Sorry, Hawks fans: D-Wade’s not walking through that door
Joe guards Dwyane. They're not interchangeable, y''know. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Believe it or not, I do read your comments. Regarding the Hawks, your prevailing sentiment — after the one that goes, “Fire Woody” — is that the team should let Joe Johnson leave and sign Dwyane Wade (or Chris Bosh, or somebody) to replace him. Sounds easy, I admit. But it wouldn’t be. Here’s why.
Wade works for the Miami Heat, which is owned by Micky Arison, who could buy and sell all the Atlanta Spirit partners put together. (Arison owns Carnival Cruise Lines.) The team is run by Pat Riley, who has won five NBA titles and who’s thinking about coaching again. Together, Arison and Riley and Wade won the 2006 NBA title, so they know it can be done there.
If you’re D-Wade, why take a flier on the Hawks, who haven’t reached the conference finals since 1970 and who had the lowest payroll of any of the 16 playoff teams this season? Why come where there’s no assurance the owners will ever spend big enough to assemble a deep enough supporting cast?
And there’s this: Wade is undergoing a messy divorce that will surely turn expensive. There’s no state income tax in Florida. (There is here, as we know.) That mightn’t sound like a big deal to a man who’ll be making nearly $20 million per season for playing basketball, but hey … every little bit helps, especially at alimony time.
There’s also this: If Wade leaves, Arison’s team collapses. The Heat cannot afford to lose him, and when you’ve got a man as loaded as Arison paying the bills and a man as driven as Riley running the operation … well, such men tend to get what they want. It’s hard to imagine that crew being outflanked by the Spirit, an outfit that couldn’t even keep Josh Childress.
OK, you’re saying, but what about Bosh? He’s obviously interested in leaving Canada — last week he changed his Twitter location from “Toronto” to “everywhere” — but is he what the Hawks need? He’s a power forward, same as Josh Smith, same as some people (I’m not one) claim Al Horford is. Would you want a front line of three 4’s and no 5’s or 3’s? Who would play on the perimeter? Smith? Given that folks groan whenever he rises to take a jump shot, is that advisable?
And if you let Johnson leave, who’s the default shooter with five seconds left on the shot clock? Smith? Horford? Jamal Crawford? Say what you will about Joe — and most of you have — but he welcomes those moments and has proved himself capable, though not this spring, of making such shots.
Johnson averaged 21.1 points this season, 11th-best in the league. If he leaves, those points would have to be made up somewhere. Who’s going to do it? Neither Horford nor Smith is a pure scorer — good players, yes, but not pure scorers. Is Marvin Williams apt to double his average? (We pause now to laugh really hard.) Is Mike Bibby capable of averaging even 10 points a game?
I say again: You might not like the way Johnson plays — I myself soured on Iso-Joe last season — but you can’t deny he puts up big numbers. He’s not Kobe or D-Wade, but he’s the third-best shooting guard in the league. Unless the Hawks can find someone better, they’re better off sticking with Joe. And they won’t find anyone better.
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191 comments Add your comment
DeepDiver
May 10th, 2010
10:16 am
I AM TYPING IN ALL CAPS IN HOPES THAT BRADLEY AND/OR SCHULTZ WILL ACTUALLY READ THIS AND DO A BIT OF JOURNALISM INSTEAD OF WAXING STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS. IF THE HAWKS LET GO OF JOE THAT DOESNT MEAN THEY MAGICALLY HAVE THAT MONEY TO SPEND ELSEWHERE — THEY ARE ALREADY OVER THE SALARY CAP AND YOU CAN ONLY GO ABOVE THE CAP TO SIGN YOUR OWN PLAYERS. IF JOE WALKS THEY WILL ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL OF MILLIONS TO REPLACE HIM, NOT THE 15-20 IT WOULD TAKE TO GET A STAR IN HERE. YOU AND SCHULTZ SHOULD GOOGLE LARRY COON AND READ HIS CBA FAQ BEFORE POSTING THIS NONSENSE — THIS TOWN DESERVES BETTER. WHAT A JOKE THAT THIS STUFF CONTINUES TO BE POSTED IN OUR E-PAPER AND NO ONE AT THE AJC HAS ANY SENSE TO STOP IT. /rant [sorry]
DeepDiver
May 10th, 2010
10:18 am
Way to go nire — represent the Squawk!! [jhay610]
DDawgDavis
May 10th, 2010
10:22 am
Interesting name who might be available, Gilbert Arenas? Guy has heart and can play, my problem with Arenas is knee problems. Just throwing another log on the fire.
