Atlanta Hawks: Jamal Crawford’s free-agent journey
According to Frank Isola of the Daily News in New York, Jamal prefers “returning to the New York area if he does not re-sign with the Atlanta Hawks.” Isola suggests that Jamal’s chances of signing with New York or New Jersey increased when he signed with agent Andy Miller, who “has close ties to both the Knicks’ and Nets’ organizations.”
As a proponent of the popular “players almost always take more money” school of thought, I’ve never followed the “agent-likes-the-team-so-player-will-sign-there” angle. The same dots were connected for J.J. to the Knicks even before last summer (“Done deal”) . The same kind of thinking also had J.J. going to Chicago (“dead set on joining the Bulls”).
We know how all that turned out once the Hawks flashed more cash at J.J. So let’s be real: That’s what Jamal is looking for, too, as he seeks out his last big contract. How do I know this? Because Jamal is a human being who responds to financial incentives. Also, I follow him on Twitter.
For weeks, fans from everywhere have queried Jamal on whether he likes their favorite team. He likes Atlanta, Chicago, Portland, New Jersey and New York. I’d also add Indiana, Sacamento, and any of those other teams that have lots of cap space just waiting to be used.
Jamal succinctly summed it up with this great tweet: “I have interest in who has interest in me.”
Ah, to be a scoring shooting guard in a free-agent market that should prove favorable to such a player. How favorable? I don’t know, but ESPN.com’s 5-on-5 took a shot at setting the value for Jamal and other top free agents.
Among the four guys on the panel to offer an opinion, the low offer for Jamal was the tax-payer mid-level exception of two years and $5 million and the high was three years and $22 million. The Hawks can’t swing either of those amounts unless they pay the luxury tax or amnesty someone (love using that as a verb) and then pay Jamal.
AJC wise guy Jeff Schultz thinks it would be a big blow to the Hawks to lose Jamal’s bench scoring. I think the impact could be mitigated with more possessions used by Teague, Hinrich and Al plus signing a replacement for Jamal who scores more efficiently and defends and rebounds. As always, I could be wrong.
(Before you ask, I don’t know who that player could be. First I need to figure out the Hawks’ plans regarding the tax and amnesty, and then see what the market looks like. Heck, for that matter, we still need to wait and see what provisions make it into the final, final CBA.)
Etc.
- Teams are expected to play two home-and-home preseason games against opponents in their geographical area. It looks like the Hawks will draw Charlotte.
- Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald says the Hawks are on Big Baby’s wish list. Murphy also speculates on the Hawks trading Smoove and amnestying Marvin (yeah, I’m going to use it as a verb all the time).
- Howard Beck of the New York Times reports that the amnesty clause won’t be used much this season. Beck also offers up “five bad contracts worth expunging.”
- Hoopinion’s Bret LaGree opines that the new modified waiver process for amnestied guys will influence Atlanta’s decision on whether to amnesty Marvin: “If a bunch of teams use the amnesty provision immediately, then it’s less likely Williams would draw sufficient interest under the third part of the amnesty provision wherein another team currently under the cap would defray some of the money Atlanta owes him.”
- Shaq says he would have played for the Hawks but Rick Sund “wanted to give all that money to Joe Johnson last year.” You might remember Shaq decided he couldn’t accept less than the full MLE or a bench role with the Hawks and then signed with the Celtics. You may also remember this proved to be the right call for the Hawks after Twin’s emergence and Shaq’s fade.
- Oakland (Mich.) University will retire Keith “Kito” Benson’s jersey at halftime of its game tonight vs. Tennessee. The game is on ESPNU at 9 p.m.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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319 comments Add your comment
Air Zaza
November 29th, 2011
7:06 pm
@Rod
Josh would be a much scorer since CP3 can create for players. The thing is CP3 uses PnR almost exclusively. Smith PnR usually have poor timing, bad movement, or a lack of movement after the pick. That are clear sign that Josh is not that good at PnR’s. He has Al Jefferson like movements using PnR. If CP3 main game PnR’s and Josh struggles with them, how could he be much better because of it. You mention Chandler and Martin but both of those guys are movement PF’s or C’s. That to a great extent but Smith is not them. Just because he is athletic and can catch oops doesn’t mean he’s a movement player.
As for Smith at the 3 point line, that will still happen but CP3 is less likely to pass him the ball since he can be ball dominate and get away with it unlike Joe who can’t. You can’t double team CP3 without paying for it.
