Johnson to the Knicks? Hawks’ Joe won’t say it ain’t so
It’s old hat to LeBron James, but it’s new to Joe Johnson. When you’re a big-name player and you’re about to become a free agent, a game at Madison Square Garden means getting asked, “Would you sign with the Knicks?” Joe got the full treatment Monday, and he didn’t, you should know, say no.
The three major New York newspapers — the Times, the Post and the Daily News – all ran the obligatory “Joe-to-the-Knicks?” story. In the midst of a season in which New York’s NBA entry has won three times against the Hawks and only 19 times against the league’s other 28 teams, star-based speculation counts as big news in the Big Apple.
Times headline: “Hawks’ Johnson, free agent to be, lurks as a prize without the hype.”
Post headline: “Joe: Knicks an option, if …”
Daily News headline: “Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson may be best shot for the Knicks.”
If you have time to click on only one of the Joe links, the Daily News’ version, written by Frank Isola, is the ticket. From Isola’s report:
Johnson stands alone in the 2010 free-agent class in that the All-Star shooting guard may be the most realistic option for the talent-starved Knicks. Johnson already has rejected a “max” deal with the Atlanta Hawks and has a good history with [Knicks coach] Mike D’Antoni. Plus Johnson’s agent, Arn Tellem, is responsible for orchestrating the trading deadline deal for Tracy McGrady that freed up additional salary-cap space for the Knicks.
Team president Donnie Walsh traded two first-round picks to Houston to finalize the deal and the feeling around the NBA is that Walsh never would have given up so many assets if he didn’t have a good indication that one of the top free agents is strongly considering New York.
“I don’t think it’s a reach to say that Arn could influence Joe’s decisions,” said a Hawks official. “There’s nothing wrong with that. But we could still offer the most money.”
“Wink-wink” deals are against NBA rules, but they are next to impossible to prove and happen all the time. That doesn’t mean the Knicks have such an agreement in place with Johnson. In fact, Johnson was clear last night that his preference is to sign with a ready-made team, which would seem to include Atlanta but not necessarily the Knicks.
From the Post’s story, written by Mark Hale:
Question is, would the All-Star guard be comfortable in a major town like New York?
He insists he would be.
“Yeah, definitely,” Johnson said last night before posting 22 points, five assists and four rebounds in the Knicks’ dramatic 99-98 win over his Hawks.
“It’s nothing but basketball. I’ve been playing this game pretty much my whole life. I could care less where I’m at.”
Johnson raved about Madison Square Garden in postgame.
“It is the Mecca of basketball,” he said. “Everybody I think really gets geared up to come and put on a good performance.”
If I’m the Hawks and I’ve just lost to the woebegone Knicks by a point, I don’t know that I want to hear about MSG-as-Mecca. Nor would I want to see this in Jonathan Abrams’ story in the Times:
“I think everybody is going to be in contention,” Johnson said. “I can’t really say just one team that I’m looking forward to playing for. I don’t know. I think it’s going to be an exciting summer, and we’ll see what happens.”
An exciting summer? Doesn’t, like, spring come first? Isn’t it possible the Hawks will play games of consequence come April and May? Might those not be “exciting”?
Ah, well. That’s the way of NBA free agency. You’re nobody unless the Knicks want you. And the Knicks apparently want Joe Johnson. But he’ll wind up staying here. Because, as the unnamed Hawks official told the Daily News, they can offer the most money.
Besides, New York is the worst possible fit for Johnson. He’s famous among teammates for his ability to sleep anytime anywhere. A guy who loves to snooze working in the city that never sleeps? It’d never work.
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118 comments Add your comment
Rocky
March 9th, 2010
9:44 am
1st
Mark Bradley
March 9th, 2010
9:45 am
Kudos, Rocky.
Ree Roe
March 9th, 2010
9:50 am
I want Joe to come back & the Hawks want him back, but if Joe leaves what do
you see the Hawks doing in free agency to replace him?
-REE Roe!!!
Wink
March 9th, 2010
9:52 am
Good bye Joe!!!! Go play for your old coach D’Antoni – you have been auditioning for this job all season. You will get to play with Tracy & maybe Bosh/LeBron??? Go be Robin, we need a Batman….
Deano
March 9th, 2010
10:01 am
Bye Joe. I’m sure we can find another shooting guard that can’t hit the big shot, that can dribble around the top of the key for 10 seconds and throw up wild shots, and that has absolutely NO FIRE whatsoever!! If you don’t want to be here we sure as hell don’t want you here.
JJ
March 9th, 2010
10:01 am
Mark,
Please explain this to me as I’m not an NBA FA afficianado. First, why can the Hawks offer more money than the Knicks, Nets, etc… if they can off a “Max Contract”? Is the Hawks “Max Contract” actually more than the rest of the league’s? And second, IF Joe does leave, will that mean that the Hawks can then also offer a “Max Contract” with the money saved on Joe’s non-contract??
JTIII
March 9th, 2010
10:04 am
The Temptations had a song entitled “Superstar”. In the lyrics it says “Superstar, remember how you got where you are.” Joe, respect your teammates and stop talking about “this summer” and “it’s the mecca of basketball”. If it were not for the Hawks giving you a REALLY chance to shine, you would not be in this position. You don’t hear Al, Josh, Bibby, or Crawford talking about other teams. They are focused, as you should be too, superstar.
Mark Bradley
March 9th, 2010
10:10 am
A max contract is the same everywhere, JJ. But a team wishing to sign Johnson would have to clear cap space to absorb such a contract, which would be, in his case, around $17 million.
TROTTINGHOME
March 9th, 2010
10:10 am
This article is an excellent example of an over saturated sports market..i;m beginning to drown here…so i quit swimming
John Kontract
March 9th, 2010
10:14 am
Let Joe walk and become one of the teams that can offer LeBron the max deal. Take LeBron off the Cavs and Ja Ja Ja Joe off the Hawks and look at the rosters. The Hawks have a MUCH better team to surround King James to win championship after championship. Just close your eyes and dream for a second….Teague, Crawford, Lebron, Smoove and Big Al. That team would win 60+ games and play for the championship every year that team is together.
Jaxhawk
March 9th, 2010
10:15 am
What or who could the hawks pursue if they lose JJ to the knicks?
Mark Bradley
March 9th, 2010
10:17 am
Just about everybody becomes a free agent this summer. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh. The Hawks could chase one of them, but I wouldn’t count on them landing a big name. Because why would a big-name player sign with a team that couldn’t keep a big-name player?
JJ
March 9th, 2010
10:18 am
That’s my other question…..are the Hawks in the same boat as other teams that can offer a Max contract IF they don’t offer Joe? I don’t ever see anyone talking about the Hawks but if they can offer Joe the max, surely they could offer LeBron the max as well?
