game?
Will Josh put it together mentally for the entire season? What are his goals for the summer?
Can Drew maintain Teague’s confidence to get the most out of him?
What can we get for Bibby, Marvin, Chills and Mo to bolster our interior defense and rebounding?
Who can we sign with our two available contracts?
What will happen to Joe Smith, Jason Collins, Randolph Morris and Mario West?
Are there pieces there worth getting into luxury tax problems?
I think we have great pieces that could be manipulated to put us right where we need to be. What happens next will be truly interesting.
John Brown
July 4th, 2010
6:40 pm
Why not a sign and trade of Childress + Marvin for a Max sign and trade of LeBron. Then Cleveland gets 2 good young players back. Instead of him just walking to the Bulls of all people. If we’ll give JJ the 6th year and $27M extra, we’d definitely do it for Bron. The franchise would double in value instantly. Keep that in mind ASG…. And yea that’s a champion contender.
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
6:40 pm
Hey Fundamentals…what is Drew’s system?
John Brown
July 4th, 2010
6:43 pm
By the way, JJ’s making next season almost the same salary he made last year. I never heard that he was so overpaid back then. It’s not like ya’ll write the checks. Happy for you Joe, and we’re way better with you than without you. And people, let’s see Drew’s offense before we condemn this team. How could they not get better than Woody’s offense?
Najeh Davenpoop
July 4th, 2010
6:47 pm
“I never realized your namesake on here is also called “The Hamper Sh#tter”. ”
Haha yeah that’s where I get my screen name from. I believe he is also known as the Dump Truck.
James
July 4th, 2010
6:48 pm
Insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hoops
July 4th, 2010
6:48 pm
Big Man trade possibilities that would be an upgrade over Zaza Pachulia-
R. Wallace – $6.3M (Zaza & Evans – $6.7M)
T. Chandler – $12.6M expiring (Zaza, Bibby, & Evans – $12.2M)
S. O’Neal – FA (S & T for Zaza & Evans – $6.7M)
Z. Iigauskas – FA (S & T for Zaza – $4.2M)
E. Dampier – $13M expiring and not guaranteed Zaza, Bibby, & Evans – $12.2M) Hawks could waive him immediately and have $12M to use on other trades
B. Haywood – FA (S & T for Zaza & Evans – $6.7M)
A. Biedrins – $9M (Marvin & Evans – $9.2M)
J. O’Neal – FA (S & T for Zaza & Evans – $6.7M)
A. Jefferson – $13M (Marvin & Bibby – $12.2M)
E. Okafor – $11.5M (would not trade unless they add C. Paul and the combined salaries would be $26.4M – Crawford, Bibby, Marvin & Evans – $25.5M)
J. Przybilla – $7.4M (Zaza & Evans – $6.7M)
Does anyone see any chance of these trade possibilities happening?
Tony
July 4th, 2010
6:51 pm
Like JJ or not, he is a great bb player. He did what any ball player would in exploring free agency. The problem is not JJ, or Lebron, or Wade. The problem is that owners are trying to get whomever they can without spending money. And these ball players can very well have championship teams if the other pieces are filled in…for example…Atlanta, a center; Cleveland, a PG/SG; Miami, PG, C, or other low post player. This free agency thing is just a bunch of hype that everyone gets caught up in. Even Lebron…they won how many games? hmmm…dont buy into it. The Hawks simply need low post help for the frontcourt. And they need to make a serious move or salvage another season.
The Deal Is Done! | Soaring Down South | An Atlanta Hawks blog
July 4th, 2010
6:51 pm
[...] of whether some think this is a good deal or if it is good for the future of this franchise, the deal is officially done. Joe Johnson has agreed to terms with the Atlanta Hawks and will get somewhere around $120 [...]
O'Brien
July 4th, 2010
6:52 pm
Welcome back JJ. We are glad to have you back.
Now go help Rick Sund convince some players to sign with the Hawks (for the mid-level).
I hope Rick makes some more moves to improve the team. And I dont mean moves like signing Joe SMith and Cheeseburger Collins. Real moves.
Section 303
July 4th, 2010
6:53 pm
Najeh, great name!
As for Joe getting booed in game 4 of Orlando series….Yes, the fans were booing the team the whole game. Myself, and many others, were booing Joe thoughout (I actually booed him everytime he touched the ball…never done anything like that in my life). Joe was booed by a good portion of the crowd when he was taken out of the game for the last time. Plus, there were signs all over the place referencing his comments. So, I just do not think Joe gets booed had he not said what he said.