No, stats say Horford is better. He has a better PER. His defensive numbers are high. His +/- is very high. His impact is very high. I don’t see where you are going with this one. Josh is not as good as Horford in terms of overall defense. But as we all know, what’s most important for a defender is how they protect the basket. Smith is an excellent help side defender and has elite shot blocking ability. He is likely only behind Howard in this regard. Smith is a horrible perimeter defender, he is probably as good as Jamal on the perimeter.
Horford is only an average help side defender. He is more known for his defensive verstility and the fact that he plays very good team defense.
I don’t disagree that Smith is one of the best defenders in the NBA as a PF but I he only gets slighty better with CP3 and actually hurts CP3 impact on a game to game basis. Horford gets a lot better and CP3 stays as impactful as he is today. If you have Reggie Miller on this team in place of Joe, he would seem like an above average player and worst than Joe. On Indiana, he became a HOF and someone who is known as one of the better players in the league.
Fit matters. Personnel matters. Ask Boozer. Ask Ronnie Brewer. Ask Tyson Chandler when he was in Charlotte.
EmirS.
November 29th, 2011
7:15 pm
I don’t believe Nene’s offensive game is that much better then Horfords. Regardless of how you guys look at Horford, he is one of our [THREE] All-Stars. If we would trade him, I’m pretty sure we can hook something more then *just* Nene.
However if we can package Horford to N.O. for CP3, I think we’d automatically become a contender *IF* we can get a bench.. Ofcourse that would mean losing Teague more then likely but hey…it’s been fun. We can resign Collins and have him and Zaza man the 5. Josh would finally get his PF position. Start Marvin at the 3. JJ and CP3 our guards. But again, I’m not sure how the bench would look like.
Here’s what I’ve been wanting since before the start of last season. I wouldn’t mind trading Horford or Josh for a set of bench players. A 1 for 3 in our favor. Can you imagine us 10 deep? I would rather try trading Horford for those pieces. Smith has to much defense. I believe with the emergence of Teague, he can take Horfords PPG. We would still have an efficent offensive game via Smith, JJ, and Teague. Those pieces we get they can be 2 defensive minded players and 1 hybrid. And seeing as though Jamal will more then likely sign with another team, those players we get will get minutes.
O'Brien
November 29th, 2011
7:23 pm
Air ZaZa,
The problem with your trade is we would be stuck with Okafor’s contract, JJ’s contract and we would have to give CP3 an extension. I don’t see the Hawks going into luxury tax, even if it’s for CP3.
Rod from College Park
November 29th, 2011
7:30 pm
“Josh would be a much scorer since CP3 can create for players. The thing is CP3 uses PnR almost exclusively. Smith PnR usually have poor timing, bad movement, or a lack of movement after the pick. That are clear sign that Josh is not that good at PnR’s. He has Al Jefferson like movements using PnR. If CP3 main game PnR’s and Josh struggles with them, how could he be much better because of it. You mention Chandler and Martin but both of those guys are movement PF’s or C’s. That to a great extent but Smith is not them. Just because he is athletic and can catch oops doesn’t mean he’s a movement player.”
All hypothetical thoughts, no facts. Any statement made that insinuates that Josh Smith has poor timing, and bad movement should not be taken seriously.
“No, stats say Horford is better. He has a better PER. His defensive numbers are high. His +/- is very high. His impact is very high. I don’t see where you are going with this one. Josh is not as good as Horford in terms of overall defense. But as we all know, what’s most important for a defender is how they protect the basket. Smith is an excellent help side defender and has elite shot blocking ability. He is likely only behind Howard in this regard. Smith is a horrible perimeter defender, he is probably as good as Jamal on the perimeter.”
No they don’t. PER is a made up stat by Hollinger. Means nothing. All of your other points are absurd. I’m sure all of those people that voted him second in defensive player of the year voting behind Dwight Howard, felt the same as you (LOL). I guess that is why last year in the playoffs, our coach put Josh Smith on Dwight Howard, and never put our center, Al Horford on him. (LOL)
Grandmaster JeJe
November 29th, 2011
7:35 pm
MC if someone like BRoy is amnestied what type of salary would he sign with new team? He’s making bank under current deal
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
8:22 pm
Rod from CP what up bro glad to see you back.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
Sautee
November 29th, 2011
8:28 pm
Rod,
To be fair, Josh’s second place in the DPOY was year BEFORE last. Last year Horford had more votes on the All-Defensive team than Josh did. Not by many, but more votes.