JJ
March 9th, 2010
10:20 am
Mark,
This is The A baby. Athletes love to live and play here. Forget Joe if he doesn’t want to be here. Let’s trade up for a REAL superstar!! Hahahaha
Don
March 9th, 2010
10:20 am
Very odd. Johnson already left a contending team (Phoenix) with a pretty good window in front of them to sign with a horrible team in the early stages of rebuilding. Now that the Hawks have become a legitimate contender after years of losing, he’s apparently thinking of stepping backwards again. Does Johnson care more about winning or being the main guy on a losing team and getting plenty of shots?
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
March 9th, 2010
10:21 am
something is missing from the Hawks is it coaching ? is it effort ? I lean toward coaching . any good coaches that you could see taking the Hawks job ? what about Avery Johnson ? if they cant beat the Cavs , the magic , or the knicks even one time something is missing .If Johnson goes there is nothing that can be done about it , I don’t know why anyone would go to the knicks except for money of course , but they do own the hawks.
drmaryb
March 9th, 2010
10:21 am
JJ is The Hawks!
We NEED him more than HE needs us! He said it BEST: This is the NBA man!
Hey JOE-The ATL loves You Man. You are building something here…You are MINE & The Hawks NEED you to Re-Sign! Your teammates love you & They play hard for You!
Mark Bradley
March 9th, 2010
10:22 am
Joe Johnson said in all the stories, Don, that he wasn’t interested in backtracking — meaning going back to a a non-contender. Which would seem to eliminate the Knicks, wouldn’t it?
JJ
March 9th, 2010
10:23 am
Don,
Just for the record, JJ didn’t leave “a contending team (Phoenix)…to sign with a horrible team…). He was TRADED. Huge difference.
Mark Bradley
March 9th, 2010
10:24 am
JJ, it was actually a sign-and-trade. Johnson was a restricted free agent.
And the Hawks did beat the Knicks once this season, South Ga. They were 1-3 against New York.
JJ
March 9th, 2010
10:26 am
Mark, Ah…my memory eludes me. Thanks for the correction. Don, apologies for the mistake. You were correct sir.
Mike Jay
March 9th, 2010
10:27 am
Gee. You spent how many years rebuilding the Hawks and the fianlly get to a place where they can compete and you want to run off to another rebuilding project in the Knicks? Carefull or will get a reputation as a player who can only excell when there are little expectaitons for greatness. The more I hear Joe’s remarks during this process the worst the taste gets in my mouth. The right thing to do would be to not discuss this during the season.
Paul H
March 9th, 2010
10:28 am
It would be nice if we could actually BEAT the lowly Knicks!
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
March 9th, 2010
10:30 am
1-3 against the knicks not much better is it ? we are the knicks celtics (almost)
Mike Jay
March 9th, 2010
10:30 am
my comments went poof!
in summary….
I’m beging to think JJ doesn’t like the preasure of being on a contenting team. Not like his stellar playoff performance dissuades my thinking…
Mr. Phil
March 9th, 2010
10:36 am
Mark, what about the growing contingent of fans who WANT JOE GONE. Is anybody listening to us? Let’s not just assume the Hawks are fully committed to trying to resign this chump. And if they are they shouldn’t be.
El Bravo
March 9th, 2010
10:36 am
Make no mistake, Joe Johnson is our best player, however, if he walks we can move Crawford to the starting lineup. I don’t believe the dropoff would be that significant. The question becomes who do we get to come off the bench and provide instant offense…
WonderDawg
March 9th, 2010
10:37 am
Joe Johnson: “I could care less where I’m at.” Boy, that’s an statement (and attitude) you want from your team-leader. How could JJ say such a thing during a run to the playoffs? If that was not taken out of context, I hope Sund offers him nothing.
Mr. Phil
March 9th, 2010
10:38 am
Also, what do you mean “couldn’t keep a big name player”. Maybe keeping this so-called all star would be the dumbest move ever and other big names would understand.
Don
March 9th, 2010
10:38 am
Mark, I can’t figure out what Johnson is trying to accomplish with his comments. The only way the Knicks would become a contender next year with him would be if they also signed LeBron and kept David Lee. I don’t think a combination of Johnson and Bosh make them serious contenders though it would make them a playoff team in the East. Johnson and D-Wade together makes no sense because they play the same position.
I could understand Johnson’s public indifference about the Hawks a little better if they hadn’t already put a max deal on the table for him.
But no matter what he’s thinking about doing after the season, his only comment right now with regard to free agency should be “no comment”. Flirting with the Knicks shows a complete lack of professionalism and class in my opinion. He’s supposed to be the leader of the Hawks but he acts like a hired gun.
Mr. Phil
March 9th, 2010
10:40 am
Our best player. Admitedly, Johnson’s got range, moves, and can score. But what use is any of that when you can not will your team to a win on a given night. What use is it when your team needs a bucket and all you can do is dribble to the lane and toss a random flyer at the backboard. Come on people wake up. having talent and being a winner is not the same thing. Joe Johnson is no winner!
Mr. Phil
March 9th, 2010
10:42 am
Don: Good point. A lack of killer instinct, a lack of “clutchness” and zero professionalism. Where is Isiah Ryder when you need him?
Really Joe?
March 9th, 2010
10:44 am
Really Joe? The Hawks go out of their way to re-up the roster that was supposed to mesh for years to come and eventually be seasoned enough to make a championship run once they get that coveted center, and ole Joe no longer wants to be the man to take a team to prominence. It’s weird the transition these players go through, or maybe its the league. The trend, it seems, has gone from wanting to be the savior of your favorite franchise, to not caring where you play and who you play with as long as you get your $15 mil a year and 25.6 ppg, to being content with taking a $7 million a year pay cut in order to stack 4 teams in the league to vie for a championship. I was shocked to hear that players get together and talk about what they plan to do in the offseason and that would potentially effect another players decision on what he would do. Maybe its just my competitive nature, but I wouldn’t want to be second best to anybody when I thought I was capable of being the best. This is a defeatist attitude adopted by Joe Johnson in the midst of a relatively close division race. Joe basically told me, “Well, I think I’m good enough to be considered and respected on the same level as LeBron, Kobe and D-Wade, but I can’t beat them so I’ll just join them.
Man up Joe. If you’re really good enough to demand a max contract, have some pride in taking your team to the playoffs.
Rick Sund
March 9th, 2010
10:44 am
He said WHAT?!?
“I could care less where I’m at!”