jch2523
May 10th, 2010
10:25 am
I agree Patrick about Marvin. When he is given the chance he does well. Now I would still had rather had Deron or Paul but, he will be fine. I am not sure why everyone is still on J Chill’s jock. He has never really done anything over here or in Europe. I think that the best thing they could do is get rid of Josh Smith!!!! He is what brings this team down and will continue as long as he is here. Find a good point guard and sign and trade a package with him and Joe and let’s go from there.
jojosunshine
May 10th, 2010
10:28 am
sign and trade joe johnson with our first round draft pick to minnesota for all three of their first round draft picks. get evan turner (he will replace joe jonhson) and then go out and look for a mobile big that can slow down dwight howard. pick up another point guard – heck tell minnesota you’ll take rubio and you’ll throw in mike bibby or jeff teague while your making the deal. I should definitely be the gm of the hawks. we would win a title in 3 yrs guaranteed or you dont pay me a dime.
The Dogfighter Returns
May 10th, 2010
10:31 am
the hawks need to do get Will bynum to become their point guard, then ship joe johnson to golden state for Anthony Morrow.
Then they just need an inside presence. Why can’t these dumb big men (Yeah Marvin I am talking about you, Al Horford you to) watch tapes of kevin mchale and improve their game. Who on earth is coaching these clowns?
All Kevin Mac ever did was fake his opponents all the way to the hall of fame. Can’t these clowns head fake, dream shake, and move the opposite direction?
Smith & Johnson
May 10th, 2010
10:31 am
Lets get this playoff series over and then collect our money!
KC
May 10th, 2010
10:32 am
The Hawks need a personality transplant. Maybe I’m unrealistic, but we need to let Teague run the offense and develop like other young point guards have in the NBA. We may lose some games. We may lose a lot of games. But by the second half of 2010-2011 we’ll be a more diverse, more athletic, more ball movement-oriented team. Obviously Woodson has to go in order for this to happen. But, if Teague can distribute, Johnson can do well again what he should – go to the hoop or pop open 3’s (not back in a dribble down 20 seconds off the shot clock). OR, even better, we get something for nothing and let Marvin – no, demand Marvin – become the athletic presence we’ve seen him be from time to time. Let Teague and Marvin take over this offense and bring in some beef to beat up Howard and Lebron. We may not win 53 games next year, but maybe we can beat some good teams on the road late in the year or in the playoffs. And, after Woodson is gone, hopefully this team will be done quitting.
diajimbo
May 10th, 2010
10:40 am
Woodson= Walk; Joe=Go. Bosh= Begin again. … Definition of Insanity= Doing the same thing over again and expecting different results!!
pluckthehawks
May 10th, 2010
10:43 am
Can we please stop all the Hawk bashing and discuss how great the Magic are playing!!
TREMAINE
May 10th, 2010
10:43 am
So are you saying since we can’t get Wade we should over pay Joe Johnson?
TREMAINE
May 10th, 2010
10:44 am
We can use Joe Johnson salary on Brendon Haywood and John Salmons.
pluckthehawks
May 10th, 2010
10:58 am
Can Atlanta just play all of their games at home next year?
Jerry West
May 10th, 2010
11:00 am
Dr. Warren hit the nail on the head, I’d look at the following:
- trading Josh for Tony Parker. Hopefully Pop would consider taking him.