That said, there’s no doubt CP3 would improve ANY big man he plays with. Also, there’s no doubt that Horford can’t handle D12, but not many starting centers can. I wouldn’t throw him away based on that.
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
8:32 pm
I have heard the same thing about CP3 coming to atlanta and buy a home that’s how much he love the city, him playing for the Hawks haven’t been rumor as of yet. The Knicks along with Carmelo and Amar’e is his first choice.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
8:38 pm
If CP3 planned on moving to Atlanta why not play for the Hawks, o i forget ASG are the owner my bad.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
8:42 pm
CP3, JOE, JOSH, HORFORD, DEADRE JORDAN
Would be the most exciting team in the NBA.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
Astro Joe
November 29th, 2011
8:55 pm
Isn’t this the year the CP3 plays around 45 games? That seems to be his MO, every other year he misses a round 20+ games to injury.
Air Zaza
November 29th, 2011
8:57 pm
@ O’Brien
Okafor contract replaces Smith contract. CP3 contract replaces Zaza and Teague contract. We will have to go over the LT next year but not this year and even so we would make enough money to justify it.
@ EmirS
We are not contenders with Smith, Johnson, Okafor and CP3. We are extremely competitive but are pieces are only good fits, not perfect like Boston. We would need more to pass Miami especially if they land Samuel Dalembert. With Horford, Johnson, Okafor and CP3 we are contenders, perfect fits, To prime players in Horford and CP3, and Joe as the Pau Gasol type of guy. Josh Smith just can’t become that type of guy, too many holes in his game.
@ Rod
Nothing hypothetical about it my friend, watch the tape. Smith has the tendency to stand around whenever the ball is not in his hand majority of the time. Ask scouts. Ask MC. Ask Rathburn. Ask Hollinger. Just ask.
PER is a really good stat that a lot of NBA guys use. Hollinger created it but Bill Gates created Windows. So is Windows not real since IBM or the government didn’t create it? Sounds like you are capping for Smith to me. So now all of the information absurd. I am done with you. Take your biases elsewhere my friend.
I personally can separate my feelings for players, something you clearly can’t do. Your first point was Smith is good for CP3 because of alley oops. I knew right then you had the logic of an fire ant.
Horford is not a center. Something that everyone knows on here. Collins was the most effective on Howard. Howard has his way with Smith so that’s an very poor example. Powell was our most effective PF defending Howard. Smith and Horford was terrible guarding Dwight. Zaza was a fouling machine. Collins made Howard work and Thomas was just bad. Really bad. So your whole Smith being better than Horford is based from the playoffs when teams can easily take movement around from Atlanta due to the lack of a PG, a lot of iso basketball and forcing Horford to create his shot in the post where everyone knows is not his strong suit. Smh.
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
8:58 pm
http://youtu.be/p51gvnVSFKc
Grandmaster JeJe
November 29th, 2011
9:00 pm
Agree with vava earlier who I think said we NEVER use MLE. Amen broths
REHIRE WEISS
Grandmaster JeJe
November 29th, 2011
9:00 pm
Brotha…
SIGN KONCAK
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
November 29th, 2011
9:10 pm
“I knew right then you had the logic of an fire ant. ”
I knew right then that you have all the descriptive powers of an anteater. SMFH indeed.
Fundamentals
November 29th, 2011
9:17 pm
Dont you mean John Contract? That deal still haunts me.
Bring back Tree!
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
9:48 pm
http://youtu.be/hf5Ufdesp2c
Najeh Davenpoop
November 29th, 2011
9:50 pm
“The best thing about the nba returning is seeing Najeh Devenpoop once again. Funny, as it is an NFL reference, yet he post so much on the Hawks.”
Thanks man.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 29th, 2011
9:58 pm
“So where did I get Horford is much better than Smith? When I put CP3 into the equation. It’s that simple. Now you have the perfect fit for Horford. His touches goes up greatly and his quality touches will now actually exist. I can count on one hand the quality touches Horford has gotten from Bibby, Hinrich and Teague. He still never got a quality touch from Hinrich or Teague yet.”