Well, I’m shocked…
JJ
March 9th, 2010
10:47 am
I’m sitting on the fence here. Joe is an all-star and yet there’s just something about him that doesn’t compute as “STAR” in the league. That may not make a lot of sense, but very rarely does it seem like he just takes over games like LJ, D-Wade, Melo, Kobe, etc…
Don’t get me wrong, he tries and all. We’ve all seen the 4th qtr when he “takes over the game” and the offense becomes “iso Joe” which is not only incredibly boring but also uneffective. They stop moving the ball and usually stop scoring. Which is precisely why we’ve all witnessed the dreaded 4th qtr meltdowns and lack of offensive production.
Here’s the catch though: Who are we legitimately going to go after that is better? No is even mentioning the idea of one of the BIG names coming to Atl. So realistically, is a “non-star” all-star like Joe the best we can do? If so, I’d rather not push him out the door and settle for fighting for 6th or 7th in the east again.
If however we can legitimately make a run at a true superstar? I say c-ya Joe.
dirt
March 9th, 2010
10:52 am
let joe go bring in wade!!!!!
Lil Jay
March 9th, 2010
10:54 am
Mark, your answer to the Max Contract question was right and wrong. Every other team can only offer JJ 5yrs where the Hawks can offer 6yrs the additional year is where the most money comes in effect.
JJ, to answer your other question we can only offer the other free agents 5 years that what makes it hard to get LBJ, DWade or BOSH, and if we tried to get one of those guys we would have to do a sign and trade to get the additional year and that would include JSmoove, Big AL or Teague guaranteed.
Dr. Warren
March 9th, 2010
10:55 am
Johnson’s talk evokes another guy on his way out the door (not by choice): JIM MORA. I’m wondering if the Hawks are really better off letting him go–he’s been peaking for two years now and won’t be nearly as effective in the last 3 years of a 5-year contract. If the Hawks can’t get out of Round 2 this year, why not just do a minor rebuilding job? How else will they ever beat Orlando and whoever has LBJ? And even though they haven’t made the semis since the St. Louis days, the goal is still a championship. Ummm, right???
singndablues
March 9th, 2010
11:00 am
This is no surprise. JJ’s “dgas” attitude, lack of passion and lack of leadership is why I will be glad to see him go. He’s maxed out his game and will only decline in the future. I think Sund is planning on both JJ and Woody to exit after the season (barring an advance to the championship game – which ain’t gonna happen). The offensive style of 90% of the plays being JJ one on one has become pretty lame. A good coach would have made much more of Marvin’s talents by now. How about dwade in the atl?
Brownie
March 9th, 2010
11:03 am
Based on JJ’s comments about not back-tracking, I would be very surprised if the Knicks end up as his choice, however D’Antoni is a strong draw for him.
I’m more inclined to see him heading to the Bulls, if he doesn’t stay put in Atlanta.
The Hawks are an interesting case study, as they definitely have NOT followed SOP for building a contender – they’ve been patient with their young players and only brought in secondary FA’s. The results have been impressive with year-by-year improvement.
BUT, are they going to be capable of winning a championship?? While all of the youngsters will likely continue to improve their games, they still need a superstar talent to get them to the top…and Johnson doesn’t have the game or personality to carry that off. AND the Hawks won’t be able to afford a superstar unless they subtract an important piece – likely JJ or Josh Smith. Result: they haven’t made headway.
The reality is that JJ is a reliable, consistent player, but the more they rely on him the more the game slows to a crawl and becomes essentially “Joe and 4 guys standing on the perimeter”.
I look at Josh, Horford, Crawford and eventually Teague, and I see greyhounds, not stand-around half-court type players.
If JJ stays, the only way I see Atlanta winning a championship is for Josh Smith to reach his true potential, meaning bringing in a real center to move Horford to PF and sliding Josh into the SF slot. He’ll HAVE to improve his outside shot, ball handling and decision-making to accomplish this. We see signs of it, but I really think he’s operating at only about 50% of his top end.
Which brings us to the coaching….I understand the Hawks rewarding Woody for steady improvement (especially on the defensive side of the ball), but does anyone really think he’s a championship caliber head coach? The ASG will have to find the courage to make that tough decision to bring in a guy who can make the difference, particularly in bringing out the best in Smith.
JJ
March 9th, 2010
11:03 am
Thanks, Lil Jay.
So by that same scenario, Cleveland has the best chance to keep LJ and can offer 6 years over NY’s 5, correct? Same for Miami with Wade and Toronto with Bosh? So, in reality, the Hawks could offer Wade or LJ the same amount of money that the Knicks could, but less than Clev (for LJ) or Mia (for Wade)? Assuming of course that Joe isn’t on the team.
MannyT
March 9th, 2010
11:03 am
MB,
Don’t flip yourself the Bird rights!
While max is max, your Bird rights team can offer you bigger raises than another team. While it may not sway Joe, the Hawks can offer hims $405,615 more per season than any other team. They can also offer an extra (6th) year. That is the real kicker because it gets you to that supersized salary at the end. Note that all the biggest salaries in the NBA are usually the last year or two of a max deal.
A Hawks MAX deal is 6 years/99,375,675.
Any other team’s MAX deal is 5 years/86,314,872
That is why Joe could look at 4 yrs/60 mil and say, I’ll play this out.
…and for all your swap MAX Joe Johnson for MAX (enter name here) the cap rules work against us. We would have to replace Joe with someone that makes like Marvin Williams money.
I can hear LeBron’s agent calling Sund every day 
It’s not what you make, it’s how much more you can make!
coachx
March 9th, 2010
11:05 am
Lil Jay,
Your still wrong.
We cannot offer any other team’s free agent more then the mid level exception of around $5.5 mill per year since we are over the salary cap. We cannot offer a 5 year max deal to any other team’s free agents b/c we are over the cap. The only teams under the cap who can sign a max guy from another team are: Knicks, Bulls, Heat, Wizards, Kings, Clippers.
Teams over the salary cap (like the Hawks) can only offer THEIR OWN FREE AGENTS contracts (without using the mid level or veterans minimum exceptions). Those exceptions are just enought to sign role players. We are the only team who can offer JJ that 6th year in the contract and we can offer slightly higher raises, per year, to JJ then other teams.
So its basically sign Joe Johnson or bust.
I wish the AJC could find some sports writers that can comprehend how this stuff works. Its really not that hard.
dap01
March 9th, 2010
11:07 am
Joe is a huge part of the Hawks, but if he wants to go the the Knicks, let him go.
Good bye!
JJ
March 9th, 2010
11:12 am
Sign Joe or bust? Ouch….not much in the way of flexibility.