- Move Al to the 4
- give Haywood the MLE and hope he doesn’t revert to being ‘Brenda’
- figure out what to do with Joe. If you can resign him reasonably do it; if not, move Jamal in at the 2 and bring back Childress (or trade him for some bench scoring)
You hope the draft pick contributes in some way, whether it’s a big like Alabi or a scorer, but the pick may have to go with Josh in my trade.
(oh yeah, I’m assuming a more creative offensive coach will be brought in, big assumption when dealing with the ASG, I know)
TREMAINE
May 10th, 2010
11:13 am
DeepDiver its amazing how other teams have money to sign big names but we don’t. Put Dwade in a hawks jersey the arean will sellout every night.
Chris
May 10th, 2010
11:16 am
Mark I don’t disagree but your same reason as to why we won’t get D-Wade is the same reason we won’t be able to keep Joe Johnson. A team like the Knicks or the Bulls when they strike out on both James and Wade will throw their money at Joe Johnson and out spend the Hawks to get him.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
May 10th, 2010
11:28 am
Sign and Trade:
Joe Johnson
Josh Smith
For
Lebron
I mean if we are going to go for it go get the best. Atlanta is a large market and he can revolutionize basketball in the city like never before.
Ok, aint gonna happen, but if you gonna dream, then dream big!
ryan
May 10th, 2010
11:31 am
Speaking of Al Horford if only Kevin Durant would have droped one more spot to 3rd we would be in the finals.
jimh
May 10th, 2010
11:31 am
Sorry, Hawks fans: D-Wade’s not walking through that door…You’re wrong he is walking through the door just not this one. He will be walking out of Miami’s Door and through Chicago’s (with his current coach) leaving Reilly to scramble for a another super star. The Hawks should go after Brendon Haywood and try to get Childers back and/or use Josh (either one) to get a top notch point guard. PG & C are like def-line and secondary’s in the NFL if you have exceptional players at either position it makes up for the other one.
btw: It was obvious to me from the beginning of Bucks’ series JJ and Woody had one foot out the door. Nothing I’ve seen since had changed my mind. I think in JJ’s case he mind was made-up and the other players knew it; in Woody’s case its a mgt decision (and the team knows that too). I fault the ownership in this case.
Tim from EP
May 10th, 2010
11:34 am
Generally, what makes superstars work is you draft them. Honestly, I don’t think any “super-star” is really gonna work for the Hawks.
If the Hawks sign and trade JJ to NY for David Lee, we’ll get a solid 20-10 guy in the low post who shoots nearly 55% from the field. This will also give us insurance/flexibility when it comes to resigning Horford. Trade Josh Smith and get some veteran scoring off the bench like Stackehouse or a young point guard like Bynum if the Hawks are not going to develop Teague.
Bradley what makes not size
Chris
May 10th, 2010
11:35 am
Joe Johnson is the 3rd best shooting guard in the league?
is he the 3rd best shooting guard in this series? He’s not playing like it….
Mark Bradley
May 10th, 2010
11:37 am
No, he’s not playing like it, Chris. That’s why we’re having this discussion.
pluckthehawks
May 10th, 2010
11:40 am
Collison is a stiff!
Zach
May 10th, 2010
11:41 am
My problem with Joe is that for the caliber of player he is, he lacks the leadership of the Wades, the Kobes, the Lebrons, even the Rondos of the world. Josh is the biggest vocal leader on the team but he’s too emotional.
It’s not a surprise that we lay down and quit when we get down big, look at the personality of our starters. Joe, Bibby, Al are all quiet. Josh is Josh, and Marvin is well…
Tim from EP
May 10th, 2010
11:42 am
The thing with JJ is that he just doesn’t have that thing that D-Wade, Lebron, Kobe, Rondo, apparently Vince Carter, Nash, Ginobli, etc have. And that’s the ability to take your game to the next level in the playoffs. I mean forget the scoring, dude is not even hitting FTs and is turning the ball over. Is that the type of performance that gets max-money.
pluckthehawks
May 10th, 2010
11:42 am
Sorry ryan but you would not be in the finals with one additional player.