All of this applies to Smoove too. Both Smoove and Al have incomplete offensive games which would be hugely helped by any competent point guard running the offense rather than Joe. No offense to Joe, but his style of play is not conducive to creating quality shots for others, which is one of several reasons why his role in the offense should be deemphasized.
I still don’t think either Smoove or Al has to be traded necessarily. I think we will all find out a lot more about the players on this team when Teague gets to run the show, after which it will become easier to accurately determine trade value.
Melvin
November 29th, 2011
10:09 pm
The training camp story that I’m mostly interested in is who will LD name as team captain(s). I don’t want multiple captains again…
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
10:10 pm
http://youtu.be/f-zmKA7NQGY
Grandmaster JeJe
November 29th, 2011
10:30 pm
Damien is the most underrated and underutilized player on the team (if Teague is starting). The guy can play. I wanted him on these team right after he dropped 40 on us on that November 2007 night. I hope he gets regular minutes and that LD LETS DAMIEN SHUT DOWN LBJ AND OTHER STARS LIKE HE CAN DO INSTEAD OF ROTTING ON THE BENCH
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
10:33 pm
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cy662vm
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
10:38 pm
STARTER CP3, JOE, JOSH, HORFORD, DEANDRE
BENCH HINRICH, PAPE, DAMIEN, WILCOX, COLLINS
RESERVE BENSON, TJ FORD
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grandmaster JeJe
November 29th, 2011
10:40 pm
There is no point amnestying anyone.
That would be idiotic. ASG already has low cash flow. Why would they pay someone NOT to show up?
The team is still young. Will anyone drastically improve and overachieve (probably not)? Try swing Smoove for Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap IMHO.
Offer Smoove and Teague in a CP3 package. We have trading pieces.
One team that is f’ing set for YEARS is the Lakers. They are LOADED with cash (new TV deal) and a bajillion trading pieces. Ughhhhhh
darrell starks
November 29th, 2011
10:52 pm
The Hawks might have to put the tag on Hinrich 8mill to clear more cap space, TJ FORD is just as good Hinrich.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
Melvin
November 29th, 2011
11:23 pm
I think one area of concern for the Hawks is outside shooting. If we lose Jamal, then Joe and Hinrich are our only reliable shooters. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Hawks bring in someone like Michael Redd. He’s coming off a knee injury so his price tag may not be too high. Also, Troy Murphy would be one of the bigs I consider. Great rebounder and outside shooter.
Rev in Tampa
November 29th, 2011
11:28 pm
Has anybody heard if LD is going to try and re-institute the ‘motion offense’? Has he publicly declaimed the ‘two-foul rule’? And, most importantly, has he bought a new suit during the off-season?
drmaryb .[*_*].
November 29th, 2011
11:34 pm
No Spine!
TJ Ford has a diagnosis of: congenital spinal stenosis. Stay away from him, unless he is a bench piece for little or nothing in return.
To the jack-ass, I ain’t never hung on no one’s jock strap! I am highly opinionated & I fight dirty. Surely, I am not the orator of the obvious to ad nauseum. I make my points and walk away.
The debates are all awesome today – all of them. I wouldn’t mind having Big Baby on this roster for the right price and in the right role. We need another big body that can lay some wood.
Najeh, Grand-Daddy, vava74, Greandmaster JeJe, do any of you guys see a role for Big-Baby on this team?
drmaryb .[*_*].
November 29th, 2011
11:43 pm
Shrek & Donkey!
Would anyone like to see a little of Nate Robinson & Big Baby coming off the Hawks Bench over what we have seen the past four years in the post season.
Here’s my point: a talent infusion on our bench would do wonders to spell the starters. If we could assemble the best bench in the NBA? Could be become Elite?
I just don’t see Dwight coming here, iF we have to gut our roster – he may as well stay in Orlando, (where they spend freely). LeBron had way more help in Ohio than Joe Johnson ever did. They won 61 games and still got swept in rounds 2 and 3. That’s where a Real GM get’s his shine, (you still got to find the right pieces). See Boston.
Grandmaster JeJe
November 29th, 2011
11:44 pm
No to Big Baby. No numbers, seems like trouble. Seems like a homeless man’s Ndamukong Suh.
Grandmaster JeJe
November 29th, 2011
11:45 pm
Everyone is going to LA
drmaryb .[*_*].
November 29th, 2011
11:54 pm
* Could WE become elite?
drmaryb .[*_*].