I MUS WRITE
March 9th, 2010
11:14 am
Joe Johnson is going to the Chicago Bulls…..Throw the money at Wade
Blue Kid
March 9th, 2010
11:17 am
… from hoopsworld.com
2010 Free Agents. If Joe leaves, we have other options.
Joe Johnson
Ray Allen
Manu Ginobili
Marcus Camby
Tracey McGrady
Shaquille O’Neal
Brad Miller
Stephen Jackson
Jermaine O’Neal
Mike Miller
Rip Hamilton
Yao Ming (owed 17.7 million in 10/11)
Amare Stoudamire (owed 17.7 million in 10/11)
LeBron James (owed 17.2 million in 10/11)
Dwayne Wade (owed 17.0 million in 10/11)
Chris Bosh (owed 17.1 million in 10/11)
Dirk Nowitzki (owed $21.5 million in 10/11)
Josh Howard (owed $11.8 million in 10/11)
Mike Redd (owed $18.3 million in 10/11)
Tyson Chandler (owed $12.8 million in 10/11)
Ben Wallace
Larry Hughes
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (option to opt-out after 09/10 season)
Anderson Varejao (option to opt-out after 09/10 season)
Al Harrington
Darko Milicic
Udonis Haslem
Jamal Crawford (option to opt-out after 09/10 season)
Eddy Curry (option to opt-out after 09/10 season)
Amir Johnson
Derek Fisher
Raja Bell
T.J. Ford (player option – owed $8.5 million in 10/11)
Travis Outlaw
Bruce Bowen
Earl Watson
Luke Ridnour
Matt Harpring
Quentin Richardson
Damien Wilkins
VenomSpitter
March 9th, 2010
11:18 am
let joe walk. ballhoggin loser
Mr. Obvious
March 9th, 2010
11:31 am
ATLANTA SPIRIT GROUP: The “Clayton County School System” of Professional Sports Ownership
(FYI: That AIN’T a compliment.)
Notso Fast
March 9th, 2010
11:39 am
Wink said it best. We need a Batman not a Robin. He is a good Robin but can’t fills the shoes of a Batman.
Matt
March 9th, 2010
11:39 am
It’s not like this team is elite even with ISO-JOE. Elite teams don’t lose to the Knicks or the Warriors, etc. This team has underachieved and Joe and Woody need to go IMHO. I don’t see Joe being an “elite” free agent and don’t think that it would impact the decision of the other free agent whether to sign with the Hawks or not. (Of course, the ASG is the “Poison Ivy” of all professional sports ownership groups. They have lifted even Donald Sterling over them)
MannyT
March 9th, 2010
11:42 am
OOPS–I jacked up my math on prior post.
MAX Hawks 6 yr/122,901,345
MAX other 5 yr/94,102,680
If the Hawks are willing to go max, the 2.5% extra raise and the last year worth almost $25 mil would keep almost any player here.
Show of hands for all y’all giving up $25 mil when you are 35 years old at the end of your last best contract!
cdog
March 9th, 2010
11:43 am
WHO CARES? LET JOE JOHNSON GO. HE’S NOT DOING ANYTHING HERE TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP.HE HAS SHUT DOWN FOR THE MOST PART THIS YEAR.WHEN YOU CAN’T BEAT THE NEW YORK KNICKS, YOU SHOULD BE GONE. THE HAWKS NEED PLAYERS WHO BELIEVE AND ARE COMMITED TO WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS.JOHNSON DOES NOT FIT THAT MOLD
Westurd
March 9th, 2010
11:47 am
Joe’s soft demeanor would get eaten up in NYC. Spike Lee would talk smack and softy Joe would leave the Garden in tears……
I like Joe, but he can piss off when he makes comments like, “I’m looking forward to Summer,” or, “I don’t care where I play” Loser!
JJ
March 9th, 2010
11:53 am
So we know Joe would be taking less money to leave. But we’re still unclear as to how much money we’d have to replace him if he decides to go. Some say the 5-year max and other say the mid level exception. Anyone care to break the tie?
P.S. It sure would be nice to have someone in the local media do an actual story with facts about what would happen if Joe leaves. I.e. how much they could spend and what players might be possible. Instead of all this rampant speculation on a blog…..
gmoney
March 9th, 2010
11:54 am
Unbelievable comments by Johnson. That’s it…I am done with the Hawks and I aint paying to see them. And you know what and mark this down…THEY WILL NEVER…I REPEAT NEVER WIN ANYTHING WITH HIM AS THE LEADER…LET HIM GO.
CTrim
March 9th, 2010
12:01 pm
I think Joe would sign with ATL if we matched highest offer, but I’m afraid one of these cap clearing teams is definitely going to over pay for Joe to save face with their fans. With Al’s contract coming up the year after and Crawford in the fold, I’m not convinced we would match. This is simply a business to Joe. His lack of emotion and willingness to leave the Suns back in the day proves that (which I can’t necessarily knock him for). It would just suck to lose him now after how far we have come as a team and what we gave up to get him. Go Hawks!
SWAT Native
March 9th, 2010
12:13 pm
I read the Daily News article yesterday (which was interesting to see how other teams fans criticize their teams)talking about Joe Johnson. One poster said that sooner or later, everyone plays for the Knicks. Another poster called Joe Johnson a glorified Jamal Crawford, which he didn’t mean in a good way.
It was also amazing to see how little Knicks fans think of David Lee; almost all of the posters said he’s overrated and not deserving of a max-out contract.
SashaStevens
March 9th, 2010
12:14 pm
For all Hawk fans who are hoping for a title this year, forget it! If you are unable to beat the bad teams; New Jersey, Golden State, Knicks, then how on earth will you beat superior talent like Boston, Cavs, Magic, Lakers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Spurs and Suns. You wont. The Hawks need a coach who can take their superior talent and make them play inspired, championship calibre basketball. There is only one guy out there who I know can get the job done. He is also a former Hawks coach back from the ’70s and ’80s. H U B I E B R O W N.
O'Brien
March 9th, 2010
12:15 pm
Lil Jay, JJ
I’m not a cap expert, but I think the Hawks can offer JJ a bigger percentage increase each year compared to what the other teams can offer.
And although we can offer JJ a max contract, if he leaves, we would not have enough salary cap space to offer another player a max contract.
O'Brien
March 9th, 2010
12:17 pm
Mark,
There was also an article on espn dailydime about JJ.
If a certain someone, like maybe this certain guy in Cleveland, accepted a max offer from the Knicks and wanted Johnson as a sidekick, Johnson would be willing to sign for less than the maximum.
“I’ll sacrifice,” Johnson said.
OK, Joe. Then what would be the best-case scenario? “My number one choice? I don’t really know,” Johnson said. “I do not know what LeBron’s going to do.”
O'Brien
March 9th, 2010
12:19 pm
I should have known Manny T would have taken care of the “nimbers”
Benjamin
March 9th, 2010
12:27 pm
My question:
How does a team go 4-0 vs. the Celtics and lose three of four vs. the Knicks?
Just another sign that perhaps the ancient Mayans were right about 2010. What? 2012? Well, there goes that theory…
Still a strange oddity in the land of NBA basketball, though.