But, assumming he steps up and apologizes, whatever….I’m ready to be a big fan of his once again.
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
6:55 pm
Hey Hoops…I like the Okafor/Paul deal….I think Woody’s use of Zaza was unwise….he rarely played him alongside Horford….
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
6:56 pm
Somebody…anybody…what is Drew’s system?
Craig
July 4th, 2010
6:57 pm
Joe glad you decided to stay. We will remain competitive for years to come and maybe one day soon we will add a few more pieces and make a run at a championship.
Sage
July 4th, 2010
6:58 pm
The Hawks organization is a joke!There is no way they should have signed that disappearing act to six years! He disrespected the fans and The City of Atlanta .He should have went elsewhere since his mumbling a$$ thinks he was in such demand!
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
6:59 pm
Any chance the Hawks still trade JJ?
Max Deal?
July 4th, 2010
7:01 pm
If I were Sund and Joe Johnson came into my office saying I want the same money/deal that teams are offering LeBron and Wade, it would be tough to say no. You know because I’d be laughing so hard. Johnson is a good player, not a great one. And definitly not on the level of a LeBron, Kobe, or Wade. Do you think fans in other towns say run to the box office to buy tickets because Joe Johnson’s coming to town? He’s a good piece to have if you have a top guy.
bill
July 4th, 2010
7:04 pm
OK, we’ve re-signed JJ and have named Drew head coach…now please explain to me exactly how next year’s team is going to be different from last seasons??? The ASG is clueless…no, not clueless, just mediocre.
Truth-Serum
July 4th, 2010
7:04 pm
Fundamentals
Re: @ 639 PM Post: an AWESOME task list you put out there! Those are perfect
questions that beg an answer from the GM & HC! And, the Players – BigTime.
Great Stuff – Thanks! For keeping it constructive and positive -
I wish I could clone you like 100 X per day on this blog! ;-0
Michael Cunningham
July 4th, 2010
7:04 pm
@ Reid Adair: ok, i admit it. you’ve found me out. i looked at all the examples
you providedof my blind Joe boosterism and i can’t deny it. i think this is a great move that is going to put the Hawks over the top. it might be the best move in the league. what can i say? J.J. is my guy and i wanted him back. that’s why i’ve avoided examining the weaknesses in his game, his lack of leadership and the drawbacks to re-signing him, unlike the hater who wrote all this garbage:“Hawks GM Rick Sund said he wants to re-sign Johnson, one of the top shooting guards in the league, but there are risks to giving him a an expensive, long-term deal. Johnson will be 29 this summer and production for shooting guards tends to decline around that age. His deliberate, one-on-one style was effective when he made baskets but tended to damage team dynamics at times.”
“When the Hawks, including co-owner Michael Gearon Jr., say they are a better team when the ball is moving, what they mean is they are better when J.J. isn’t dribbling out the ball on one side of the floor while his teammates stand around. So before the Hawks even begin to ponder how much they think J.J. is worth, they first must decide if he can play a different style. If the Hawks re-sign J.J. and add a point guard who can get to the rim and create open shots, can J.J. thrive as a spot-up shooter and cutter? Or does he need to play his deliberate, slashing style? If the Hawks keep Woody, would he be able to get J.J. to change for the sake of the team? Can any coach do it at this point?”
“At first I defended the merits of Iso-Joe, which included the Hawks’ excellent efficiency numbers during the regular season. Slowly I came to realize the psychological toll it has on this team, which has several guys who need to be involved to stay sharp. And now we see that in the playoffs good defensive teams, which most of them tend to be, can neutralize Iso-Joe or Iso-Anybody. Actually, we saw that before the playoffs, when the Hawks kept losing those road leads with low-scoring second halves.”
“Before the playoffs opened, J.J. said he knew that as the Hawks’ veteran star he would take the heat if they don’t meet expectations or get the glory if they make a breakthrough. He said he embraced that role. Now, though, both J.J. and Woody seem to want to avoid putting the onus on him to deliver a big game when the Hawks need it most.”
“I think Ray is a little bit too dismissive of Iso-Joe as an issue. So was I when I first got on the beat because I figured that it works most of the time so it’s a good thing (and I still think that to a certain extent). But the part I underestimated is the psychological effect Iso-Joe can have on the team when it doesn’t work.