November 30th, 2011
12:00 am
LMAO!
Grandmaster JeJe says, “No to Shrek!” LOL! Too much slobbering for you? (rof lol & ktc) “kicking the couch”
Hey GMJ! What about ‘donkey’?
Grandad
November 30th, 2011
12:15 am
Two:
Brig-Jerry & BuddyG
** Sorry Guys **
I can’t believe I left you off my little list today.
same goes for;
R.f C.P., Fundamentals, & on & on & on … ad infinitum…………….
Grandad
November 30th, 2011
12:40 am
vava is the biggest co-conspiritor;
but, those of you who have lost confidence in Al
are looking at a different game than myself;
as well as numerous other au courant basketball
pundits as well as coaches.
Yawl make no sense !
Yawl call the man soft, manufacture quotes, etc,
but you cannot come with anything tangible to cite
other than spew out some esoteric nonsense which
makes me wish to *paraphrase Spiro Agnew:
“being encouraged by an effete corps of impudent
fans who characterize themselves as sagacious”.
Grandmaster JeJe
November 30th, 2011
12:54 am
Horf is thin and soft. Got outplayed by Booze. Horford needs a center next to him.
zachdahater
November 30th, 2011
12:57 am
WE NEED to go after Andre Iguodala or some other good SF, AND a CENTER, and we’re competing for a title baby!! Well, if Jamal’s leaving we REALLY need a backup SG. But, we could use Damien Wilkins for that.
Teague/Hinrich
Joe/Wilkins
Iguodala/Marvin
Smith/Horford/Rolle/Benson
Collins/NEW CENTER/Horford
I don’t know. Basically if we get Iguodala and a new center, this team would be amazing! I’m still hopeful about Marvin. I done forgot how bad he’s been on a count of dis here lockout!! But Marvin is a big body, and athletic, and gets important rebounds for us. With Jamal gone, perhaps he will shine again. Just need him to hit open shots. You don’t have to create Marvin, just hit your open shots, defend, and rebound!
Grandad
November 30th, 2011
12:58 am
Mary Ellen
All the while – thinking Glenn Davis would help -
I keep coming back to this thought:
If he is this young and were he of value ?
Why would Doc push him out the door ?
____________________________________________
He’s 6-7.75 = 6-9 with shoes, between 290 & 300 lbs.
He’s not a ripped up 295 either. (more butterball turkey)
***red flag*** shoots less than 50% from floor for career !
—–UNACCEPTABLE—– + Not A Shot Blocker !
Avgs only 7 rebs per 36 min for career (4 yrs)
_____________________________________________
Personally, I wouldn’t touch him.
Marv plays better defense, is more versatle, and shoots much better
putting up better numbers in his career, while having more exp.
_____________________________________________
We need -Shane Battier- !!
More than just his ability.
His Leadership would be invaluable !!
drmaryb .[*_*].
November 30th, 2011
1:12 am
Cutie Pie!
“byramrd,
its also JJ’s job to step it up if he wants to be considered as an elite player. Something he has yet to do. So get off his j-strap and quit dangling from other peoples tassels. LOL!” -stretch-
_______________
You Sir, are a dyslexic jack ass! Make your point and move on, there is no need to “s-t-r-e-t-c-h” the truth and try to be cute. You want a fight with drmaryb? – Bring it on. You won’t win & it will get ugly. I’m in the mood for a good suare’, haven’t had a good jostle in quite a while.
drmaryb .[*_*].
November 30th, 2011
1:24 am
Perspective!
Grand-Daddy, wassup baby! Thanks for the response to my query re: Big Baby. I didn’t know of his poor numbers, I just remember that incredible play off game, where Coach Doc put in the entire bench and we saw “The Shrek & Donkey” show. LOL!
That was something to see. Made me wish we had a bench worth mentioning. Our Dollar Tree “bargin-bin” bench has played out for me! The Hawks GM just needs to step up his game.
I heard the ASKG pulled out of The Meruelo deal? Why would they do that? I will never get over the sale noT going down. I’m still reeling & hard from the ASKG still owning this team. I do not trust these people to make the right decisions for the franchise – whatsoever. Period. I’m just sick about it & can’t get excited about my Hawks just yet.