Idiot Watch
March 9th, 2010
1:08 pm
What kind of fool thinks Josh is a 3? Josh is and will always be a power forward! He is one of the best powerforwards in the leagues. Horford should either become a backup to Josh and What ever new center we get or he should be traded to make salary and roster room to get a center who can defend the post. DUH!
lmno
March 9th, 2010
1:12 pm
Its fine if Joe goes. Crawford can start. Greece is bankrupt so Childress might as well come to play the 6th man.
If we got someone like Chris Bosch, who would we lose? I suppose Marvin? Hate to see him go. You aren’t cutting Horford or Josh, so it would have to be Marvin who is just getting better and better.
hawks have no clue
March 9th, 2010
1:13 pm
after losing to the knicks the same way three times,i am convinced that although they are in the running for the playoffs, it will end the same. Sorry Joe, big time players control the game in the clutch. letting josh smith throw the ball away game after game, as well as taking 30 ft jump shots in the final minutes, is not going to cut it. maybe it is woodson, maybe just no leadership in the hawks. we have stepped it up with jamal, but now, we seem to be floundering like we haven’t a clue. watching bibby and josh throw away balls last night was very tough to watch. i understand this happens in a long NBA season,but, now is the time the hawks should be really coming together. marvin shows up one night and not the next. I think joe is a good player, but i am doubting that he is the big market player like kobe and lebron. sorry, we lose in second round as usual. i agree with previous post, i don’t think joe is the leader that makes others better around him. I guess that explains his ability to sleep anywhere…
Ben
March 9th, 2010
1:16 pm
You just re-upped Marvin last off season so he stays. Good luck Joe! I’ll take my hand at the DWade sweepstakes. Believe it or not we are in a much better position to win a title right now then either Miami, NY or Chicago (Wade hometown).
j
March 9th, 2010
1:20 pm
Business is business … if Joe really did say those things, let him go and take the coach with you … and who says a superstar wouldn’t come here? That makes no sense to me … Joe is following the money & not the chance to win (if that wasn’t the case, we never would have gotten him from Phoenix). Bibby & Jamal took discounts this season to keep this team together … if Joe doesn’t do the same, screw him … please bring in a new coach though, this team deserves better
just me
March 9th, 2010
1:36 pm
Crawford is the future of the Hawks’ offense. He has more charisma to be that 4th quarter leader. Joe knows it. Joe is incredibly talented. You’re not going to find many 6′8″ shooting guards like him. But he does not have that killer instinct that makes champions so hard to beat. Tim Duncan has more fire.
Benjamin
March 9th, 2010
1:38 pm
Tim Duncan has rings.
Billy O
March 9th, 2010
1:39 pm
Joe is selfish and shelfish players are not team players. He doesn’t care about winning a championship; he justs cares about himself and how much money he can make.
Toole
March 9th, 2010
2:02 pm
Joe would be eaten alive by the media in NYC. Joe has been pampered his whole basketball career. he is not a team leader and can’t perform like LeBron, Kobe, or D-Wade. He is not in their class!
Daniel
March 9th, 2010
2:07 pm
All right, here’s my jump into this conversation…
If Joe does not resign this would put the Hawks at around $47 million in salary. This would give the Hawks around 10 million to sign free agents if the cap number stays the same from this year. However, the cap number is tied to the league’s revenue, which is down the last couple of years. Some of the estimates I’ve seen has the salary cap falling next year to around $53 million. That would leave the Hawks with only $6 million to sign free agents along with the mid-level exception.
Daniel
March 9th, 2010
2:13 pm
Personally I don’t like the idea of signing a shooting guard for max money until he turns 28, especially with all the minutes on Joe’s legs. If Joe won’t agree to a deal like the one we offered (4 years, 60 million), I think the best bet would be to explore sign and trade options. This would give Joe the option for the 6th years, and give the Hawks an asset in return.
Think about this possible scenario. The Nets get the number 1 pick, which is essentially the rights to draft Wall. So the Hawks pull a sign and trade with Joe and Devin Harris as the principals. Harris is making less money and is younger, and can be paired with Jamal Crawford for at least the 2010-2011 season.
Robert Nephew
March 9th, 2010
2:16 pm
Thought experiment: What would our record be this year if we had lost JJ to free agency last summer. Our starting five would be Horford, Smith, Williams, Crawford, and Bibby. Primary reserves would be Zaza, Teague, Mo. Essentially, we would have traded JJ’s minutes for more minutes from Mo and Teague, and to a lesser extent Crawford.
My own guess is we’d be no more than about four games behind where we are right now.
My conclusion is that JJ is more expendable than one might think at first glance.
BamaFan
March 9th, 2010
2:18 pm
I agree completely with Deano. Joe is one of the most boring players beside Tim Duncan that I have ever watched. We don’t want anyone that doesn’t want to be here. He is not worth the hype they are making and in my eyes, not a game changer. New York can have him and see how he and T-Mac works out.
KEEPING IT REAL
March 9th, 2010
2:20 pm
Let JOE walk, we are a better team without him. What is a leader if he doesn’t lead? Time after time, HORFORD is asking for the ball but it starts with the guards (Bibby and Joe). I say get rid of them both, they are only trying to cushion there future and not look after the “TEAM”.
JOE is a caliber player but at times he doesn’t play defense, his free throws at the end of the game are horrible and his leaderships skills suck. “Silent Superstar” what a joke, this isn’t his team. Our Hawks consist of 7 players that don’t play as a team and WOODY has his hands full trying to make them a team night after night.
MannyT
March 9th, 2010
2:25 pm
@O’Brien – Nimbers R Us
@Benjamin – that’s why they play the games. Cleveland struggles with Charlotte. Charlotte lost twice to NJ. Styles make fights. Matchups make basketball games.
@Imno-check out #39 on the list. There’s a difference between the country of Greece and being a rich Greek citizen. Similar to the struggles of the state of Georgia to balance its budget these days having little impact on the personal wealth of Arthur Blank & Bernie Marcus. I think they can get by this year…somehow.
…and for all y’all that are waving bye to Joe Johnson, keep these facts in mind.
He’s your best on ball defender.
He’s probably your best small forward.
He’s the biggest, most disruptive guy on the team when playing his normal position (SG)
He gives you more options of playing with other players than anyone on the team.
If the Hawks somehow stole a top tier player, you would want a Joe Johnson to play with him (a la Pippen in Chicago) to make the team a title contender.
It’s time to stop looking at Marvin as if he drafted himself #2 & Joe as if he came here and said, I’ve come here to lead you to the promised land.
BWAF
Spud Webb
March 9th, 2010
2:31 pm
Joe Johson that was a rookie move to say you would play for the Knicks. Please go kick rocks! We don’t need your or your lack of leadership.
ELVISINTHEHOUSE.
