Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson included in Hawks trade talk
Hawks guard Joe Johnson is included among several trade possibilities being discussed by the team but no deals are imminent, according to a person familiar with the talks.
New Hawks GM Danny Ferry is focused on the trade market as he seeks to re-tool the roster. Johnson is owed $90 million over the next four years and trading him could provide the Hawks salary-cap relief and far greater flexibility for the future.
The Hawks have received calls from teams interested in forward Josh Smith but Ferry so far has considered the price to be too high, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. The person said the Lakers and Magic are among the teams who’ve inquired about Smith.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, who first reported the Johnson trade talks, the Nets are looking to pair Johnson with point guard Deron Williams. Williams will be an unrestricted free agent after midnight and Brooklyn is making an effort to entice him to re-sign.
The Hawks still haven’t said if they plan to extend a qualifying offer to forward Ivan Johnson before the midnight deadline. The Hawks were in favor of extending the offer before Ferry’s hire and spent Saturday deliberating the decision with Ferry’s input. If the Hawks don’t extend the offer of about $970,000 for one year, Johnson will become an unrestricted free agent.
Update: The deadline passed with no word from Hawks officials on whether they extended the qualifying offer to Johnson.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat.
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205 comments Add your comment
Sean
June 30th, 2012
11:32 pm
THIS MUST BE DONE !!!!!!!!!!! Joe im a fan, and I love what you’ve done for us,but when you signed that contract you KILLED the Hawks ! A complete handcuff for us for the next 4 years,,,,,
jlewis
June 30th, 2012
11:34 pm
How can a team that hasnt won anything be handcuffed? No one wants to play here. The best option would be for ownership to move this team to Seattle, I bet they would appreciate it.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 30th, 2012
11:35 pm
This team does not improve until Joe’s contract is gone. Get it done Ferry. Do whatever it takes. Maybe even get Billy King drunk and convince him that Marvin is good.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
11:35 pm
What is JJ’s contract preventing the Hawks to do?
What player out there in free agency could turn the Hawks into an EC Finals team, if we had JJ’s money off the books, and no JJ in ATL?
Rick James
June 30th, 2012
11:36 pm
If Joe goes Josh stays and his attitude improves..
Get Real
June 30th, 2012
11:36 pm
Joe Johnson isn’t stopping anyone from being a …… Leader ! For christsake, some of the things people write here??
Swingman912
June 30th, 2012
11:37 pm
Ppl will play ANYWHERE that’s talking the right amount of money…true, Hawks haven’t won anything, and won’t win anything with Joe’s contract, so i say they should get what they can get, and build from there
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
11:38 pm
My personal theory on why guys don’t necessarily want to play for the Hawks, is because all of their stripper mistresses probably reside here. Not a good look to have your mistress and the wifey in the same town.
gcs
June 30th, 2012
11:39 pm
I have no problem trading Joe Johnson but Josh Smith HAS to go.
He is not going to re-sign with the Hawks.
O'Brien
June 30th, 2012
11:40 pm
I think Dwight made a stupid decision when he opted in for one last year. All he had to do was not opt in, and he could have signed with the Nets in a few days, which would also have meant the Nets wouldn’t have to give up any assets for him. He will regret that decision (imo).
Although it’s possible the Hawks are being used to force Orlando to make a deal, I don’t think the Nets have any assets to make a deal for Dwight work.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
11:40 pm
T-20 minutes to extend that qualifying offer to Ivan.
Looks like it’s not going to happen.
jlewis
June 30th, 2012
11:40 pm
Danny Ferry still has to prove himself, he lucked into Lebron, and San Antonio, Pop and Buford call those shots, so if he blows this up, we are the Bobcats. To add to that, Pop and buford lucked into David Robinson and soon after tim duncan, this is a crap shoot. Every player that has been named in a possible trade JJ has dominated, do your homework.