Zach
May 10th, 2010
11:43 am
Tim why don’t you copy what I said almost exactly…
Jerry West
May 10th, 2010
11:46 am
oh yeah, Brandon Roy is the 3rd best SG.
ryan
May 10th, 2010
11:48 am
Hey jimh are you kidding me Bredon Heywood that is not going to get us to the promise land D. Wade i will admit is not commig here but he is not going Chi town eaither. Hawks still can bring in big name threw a sign and trade like Amre or Dirk and like John Solomans from the Bucks.
ChitownBrian
May 10th, 2010
11:50 am
Very sad to see what happened to OUR HAWKS!!!!!!!!! I think if we sign JJ to a max deal we will be in the same boat that JOHN KONCAK put us in years ago, Well JJ is alot better but as a LONG TIME hawks fan I know what a long term deal for an older player can do to a team. Plus we need to resign BIG AL! Don’t let him get away. Kills me seeing Teague in the game so early. HE HAS NO JUMPER!!!!!! The playoffs isn’t a place for him. Why does Smoove pull that I play when I want to stuff???? JUST DON’T GET WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR HAWKS??????????????????? Sad fan in chitown!
Zach
May 10th, 2010
11:54 am
Chitown, nice stream of consciousness post.
Phillip
May 10th, 2010
11:54 am
Bradley, I feel like I would be comfortable letting Crawford fill in for Johnson and spending those dollars elsewhere. Just like has been mentioned, talent is not the issue for this team but chemistry is. A Center is a necessity and we may not find a bonafide star but i feel like its a bigger need. Joe Johnson may average 21 points but he gets them on 15+ shots. Take into consideration several come at the end of games when people start fouling and he goes to the line or if we are trailing big and defenses slack. He pads his stats. I have loved JJ’s tenure in ATL but I think we need to look elsewhere.
Zach
May 10th, 2010
11:56 am
Phillip,
Who are you going to get at center that is better than Al, Where you gonna move Al? Marvin Gone?
Tim from EP
May 10th, 2010
11:57 am
sorry about that Zach. I didn’t know I was reading your mind.
Zach
May 10th, 2010
11:59 am
Its cool, it was just scary similar…
tyger
May 10th, 2010
12:06 pm
WHY isn’t Rick Sund on the hook?
Fire Woody? Screw JJ! To Hell w/ Smoove! Blah, blah, blah…but why is Rick Sund teflon?
Wasn’t he duped, into re-signing a washed up Mike Bibby, to an absurd contract?
Didn’t he trade for regular season 6th man, but playoff no-show, Jamal Crawford?
Didn’t he sign Mo “WTF” Evans?
And stop the BS, why did he draft Jeff Teague? Is that the best he could do?
I won’t mention Mario West, but dude, please…
We are moon walking under his leadership – where’s the improvement? Tonight we get heckled nationally by Kenny and Chuck and everyone will get panned except Sund. WHY?
What has he done right? Oh, he doesn’t talk to the press. Hip, hip, hurray….Other than that he’s a collassal turd. He played hardball and lost with Childress, he gave 7′0 Euroleague MVP David Anderson away for absolutely nothing.
WHAT HAS THE GUY DONE????
DeepDiver
May 10th, 2010
12:10 pm
Tremaine there are only a handful teams with enough cap room to make a serious run at an A-list free agent.
Cory
May 10th, 2010
12:12 pm
Hey Mark!!!! Everyone is the 3rd best shooting guard in the league behind D wade and Kobe. There are a lot of players who can fill the role of scorer when Joe leaves. Draft one, sign one, but don’t keep Joe, thats just plain insanity. Plus, I’d rather have a SG who knows when to pass, than someone you know will chuck up some crap shot with the clock running down. I want ball movement!!!!!!!!