March 9th, 2010
2:34 pm
I don’t think joe is a superstar player he’s just a good player.If wade was to come to atlanta who would be the go to player joe or wade? i think 95% would say wade.If bosh was to come to atlanta who would it be then? I think a big percentage would also agree that bosh would be,catch my drift.I would have traded him before the trade deadline along with bibby and got bosh and searched for a point guard that could actually break down a defence.Bibby is a sometime player,you never know what you will get out of him night after night.People was saying don’t trade him because of team chemistry,a player of bosh’s caliber would have brought chemistry.
northcyde
March 9th, 2010
2:55 pm
LOL . . . like clockwork. It never fails from this staff.
As for the fans . . yeah . . go ahead and run him out of town prematurely. We did the same thing with Jason Terry when he couldn’t live up to expectations around here.
If JJ bolts, Smoove will become the leader of the team. And when he can’t get it done, the Atlanta media and fans will turn on him too.
northcyde
March 9th, 2010
2:57 pm
MannyT . . don’t tell these folks nothing man. They know full and well what JJ brings to the table. I guess they’re merely tired of the dude, and want change for the sake of change.
LOL @ Crawford as the go-to perimeter guy, with no one here to take shots away from here. They’ll quickly turn on Crawford too, just like the fans everywhere else did. By the summer of 2011, we’ll be seeing “don’t re-sign Crawford” and “trade Smoove” posts.
Atlanta Fan
March 9th, 2010
2:58 pm
Joe Johnson is the tightest basketball player ever man… id be so pissed if he left, JOE ATL LUVS U MAN!!
NC Braves Fan
March 9th, 2010
3:02 pm
Anybody think it’s a little offputting that the Hawks’ team captain would answer questions like this at length, with the Hawks fighting for playoff position — and not playing particularly well as of late?
Why not say, “I’m not thinking about next year, I’m focused on helping Atlanta down the stretch and in the playoffs.” — ?
Ole Hawk's Fan
March 9th, 2010
3:17 pm
NEGRO DID U JUST SAY U DONT CARE WHETHER U IN THE ATOWN OR NOT?????? FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK U BUSTA AZZ N66A WE A BETTER CITY W.O UR SOFT AZZZZZZZZZZZ I GUARENTEE IF WE HAD D-WADE THIS YEAR WIT OUR CURRENT ROSTER WE WOULD BE SECOND IN THE EAST EASILLY
sam
March 9th, 2010
3:34 pm
Yeah leave Joe….go!!!!
Overall you suck anyway.
You are soft…..you get tired easily….you always look like someone who has given up.
Although the Hawks gave you the big money….you are not a bigtime NBA star.
Jeff
March 9th, 2010
3:39 pm
This dude is hardly a superstar by any means. He’s a B level player. Let him go to NY and flounder just like everyone else has there. That team has not been worth a squat in 10 years and an aging Tracy McGrady and a B level player like JJ is not going to get them there. If you think LBJ23 is going to NY, think again. He’s a hometown Ohio kid on the brink of winning a title. Baby Mama is from Ohio, Mama lives down the road, huge house there…he’s not an idiot. His decision does not only affect him. So head on to NY Joe, you’ll be there pretty much by yourself. Knicks won’t win squat for the next 10 years.
Idiot Watch
March 9th, 2010
3:40 pm
Horford sucks and only gets set up shots and pre-arrainged spots. He cants create and Is turnover prone and is among the WORST, defensive centers in the game. He ranks #24 among NBA centers for block shots. Please Joe, do leave us with Horford.
Hoops
March 9th, 2010
3:41 pm
Joe will stay, period! The question is, who can we afford to add to the roster by trade or FA that puts the Hawks into contention?
Idiot Watch
March 9th, 2010
3:41 pm
we love ya joe, this is your team, I hope you and woody stay.
Gamer
March 9th, 2010
3:44 pm
A word of wisdom to Smoking Gun Joe Johnson. Don’t entertain questions on contract until season ends.
Stay focus. Identify yourself to be a team-first player, at all times..
The media circus will always be available to lambaste players and coaches.
You have proven talents to play the game at both ends of the court So why not let your game continue to do the talking…?
Help the Hawks go deep into the playoffs and crazy large sum of money will be there.
Smokewagon
March 9th, 2010
3:59 pm
I would have left his butt in N.Y.
David Smith
March 9th, 2010
4:02 pm
I think Rick Sund made a brilliant move bringing Jamal Crawford here as a contingency plan after Joe turned down a 4 year 60 million dollar deal. Joe is a good player but, lacks the attitude and the ability to take over games when it matters most.
Big Ray
March 9th, 2010
5:40 pm
Well, we could of course all listen to northcyde and just commit mass suicide because we are unworthy fans who don’t deserve to live.
Or we could admit that we will miss Joe Johnson when he leaves, of his own volition, to go to a place where he might like the coaching better (what, it’s a possibility? Noooo!), the marketing better (the “raises” the Hawks can give him don’t compare to the endorsements he can make money off of in one of the absolute biggest basketball cities ever), and the possibility of playing alongside another star.
While one blogger will blame us fans for a decision a grown man makes, we could consider that maybe Joe has, to this day, small twinges of regret about the day he decided he wanted to leave perennial title contender Phoenix, for a team that was being rebuilt. But nah, that’s not possible. No way. Joe is leaving, and he’s only leaving because the fans don’t want him here.
Playing in Madison Square Garden, one of the most famous places to play (where the fans are always there) has no influence. Joe was just kidding about “everybody gears up to play here.” His agent has no influence. Incredible marketing and endorsements have no influence. An old coach/friend who is good enough to get his team within reach of the Larry O’brien trophy is no influence. Playing with another star and having a good shot at said trophy is no influence.
No. It’s just us fans, beating and flailing a helpless, innocent superstar martyr out of town. That’s why Joe will leave.
Yeah. That’s it.
Will we miss Joe? Absolutely. Does life go on? Has to. The team will have to be built differently, run differently, coached differently. But hey, just blame the fans for that, too. After all, the fans make all the decisions, right? Fans pick who we get in the draft. Fans control free agency and trade moves. Fans. We just didn’t know we had the power.
Give me a freakin’ break…..
I’ve seen less self-inflating, flatulant nonsense coming from the New York Post….
Chills
March 9th, 2010
6:52 pm
bwahahahahaha!!!. life is good in the Eurozone.
jason
March 9th, 2010
8:07 pm
Let Joe go and get DWade!