Swingman912
June 30th, 2012
11:41 pm
Thus trade isn’t for this year clowns!!! We aren’t one move away from a title, but we’ve festered in mediocrity, and with Joes contract that won’t change, so free up that money. We don’t need a player to do what Joe does for us in return. But there are assets available, and FYI, 1 year contracts are assets
CHUUUUUCH
ntrigue
June 30th, 2012
11:43 pm
Trade Joe dont trade Josh!
Sam
June 30th, 2012
11:43 pm
I would personally give Danny Ferry $10 to move Joe. Anyone else wanna chip in?
Slimjr
June 30th, 2012
11:44 pm
“sometimes its good to be lucky” –unknown author
Slimjr
June 30th, 2012
11:45 pm
Post draft trades? What you got Danny?
Joe must go………..Next Marvin..
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
11:46 pm
1 year contracts are assets for owners looking to save a ton of money.
Damn shame that all of these other teams were able to trade away a player wired in “mediocrity” for assets . . but the Hawks are reportedly willing to settle for garbage contracts. That’s not how you rebuild. That’s how you destroy and let the land grow with weeds all over the place.
Wabe
June 30th, 2012
11:46 pm
anything to get Joe off the books…
Sam
June 30th, 2012
11:48 pm
No way Joe gets moved to the Ni-yets. They want Howard foremost. If they trade for Joe, they won’t have the pieces to get the Howard trade done as well.
jeppz23
June 30th, 2012
11:49 pm
I agree we need to trade joe, but some of you people need to realize and appreciate what he’s done for this franchise. He came here when nobody else wanted to and made us respectable. So please stop bagging the guy.
Ryan
June 30th, 2012
11:49 pm
WHO CARES WHO WE GET BACK!?!?! Trade him yesterday for an intern. The cap relief alone would be amazing!
hawksfaninthewest
June 30th, 2012
11:49 pm
Man if you can find a sucker to take Joe and his albatross of a contract, you gotta do it. Dont care who you get because freeing up the Hawks cap space suddenly gives them room to maneuver. Wow! Just the thought of Ferry overcoming Sund’s bonehead move so fast has me on the edge of my seat.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
“What player out there in free agency could turn the Hawks into an EC Finals team, if we had JJ’s money off the books, and no JJ in ATL?”
For the 5,823,205th time, cap space is useful for more than just signing free agents.
Sam
June 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
Way to get everyone excited over nothing, mr. Cunningham. Must have been a slow news night to come up with this kinda drivel.
mock1
June 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
If Ferry could get Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams out of here “AT THE SAME DAM TIME” then he is definitely headed in the right direction ! Teams are are going to have to bring it to get Josh,he has alot of potential but needs a real coach to help force him to grow up and leave that attitude at the door.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 30th, 2012
11:52 pm
I don’t want Lopez. I don’t mind Brooks, but I don’t necessarily require him either. I want cap space and picks. Give us a nice fat trade exception and a future first rounder with expiring protection after a few years and I’m good. Whether you want a flat out rebuild or a culture change or both, it starts with moving Joe.
Steven
June 30th, 2012
11:53 pm
The Atlanta Hawks could be so much more. I have lived in GA my whole life and don’t care for the Hawks but watch the NBA(playoffs).
WhoDontKnowWhatYourTalkingAboutJustBecauseYouMakeTheMostCommentsOnABlog
June 30th, 2012
11:53 pm
@northcyde…. with your vast well known NBA executive experience… can you tell us what players the Hawks should received for a 31 year old player with $90 million left on his contract and playoff averages of 17 points per game.
O'Brien
June 30th, 2012
11:54 pm
From the yahoo article;
The Nets would have to cobble together several contracts, including those of Jordan Farmar, who opted into the final $4.2 million year of his deal on Saturday, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro and a sign-and-trade with one of the Nets’ free agents to make the exchange of salaries work for Johnson’s contract. Johnson will make $19.8 million next season..