Grandad
November 30th, 2011
1:36 am
Minor Tweaks:
[1] Teaguer … Capt Kirk
[2] Joe …Capt Kirk … Othyus Jeffers
[3] Battier … Julien Wright … Damien Wilkins (Josh)
[4] Josh … Troy Murphy … Benson (Al)
[5] Al … Jeff Foster … Ajinca
____________________________________________
This model is predicated on :
*using amnesty on Marv
*trading Zaza
*Jeffers & Wilkins cheap pick-ups
*Battier = Primary acquisition
*Murphy & Foster = secondary acquisitions
*Ajinca = project Center / should come fairly cheap !!
** A.Ajinca = no bigger risk than Benson + greater upside !!
____________________________________________
Othyus Jeffers would soon become a fan favorite.
Hustle and defense + some rebounding / def stopper
Julian Wright another defensive acquisition @ small forward
would come cheap – I would think.
Troy Murphy terrific Shooter & Rebounder.
one year removed from being one of the best in league.
Still fairly young – (give him a physical 1st)
____________________________________________
* If yawl noticed all the guys I added to the core.
(played defense & rebounded)
note:
I probably would take Reggie Evans over [Murphy or Foster]
if we had the $ $ $ . [ any two of those three]
_____________________________________________
This is the ASG cheap way out, keep the core together model;
that could actually be pretty good.
Not my 1st choice !! of the way to go !!
Grandad
November 30th, 2011
1:38 am
That was for you my dear.
Grandad
November 30th, 2011
1:40 am
ahem……….clarifying……..my dear = Mary Ellen !!
drmaryb .[*_*].
November 30th, 2011
1:51 am
Agent Speak!
___________
Even though I don’t think he’s a true superstar that can make the Knicks elite, I’m glad he’s off the market and won’t be joining Amare there.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5354426
Free agent Joe Johnson is staying with the Atlanta Hawks, his agent said in a blog published on the Huffington Post website on Sunday.
Arn Tellem, Johnson’s agent, said that Johnson was impressed with the team’s commitment to him and agreed to accept the club’s six-year contract offer. He confirmed the post to The Associated Press.
Atlanta offered Johnson, a four-time All-Star, approximately $119 million over six years — nearly $27 million more than any other team could offer.
The Hawks would not comment, citing the NBA’s moratorium on signings. Deals can’t become official until Thursday.
“When the free agency period kicked in, Joe made a point of talking to the Hawks first,” Tellem wrote in the blog post. “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.”
Tellem said Johnson, who was wooed by a number of other teams, could have forced a sign-and-trade to another team, but “decided that winning in Atlanta would be more meaningful.”
The New York Knicks were the first team to meet with Johnson when he became a free agent at 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday, making it known that he was among the players atop their wish list. The Chicago Bulls contacted Johnson as well, but did not meet with him.
But Johnson did not agree to the Hawks’ offer immediately, and as of Friday, sources said Johnson was still considering offers from the Knicks and Bulls.
Teams were wooing Johnson with the hope that he could be the first domino in luring one of the top-tier free agents in LeBron James or Dwyane Wade. The Knicks made Johnson their first priority with the hope that if they didn’t land James, he could reunite in New York with former Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni and ex-Suns teammate Amare Stoudemire.
“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,” Tellem wrote. “LeBron, you’ve already met with the front offices of six teams. How about considering the Hawks?”
Johnson has been at the center of the Hawks’ resurgence since arriving in Atlanta from Phoenix in a sign-and-trade deal on Aug. 19, 2005. A 13-win team the season before he arrived, the Hawks doubled that the next season and went 53-29 in 2009-10 before getting swept by Orlando in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Johnson averaged 21.3 points during the regular season but played poorly during that series, creating speculation he may have cost himself max dollars. And there was thought he may want out of Atlanta, anyway, since he turned down a $60 million extension last summer and was critical of the team’s fans this season.
Information from ESPN.com senior NBA writer Chris Sheridan and The Associated Press was used in this report. _________________
Again, Joe’s agent: Arn Tellem – no doubt “giddy” about his cut of that 119M contract, made the comment re: Joe recruiting other high caliber players to play in Atlanta – is just that. To date, I never heard Joe say that.