Deano
March 9th, 2010
10:05 pm
All you Joe Johnson lovers do me a favor. Watch Joe during timeouts. Most of the time he sits on the scorer’s table and acts COMPLETELY uninterested in anything that Coach Woodson or his teammates have to say. He is not a leader. He barely opens his mouth on the court to talk to his teammates about what’s going on in the game. Watch Lebron. Watch Dwight. Watch KG. All these guys get in their teammates faces when they screw up. And they actually look like the enjoy playing the game when things are going well. These guys are leaders. Joe is not a leader. He looks miserable on the court. I watch every game on TV and I have been a Hawks fan all my life, but I don’t want this guy here. We need a leader. Just because you throw in a 20 point game from time to time that doesn’t make you a leader. You have to make the players around you bette to qualify as a leader, and he is not that kind of player.
Najeh Davenpoop
March 9th, 2010
10:28 pm
Just like LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh, and every other star or superstar that has played in NYC this year, Joe is now having this article written about him. These last two seasons have entirely been wishful thinking for the NYC sports media. None of those other players ruled out playing in NYC either, and not surprisingly, Joe threw them a bone as well. Not too surprising. It’s called increasing your market value. If the Hawks know that he might leave, they’ll do whatever they can to make sure he stays. I don’t see him leaving unless he feels disrespected by the Hawks’ initial contract offer.
And yes, the Hawks do need him to stay. The only way he leaves and the Hawks get better is if they sign Wade to be his replacement, which is next to impossible. No way Miami loses Wade to a division rival.
meee
March 9th, 2010
11:21 pm
we dont need joe johnson. we have JAMAL CRAWFORD. johnson is super slow and too inconsistant. we need jamal to start and post up the bigger numbers because he is way more athletic than joe and alot quicker. open your eyes people. common sense thats y we got jamal. the hawks are not going to keep joe and already told crawford he will start next year thats y he is gettin alot of mins now.
JeJe
March 9th, 2010
11:28 pm
Amen, Deano.
Joe is always looking sullen on the court.
He is NOT a leader, DOES NOT get easy baskets (like LBJ or Wade), barely averages 21 ppg on a team that does not have trouble scoring, and is a HORRENDOUS RE BOUNDER FOR SOMEONE HIS SIZE.
HE IS HEAD AND SHOULDERS THE BIGGEST SG INT HE GAME, YET DOES NOT GO FOR REBOUNDS AND IS AN ATROCIOUS REBOUNDER
Joe
March 10th, 2010
12:10 am
The Hawks should work out a sign and trade deal to send Joe Johnson to Chicago for Joakim Noah. The Hawks will save money by letting Joe go that way they can get someone else to feel his spot and have Noah. Plus Al Horford and Joakim Noah will be teammates again since their Florida days.
Atlanta Hawks - Page 28 - iSTORYA.NET
March 10th, 2010
12:43 am
[...] ron. And speaking of New York Knicks, this rumor has been circulating for quite a while now: Johnson to Knicks? Johnson stands alone in the 2010 free-agent class in that the All-Star shooting guard may be the [...]
nash
March 10th, 2010
12:56 am
I feel the same way as most people on this site if he wants to go let him go he doesnt go to the post and score on smaller defenders like he should look at the 4th quater of the dallas game or take over games in the 4th quater look at any game and he doesnt move the ball or get to the foul line he is a ter 2 player find another ter 2 guy that wants to be here and lets go the hawks could have 50 wins if they had a guy that wanted to play he is another Mike Vick. Sign and trade the guy get a J.R. Smith or a draft pick
E43
March 10th, 2010
1:20 am
i don’t think the fans understand that him leaving means the hawks will take a step back unless they sign a good center. there only guards that take double teams that can upgrade Joe is Wade and Kobe. if he leaves, expect a year no better than this year.
you seriously have issues if you call joe johnson a ball hog and still think jamal crawford is the answer.
cwm
March 10th, 2010
2:05 am
what do you guys want joe to say I AM NOT GOING TO BE WILLING TO GO TO ANY OTHER TEAM …… IT S A BUSINESS PEOPLE HE IS PROTECTING HIS INTEREST .. WOULDN’T YOU …………… GET A LIFE PEOPLE
NikkiFree
March 10th, 2010
2:40 am
Sorry, but I could care less if Joe leaves. He’s already thrown the fans under the bus during a road game. I think he’s going to Chicago. It won’t matter how much the hawks throw at him.
O'Brien
March 10th, 2010
9:57 am
Ray, co-sign.
Just to add my $.02, I hope JJ resigns with us. If he leaves, the Hawks will take a step back, but if he stays, we have the potential to take another step forward next season.
That being said, if he chooses to sign somewhere else, Sund will have to be creative, and hopefully be able to work out a sign and trade. If he goes to the Knicks, maybe we can get David Lee and something else. If he goes to Chicago, maybe we can get Noah and something else.
Daniel,
I like the idea of trading for Devin Harris, but I dont see JJ being interested in NJ. If he leaves, I think it will be for Chicago or Knicks.
That being said, assuming JJ resigns with us, how do you feel about trading Crawford? He will be in the last year of his deal, and there is no guarantee that the ASG will give him the money he wants (especially since he will be a 6th man), and he could go somewhere else and be a starter.
G-Money
March 10th, 2010
10:16 am
Take away the financial implications in which the majority of these players will lie about with that tired line of “its not about the money.” These guys egos never cease to amaze me. One would think that there is no ESPN, ABC, NBA Network, Nike, Converse, and or numerous billboards,publications, and media outlets, that bring them in the public view. Now they proceed to hold the teams and fans hostages as to where they will play next year. This very nonsense is what is starting to drive a gulf between the players and fans, which at some point will lead to disinterest.
Ms Des
March 10th, 2010
7:45 pm
***Najeh Davenpoop***
I totally agree with you. Joe just threw them a bone. That’s the same thing Lebron did. Not only that, Joe was traded to the Hawks and they gave him the team. Joe will not go the Knicks, they will eat him alive. The fans and Spike Lee run the garden not the owner(s).
Everyone on here take it easy until the summer.
Even Kobe talked about leaving the Lakers during a playing season and during even during the playoffs at one time. Everybody talked about Shaq leaving the Lakers going to Maimi.
nortrhcyde
March 11th, 2010
2:19 pm
Well, we could of course all listen to northcyde and just commit mass suicide because we are unworthy fans who don’t deserve to live.
Hey . . you said that. I didn’t. Some of you will jump off the cliff anyway. That would free up extra playoff tickets. The fan base is ungrateful though. There’s no denying that. We have the 5th best home record in the league, yet, are 19th in average home attendance. The only contending playoff teams that are worse, are Milwaukee and Charlotte.
Or we could admit that we will miss Joe Johnson when he leaves, of his own volition, to go to a place where he might like the coaching better (what, it’s a possibility? Noooo!), the marketing better (the “raises” the Hawks can give him don’t compare to the endorsements he can make money off of in one of the absolute biggest basketball cities ever), and the possibility of playing alongside another star.