This is a terrible deal for the Hawks. As much as I like Anthony Morrow, I think he is redundant since we drafted JJ2. Petro is best suited as a 3rd string center imo, but I can see Sund liking him since he drafted him. I would take Kris Humphries, but with Josh and Mike Scott, do we need him? Jordan Farmer is a decent backup PG, and he does have championship experience, but still…
That being said, it would get us from under JJ’s contract, so I would do the deal if 1) The Nets include a trade exception, and 3) If Ferry has other deals lined up.
With a trade exception, we could flip it to a team looking for salary cap space and we would have alot ofassets to work with.
brigadierjerry
June 30th, 2012
11:54 pm
http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/221920/Sources_Nets_Losing_Hope_For_Howard
O'Brien
June 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
For the record though, I would be shocked if the Hawks make a deal.
Najeh Davenpoop
June 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
Not that this team is sniffing the ECF anyway, but I am quite certain that if they dump Joe for cap space and sign Ray Allen to a one year deal that they will be exactly as good as they were last year.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
June 30th, 2012
11:50 pm
“What player out there in free agency could turn the Hawks into an EC Finals team, if we had JJ’s money off the books, and no JJ in ATL?”
For the 5,823,205th time, cap space is useful for more than just signing free agents
*************
OK Najeh . . the ball is in your court then.
It’s 2013, and JJ’s contract is off the books. Here’s what you’re looking at
- Josh Smith unrestricted FA
- Jeff Teague restricted FA
- Zaza Pachulia unrestricted FA
- Al Horford: 12 mill
- Marvin Williams: 7.5 mill
- John Jenkins: 1.2 mil ( approx )
You are upwards of 25 – 30 million UNDER the salary cap.
Rebuild the Hawks into a winner . . . GO.
You have
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
This is assuming that JJ is traded for expiring contracts that end in 2013.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
11:56 pm
Matter of fact, that goes out to any of you who are in favor of trading JJ for scraps. That’s what we have in 2013 if he’s off the books.
Go and build a winner in ATL with that “cap space”.
Disgusted
June 30th, 2012
11:57 pm
Trade rumors for Joe???????????
PLESASE TELL ME THAT IS SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t care if they do nothing but dump his salary, I don;t like this bunch and would be happy to go back to 24-58 if they could end the Joe “I don’t care if the fans show up” Johnson ERA aka ERROR.
A Hawks team without Iso Joe and Marvin would be a dream of mine. And if Josh goes I won;t cry.
northcyde
June 30th, 2012
11:58 pm
Najeh Davenpoop
June 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
Not that this team is sniffing the ECF anyway, but I am quite certain that if they dump Joe for cap space and sign Ray Allen to a one year deal that they will be exactly as good as they were last year.
*************
Yep, because Ray can make a bunch of step back jumpers in isolation and guard the opposing teams best perimeter player. Yep . . Ray sure could replace JJ’s production. Especially with Josh Smith averaging 7 assists a game now feeding him the ball for 15 shots a game.
northcyde
July 1st, 2012
12:03 am
Come on now. This is easy.
Turn that cap space into a winner for ATL. You can go with a number of options.
brigadierjerry
July 1st, 2012
12:06 am
Would be very interesting if this happens. Would probably end up a situation similar to Houston with owner Morey trying to get a star for his franchise since TMAC and Yao have been gone. They have been ok team but not a contender for awhile now and Morey other than getting that Gasol trade vetoed by the NBA but stars dont seem interested of going there. They also have a ton of cap space and assets so there are two ways to look at it.
Yawn....
July 1st, 2012
12:07 am
I like what a poster said earlier:
Trade the Atlanta Hawks to Seattle……would be worth about another Starbucks!!!
Najeh Davenpoop
July 1st, 2012
12:07 am
“OK Najeh . . the ball is in your court then.
It’s 2013, and JJ’s contract is off the books. Here’s what you’re looking at
- Josh Smith unrestricted FA
- Jeff Teague restricted FA
- Zaza Pachulia unrestricted FA
- Al Horford: 12 mill
- Marvin Williams: 7.5 mill
- John Jenkins: 1.2 mil ( approx )
You are upwards of 25 – 30 million UNDER the salary cap.
Rebuild the Hawks into a winner . . . GO.”