DeepDiver
May 10th, 2010
12:13 pm
You may be right about Wade but there is no feasible way to get him here. Only a S&T would do it, and Miami would never, ever, ever do that. It’s a moot point. Don’t expect Bradley or Schultz to bother actually dealing in facts though — they are not limited by the constraints of the cap and live in a land of magical fairies and dwarfs and uncapped payrolls
Old Hawks Fan
May 10th, 2010
12:24 pm
Mike Woodson will not develope young player…………i.e Teague, Diaw, Law. If Rondo was drafted on this team, he would be riding the BENCH……….Woody would not play him. When Diaw was included in the JJ trade, he blossom ubder the caoch @ Phoenix. Marvin is being held back with Woody as the coach. You don’t need a veteran coach(i.e Coach Brooks @ Okla)to demand the player’s respect and know how to use his players to their best abilities. Until that coach is hired here….Keeping Woody is not the answer. I like Bill Lambeer, Kareem Jabbar, Mark Jackson, Pat Ewening, Armond Hill(former hawk). These are the candidates that should be consider for Woody’s replacement.
Dawgcrew34
May 10th, 2010
12:31 pm
The only players I would keep are Horford and J. Smith. Somehow some way I would look to try and get C. Paul and A. Stoudamire in here. If you can’t have both, you def. have to get Stoudamire. The problem with Atlanta is they have no true center, and Stoudamire (in my opinion) can match up with Howards athleticism.
Teague or Paul
Crawford
Smith
Horford
Stoudamire
A team that is a legit Eastern Conf. contender.
Manny
May 10th, 2010
12:35 pm
I looked at the cap space and you will have to sign and trade in order to get D-Wade. It can be done, but you have to be creative. If JJ walks, he hits our cap space hard. That’s why you must be creative.
But if they did it, the Heat will be officially declaring themselves as a rebuilding team.
As far as Woodson, he’s the odd man out. They will let him go. There’s no other person that they can let go and they are going to blame somebody. Woodson will be the guy. It’s sad because he’s a good coach.
But the Hawks needs to clear up cap space in order to get D-Wade here.
wordy
May 10th, 2010
12:44 pm
Mark I think your argument is flawed because you assume JJ would sign with the Hawks. I don’t think he wants to play here.
I do like that after you gave a pretty good argument on why Wade won’t sign here people still go on about it. Didn’t Wade already announce that he would prefer to stay in Miami. That sounds like the only thing that would move him is a team with alot of incentive…aka he gets a chance to play w Lebron. But, ithink in the end Lebron and JJ play together in NY.
wordy
May 10th, 2010
12:48 pm
Dawgcrew- explain who we trade to get Chris Paul???? Does that involve a kidnapping?
Zach
May 10th, 2010
12:51 pm
wordy,
Jason Collins…straight up
wordy
May 10th, 2010
12:53 pm
i forgot we had him. yeah do that!
DeepDiver
May 10th, 2010
12:56 pm
While you’re at it, Mark, why don’t you bother to actually do some research before you just start making up things and passing them off as fact. OKC and Portland both had lower payrolls than the Hawks. Unbelievable.
Stick to UGA football.
DP
May 10th, 2010
1:03 pm
Here are some options to solve the point guard problem:
Sign and trade Joe Johnson for Tony Parker. George Hill is developing for San Antonio and Manu can also play the point. San Antonio needs to make some moves.
Trade with New Orleans for Darren Collison.
Trade with Minnesota for the rights to Ricky Rubio.
Big Ray
May 10th, 2010
1:06 pm
….zzzzzzz……zzzzzz…….zzzzzzz…..*snort, snort*….
Wakes up to LOL@ Niremetal…..
zzzzz…..zzzzzzzz…..zzzzzz……zzzzzzz….
tyger
May 10th, 2010
1:07 pm
2009 Draft Review
Hawks take Jeff Teague who has done absolutely nothing but looked lost.
Coulda shoulda
Darren Collison making Chris Paul expendable.
Rodrique Beaubouis future star in Dallas.
BJ Mullens true center.
Sam Young solid 1st yr. contributor in Memphis.
Marcus Thornton another very productive 1st yr. in NO.
Dejuan Blair all he does is rebound and defend.
Again, why is Sund not on the HOOK?