I agree. NY will possibly offer a bigger and brighter stage for JJ to play on.
While one blogger will blame us fans for a decision a grown man makes, we could consider that maybe Joe has, to this day, small twinges of regret about the day he decided he wanted to leave perennial title contender Phoenix, for a team that was being rebuilt. But nah, that’s not possible. No way. Joe is leaving, and he’s only leaving because the fans don’t want him here.
Never said that sir. All I’m saying is that the fans ( and the sportswriters in this town ), aren’t helping the situation one bit. If JJ reads the blogs and the Hawk fan sites, he’s going to see 75% of the people straight up trashing him, despite him having his best season as a Hawk since the 2006 – 07 season.
So if you’re JJ, you might take a step back and say Hmmmm . . . I’m playing my booty off this year, but these fans still don’t appreciate me? After all I’ve tried to do for the Hawks, they STILL rip me to shreads like I’m a scrub? (( bleep )) that!!”
LOL . . you see the comments Derek Anderson made about Cleveland Browns fans, as he left the other day? It was classic. I doubt JJ would do anything remotely like that, but it proves that these athletes DO pay attention to what the fans do and say, even if they say they don’t.
Playing in Madison Square Garden, one of the most famous places to play (where the fans are always there) has no influence. Joe was just kidding about “everybody gears up to play here.” His agent has no influence. Incredible marketing and endorsements have no influence. An old coach/friend who is good enough to get his team within reach of the Larry O’brien trophy is no influence. Playing with another star and having a good shot at said trophy is no influence.
No. It’s just us fans, beating and flailing a helpless, innocent superstar martyr out of town. That’s why Joe will leave.
Yeah. That’s it.
I’m glad my comments over the past few days have gotten you riled up a bit Big Ray. I hope you do watch this team live and in person as much as you can, and not be one of those guys that make the many excuses about not paying to watch this team.
- (( crying )) ohhhh, the traffic is too bad for me to get to the arena
- (( crying )) ohhhh, the tickets are too high ( even though we’re not even in the top 15 in average ticket prices ))
- (( crying )) ohhhh, the Hawks can’t beat the Knicks, so I’m not spending money on them ( even though they’re 25 – 7 at home )
- (( crying )) ohhhh, JJ is not a superstar, and I want to watch a superstar play ( regardless if our team is still a very good team )
I just hope you’re not one of those fans that, because we’re not elite like the Cavs or Lakers, that you have such a distaste for the Hawks, that you don’t even go out to watch them ( yet, expect ownership to spend their last dollar to put a championship product on the floor ).
If we are indeed watching the “last days of JJ as a Hawk”, I’m going to give that dude the appreciation and respect that he deserves. He made us a relevant franchise again. And even if he can’t get us over the top, I’ll never forget what he’s done for this organization. What I won’t do, is throw him under the bus like some of these other fans are doing.
Will we miss Joe? Absolutely. Does life go on? Has to. The team will have to be built differently, run differently, coached differently. But hey, just blame the fans for that, too. After all, the fans make all the decisions, right? Fans pick who we get in the draft. Fans control free agency and trade moves. Fans. We just didn’t know we had the power.
Give me a freakin’ break…..
I’ve seen less self-inflating, flatulant nonsense coming from the New York Post….
Life will definitely go on. And the fans in Atlanta will continue to not show up to games, wishing for Lebron or Wade to put on a Hawks jersey. It is what it is.
JR
March 11th, 2010
9:50 pm
Check out the kid corey wootton DE from northwestern just what the falcons needs.
About last night: A tale of two JJ’s « control+ATL+delete
March 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
[...] Bradley also weighs in on the “JJ 2010 Sweepstakes”, including quotes from three separate NY papers [...]
Randy Wittman
March 13th, 2010
12:05 pm
Joe couldn’t even carry my jockey strap………………….let alone play as well as I did here in Da ATL! Who was that asking for Old Man Hubie Brown???? That’s a lot of #@%!*(). Hubie couldn’t coach Norcross Boys Team. He made John Drew a “Drug Addict” with his character assination. Let Nique coach this team. Is the kid from Kentucky(center) still on this team?
ICECOLD
March 13th, 2010
1:36 pm
joe is great. I hope he stays. But if he don’t there is two options, first option is getting dwayne wade. He doesn’t want to stay where he is he wants to go to a contender. But not just a contender, somewhere he can still be the superstar, and be in a big city but stay close to where he started his career at… The hawks and atlanta is the perfect place for that if the hawks know how to persuade him…. It will be a perfect swap out of superstars except dwade is the perfect closer especially for a isolation team like the hawks… The second choice is chris bosh, he went to georgia tech so he knows the atlanta life, and he is the missing peaice to the hawks offense, he can defend the big centerd and a super scorer at the center position. Imagine him al and josh in at the same time. Perfect. And start jamal crawford at the 2 and move marvin to the bench. He will be one of the best six men. Both of those ideas will make the hawks better, trully competing with the lakers and cleveland and orlando.. Honestly if joe stays then we will stay the same. Great season. Lose in the play offs. Eventually putting the hawks at a stand still.. Get dwade or chris bosh only if joe leaves though. Yep
RGO67
March 13th, 2010
2:03 pm
Let’s see… Listening to the players they are saying Joe is there Leader. Joe did not sign the deal last year because everybody is on the market and why not see what is his real value to the Hawks and to someone else. It’s a business people and by the way either we can go back to the days of “Why can’t we win any games” or we can continue on to be a CONTENDER each year. KEEP JOE GO HAWKS!!
Mike45
March 14th, 2010
8:13 pm
I’m convinced JJ is set to go some where else to me against the knicks he looked liked he was auditioning for the job he had a little pep in his step and expressed a little emotion.I’m not convinced he wants to stay in Atlanta let’s keep Jamal and make a run at D.Wade!
nortrhcyde
March 15th, 2010
1:42 am
So we trade Smoove and Crawford for D.Wade? Because that’s what it would take.
D.Wade can’t sign here as an unrestricted free agent, because we can’t offer him enough money. So it would have to be a sign and trade. And if you’re talking about a sign and trade for a superstar that caliber, you’re talking about Smoove + ( whomever else ).
And yes, that’s who’ll everyone will want.
Josh Smith.
danny
March 15th, 2010
10:02 am
I think a lot of people are hard on Joe Johnson because, perhaps, they see his use of indecisive language in regard to the Hawks as kind of a betrayal. I think he’s just trying to bump up the the value of any contract offer he receives. If he said, upon query, I’m stay’n in Atlanta, interested teams might tune him out. But if he seems indecisive, I think, this drives up the interest and the money, which is what it’s all about. LeBron does the same stuff when people ask him about Cleveland. It seems like this kind of indecisive pass is a thing which comes from the Sports agents. I think Joe is going to stay.