I’ve seen enough scrunched faces and slumped shoulders from other guys after Joe goes one-on-one and misses to know that it has an effect. I’ve seen the telling eye-rolls when Iso-Joe is brought up in conversation with some guys. I saw Josh get fed up at Utah and start demanding that his teammates share the ball. Last night I saw Josh bring the ball up himself a couple times and try to make passes inside, and then I heard him say (again) after the game that the Hawks need to share the ball more. Maybe he was trying to make that happen himself. When Iso-Joe (or whomever) doesn’t work, and the players get frustrated, and the home fans groan, or the road fans roar, and things go bad–I think it does have an effect beyond Woody’s (and my) bottom-line assessment of it working more often than not.”
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
7:04 pm
Woody was such a joke, it is difficult to tell if JJ has played as well as he can…the “leadership” he played under was horrible….
tinachi
July 4th, 2010
7:05 pm
THE HAWKS #$% SUCKS! JOE BLOWS! SAME O BULL**** TEAM, IVE BEEN OLD AND GRAY BEFORE ANY ATLANTA TEAM WIN ANY DAMN CHAMPIONSHIP. ANOTHER ONE BITE THE DUST! MOVING ON TO ANOTHER CITY WITH TEAM SPIRIT AND COMMON DAMN SENSE. SUND SUCKS, JOE SUCKS, ASG SUCKS SAID AND DONE!
Michael Cunningham
July 4th, 2010
7:10 pm
@ Tony: “Rono…I like the way that you think…while JJ is a welcomed commodity to Atlanta, we will be well suited to add a center…why in the world has this not been addressed. I would like to know what our AJC writers can dig up on this”
i wrote about FA centers way back when: http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/2010/06/01/atlanta-hawks-attention-on-centers/
it hasn’t been addressed lately because the Hawks have been focused on J.J. i’m having trouble understanding why no one seems to believe me on that. it’s only July 4.
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
7:10 pm
Teague would definitely be ready if he hadn’t played for Woody last year. Too bad we wasted money on Mike Bibby…..
Tony
July 4th, 2010
7:13 pm
Hyprocrit call out! It is easy to criticize JJ, but when our contracts are up at work, we do the same thing; negotiate a better salary, work conditions, etc. Everyone here thinks they are worth more than they are paid. So what about giving these players a break and put some pressure on these owners and GMs. The issue is not one player, it is the players you surround the one player with. Come on people, I know you arent falling for the superstar hype. No one player can win a championship alone, never has! Forget JJ, we need some key players (center in particular).
Gainesville#1
July 4th, 2010
7:20 pm
JJ’s haters just keep hating. This team was garbage before he got here and would have been garbage if he would have left. Who would have replaced him? He can do it inside and out. He’s the hawks best defender. He had a bad playoff but he is human. Do your thang JJ.
JeJe
July 4th, 2010
7:23 pm
WHEN JJ SAYS HE WILL HELP TOP FA’S COME HERE, WHO IS HE REFERRING TO AND WHY WOULD HE NOT TAKE A DAMN PAYCUT?
IF HE WAS THINKING OF BRING A BOSH OR LBJ HERE, THEN WHY HESITATE TO SIGN? WTF IS GOING ON
Jerry West
July 4th, 2010
7:24 pm
Hoops,
For a lot of the big men acquisitions you recommend, the other team doesn’t really get much (if anything) from them, so they’re not all that plausible. I mean really, the Mavs give up an expiring deal for Zaza, Bibby and Mo? Why?
I’d like Biedrins, and I threw out the Marvin/ Mo package to get him when I saw a rumor that GS might want Marv. I kinda doubt they do though. I might be willing to do Josh for Biedrins and Randolph. Last I checked Randolph was in Nellie’s dog house. But with GS, who knows.
truthspitter
July 4th, 2010
7:24 pm
Welcome back Joe, now all we need is for you to convince management to do the following.
1.Sign Travis Outlaw SF who is only 25, would come cheaper, and would allowing team to move Marvin or Chillz
2.Sign Josh Powell pick and pop guy who is younger and better fit than Joe Smith at doing what Joe was suppose to do
3..Trade Jamal Crawford and Marvin Williams for Biedrins and Randolph
Or
3A.Trade Jamal Crawford and Mo Evans for Andries Biedrins and Anthony Randolph
Or
3B.Trade Josh Childress for Javal McGee
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
7:24 pm
I guess no one knows what Drew’s system is? Does he know?
We Need Tree
July 4th, 2010
7:30 pm
It will be a long time before the Hawks recover from choosing Marvin over CP3 or Deron Williams….