Well, first of all, you still have Marvin on the roster. If I had to rebuild the Hawks into a winner and I found a sucker dumb enough to trade for Joe’s contract, my first move after that would be to amnesty Marvin.
With that said, this isn’t too hard. Josh and Zaza are UFAs, Teague is a RFA, and Al and JJ12 are under contract. In other words, I have about $13 million of committed salaries, plus the $3 or $4 million for Teague’s QO, which means I have nearly $40 million of cap space.
Go hard after Dwight and Josh to try to get them to team up here. If Dwight and Josh say yes, that’s still only going to cost you about $30 million of that cap space, which means you have plenty of room to add another free agent or trade for another near-All Star level player to be the 3rd option. You can still sign Teague to the qualifying offer and trade Al for a SG or SF to balance out the starting lineup. That team will be at least as good as any team the Hawks have had in their entire history here.
If Dwight says no, I assume Josh will also say no, and you will be left with Teague, Al, and a ton of cap space. In other words, you have a ton of cap flexibility and two positions (PG and PF) locked down with three to fill.
So sign-and-trade Josh for a trade exception and picks (this is possible — LeBron and Bosh were also sign-and-traded for trade exceptions and picks), use these picks to trade up in the draft (since they will likely be in the 20s), tank for a season, get a high draft pick of your own, and draft the best player this team has had since Dominique Wilkins. And in the summer of 2014 after you have used your lottery pick, you can always accelerate the rebuilding process by offering a front-loaded deal to a restricted free agent (if we were talking this summer, that would be someone like James Harden or Eric Gordon for example).
I have a better question for you. Keep Joe on this roster and build a team that has a serious chance to win a championship. Go. And before you start, Joe and Gasol are not going anywhere near a championship together.
Jason S
July 1st, 2012
12:08 am
(JJ for scraps) OR (JJ for a trade exception AND a 2014 1st round draft pick)
I dunno. If the Hawks are just trying to dump salary, then trade exception plus 1st round pick might make sense. … but JJ for scraps … I don’t like it … at least not for the sort of scraps that Brooklyn has to offer.
Get Real
July 1st, 2012
12:08 am
Dear Northcyde:
Does one have to know the secret of how to live to 100 y/o, in order to understand the need to have a cancer removed now ?
prison mike
July 1st, 2012
12:09 am
“With no deal is close to completion, sources say the teams are discussing trade on multiple fronts.”
What I get from this is they want Joe AND Josh. We can’t do that deal for them though. The nets have limited resources. They have no high draft picks. No young players with high potential. I’m guessing they’ll trade us thrash ie expirings for Joe and basically sign and trade Lopez for JS.
But Ferry has to make his mark. To get expirings of petro, morrow, farmar. AND MB into the deal we need to get ahead and accept. He’ll provide a good stop gap until we find another 2, he’ll also be decent trade bait considering how well he’ll play with Josh, Al, and JT
Najeh Davenpoop
July 1st, 2012
12:09 am
“And teams that do that end up paying for it in the end.
When you have a tangible asset, you flip it for other tangible assets. ”
Tell that to OKC who traded Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis for three draft picks and a trade exception.
Jason S
July 1st, 2012
12:10 am
Sign and trade rules are different under the new CBA …
chem
July 1st, 2012
12:11 am
“…but Ferry so far has considered the price to be too high” —In reference to shopping Josh Smith, I’m sure Ferry doesn’t consider JS price too high. I think you meant the opposite…
UDontKnowWhatYourTalkingAbout
July 1st, 2012
12:12 am
@northcyde…It’s amazing how you keep glossing over THE FACT that the Hawks only have 6 players under contract and those six players contracts total nearly $61 million. Last year’s salary cap was at 58 million. So the ball is in your court. How do you fill out your roster and sign your own draft picks when you’re already 4 million over last year’s cap with just six players?
Shamrock
July 1st, 2012
12:13 am
Tell em Northcyde. Some expert Najeh is
. He probably been sniffing 10 year olds behinds all day