Besides, Arn Tellem was referring to Joe recruiting an available super star of LeBron’s ilk & not the likes of Etan Thomas or Josh Powell. That ship sailed in the last FA signing period, so let’s keep those comments in the context of:
Time
Space
Reality
Super Star Availability
Having said that, CP3 & Dwight are the next two available super stars coming up this next FA period. I don’t know IF Russell Westbrook in Oklahoma is really available – isn’t he still under contract there? Perhaps, we can still get CP3 or Dwight – IF Gearon, Jr was being truthful when he said, “We would go into the luxury tax for the right player, (when Stern fined him for mentioning LeBron) last season.”
_________________
Say what you want, but drmaryb is gonna’ always keep it real, when it comes to putting words in other people mouths.
Grandad
November 30th, 2011
1:51 am
Mary Ellen – another Alex Meruelo will come along.
ASG does not want the team.
Something rotten in Denmark.
I read where Stern had ASG in his hip pocket
and needed their vote to hold his coalition together,
during the lockout.
Meruelo may have scared Stern;
may have thought him to be a renegade ?
-never know-
Stern might wish to bail out ASG
& keep them in his pocket for awhile ?
For what reasons – who knows ?
Conspiracy theories;
that’s your cup o’ tea.
Grandad
November 30th, 2011
2:18 am
Mary Ellen
In the absence of substance;
do you want a couple of faux superstars,
or, would you wish for a whole team of:
committed, team oriented, defensive minded,
skint kneed, hard working, mean spirited,
in your face, rebound eatin’, winners ?
Plausibly, the aforementioned nine qualities,
seemingly exhibit the very substance,
absent in artificial superstars.
I must go to sleep.
I’m getting way too philosophical for an ol’ country boy.
vava74
November 30th, 2011
3:00 am
Horford’s softness and disappearing act in the playoffs would not change with CP3.
CP3 can be many things but he can’t give an extra pair to soft teammates.
Most of Smoove’s bad shots WOULD disappear with CP3.
Having said that, Horford is BY FAR our best trading chip and at the same time the guy who would be more easily replaced.
The fact that Horford was AWOL and his mid range game disappeared in the playoffs should be crystal clear for everyone.
During the regular season people were still surprised with the fact that his range was so solid, but once the playoffs started, they simply took away that by having the defense stretch a bit closer to him and pufff… his midrange shot was no where to be found.
Horford WAS valuable when he was all hard work down low and got his 11ppg 10rbp fighting as BOSS AL.
That guy is gone. Was already fading during the 09-10 season (mainly after the elbow to his mouth from Howard), was almost good as gone in the MIL series (Kurt the mummy Thomas punked him severely) and was completely gone during the ORL series (4-0, record breaking loss, with Horford completely transformed into “Highway Al”).
Sure, he is a versatile defender for his size, but his defense now is mostly in the perimeter when he switches.
Horford is little more than a slow SF or a stretch PF which picks up a lot of rebounds by default.
You don’t win playoff games with guys like that. You simply don’t.
On a different note:
“TJ FORD is just as good Hinrich.” YOU ARE KIDDING… RIGHT?
vava74
November 30th, 2011
3:13 am
Grandad,
“committed, team oriented, defensive minded,
skint kneed, hard working, mean spirited,
in your face, rebound eatin’, winners?”
Let’s see how Horford qualifies:
Comitted? Only if he is not facing physical guys, so I would say: NO
Team Oriented? Yes, but his lack of balls makes it a shaky yes.
Defensive Minded? Only if he not facing physical guys, so I would say: NO
Skint kneed? Not sure what you mean.
Hard working? Yes, but his lack of balls makes it a shaky yes.
Mean spirited? Definitively NO.
In your face? Definitively NO.
Rebound eatin’? Only if he is not facing physical players, so NO.
Winner? Maybe in the days in which he played with a guy with real spunk along side him (Noah). So, NOT REALLY
Winners don’t disappear in the playoffs like Al did when we were really in a dog fight for a series win.
I don’t like but can understand that in a series which has gone out of control and our HC is completely lost (like the ORL 4-0 series) that players lose their spunk, but last year? Being 1-0 up away in CHI? How can Horford justify being outplayed and completely out hustled by:
Boozer (with turf toe);
Gibson (who?)
Azik (who??????)
Noah I understand as being difficult to match from an effort level, but HE KNOWS the guy so he should certainly know how to poke and jab at him to make him lose focus. Which names to call him, where to put his elbows, when to step on his feet.
Horford DID NOTHING. He is a damn “accountant” playing a blue collar position.