Joe Johnson? Gone. Marvin? Gone. Danny Ferry? A keeper
A week later, the Atlanta Hawks have been transformed. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
It took Danny Ferry a week to turn a franchise going nowhere into one with room again to grow. It took him a week to reach an agreement to send Joe Johnson to the Nets for a bunch of guys whose principal value rests in the expiration dates on their contracts. It took this general manager a week to ship Marvin Williams, enduring symbol of opportunity squandered, to Utah.
To follow the Hawks is to expect the worst, which means the initial response to this watershed Johnson deal was to figure it would be overturned on some technicality. Maybe we shouldn’t be fatalistic. At the rate Ferry is moving, he might be able to convince the NBA to replay the final seconds of Game 6 against Boston from 1988, and make it so that Dominique Wilkins (and not Cliff Levingston) takes the last shot this time.
A week ago we wondered if/when Ferry would dare to tamper with the Core Four. On Day 1 of Week 2, we got our answer. Ferry gored the Core without having to deal either Josh Smith or Al Horford, and by offloading Johnson he turned this capped-out club into one with a hangar’s worth of financial headroom.
Shedding Johnson’s contract was the only way the Hawks could get better. He makes $20 million per season, which is roughly one-third of what the NBA allows to fund an entire roster. It’s one thing if your $20-million-man is Kobe Bryant, but Johnson, over the two years since he re-upped, has sunk to being third-best among Hawks.
There are two wonders at play: That the plodding Hawks would find a GM bold enough to do what needed doing, and that he’d find such a willing partner. But the Nets are moving to a new arena in Brooklyn and they’re coming off a 22-win season and they’re looking to compete with the Knicks and Linsanity in their big-city marketplace, so they need someone of substance to pair with Deron Williams.
They’re also the property of a Russian named Mikhail Prokhorov, who is rated by Forbes the 57th-richest man in the world. Thus did super-sleuth Ferry identify the only NBA owner who could look on Johnson’s contract and not hurl.
Let’s not kid ourselves. There’s every chance the Hawks will be worse, basketball-wise, next season. On talent, a slightly diminished Johnson is still better than anyone the Nets are slated to send here. (Poor Marvin, however, won’t be missed. He might have been the league’s least essential starter.) That’s how the NBA works: To get better, you must get lucky in the draft or spend big in free agency, and the Hawks were positioned to do neither.
It wasn’t all his fault, but Johnson had become the flashpoint for Hawk failings. He wasn’t quite as good as they needed him to be, and his contract kept them from hiring better players to put around him. (Let’s not fault him for signing what was proffered. You would’ve, too.) But Johnson didn’t endear himself to fans, and it’s never a marketing plus when your biggest name is a sourball.
Neither was it Williams’ fault that Billy Knight chose him over Deron Williams and Chris Paul in 2005. But Marvin played so long here — seven full seasons — to so little effect that it became impossible to watch him without thinking of the point guard not taken. And that, sad to say, was just like the Hawks: They’d whiff in the lottery, and they’d hand Johnson a new $120 million deal at the time they planned to de-emphasize his Iso-Joes.
The Hawks had come to occupy a terrible place: The team as constituted had gone as far as it could, and without cap room there was little hope for tomorrow. Now there is. The Hawks will have money to spend next summer, when Dwight Howard and the aforementioned Chris Paul figure to be free agents. The team with no future just traded for one.
And the new man in charge? Well, he’s in charge. In four years as Hawks GM, the best move Rick Sund made was to trade for the sixth man Jamal Crawford. In seven days, his successor has halved the Core Four and moved the immovable contract. Which would seem to make Danny Ferry an irresistible force.
By Mark Bradley
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309 comments Add your comment
Jack's Total Lack of Surprise
July 3rd, 2012
10:40 am
Wayne stuck in AL
July 2nd, 2012
8:56 pm
Now if only we could trade Gearon and Levenson for new owners
^THIS^
idk basketball
July 3rd, 2012
10:41 am
Hawks played pretty well last year when both Horford and JJ were injured. Don’t see why everyone thinks they will blow next year…I am sure Ferry has a few more moves in mind before the start of the season.
PMC
July 3rd, 2012
10:44 am
haha, it took Lebron 9 years and even then it took great performances for other guys to help him win a championship.
Cleveland was a pretty good team, they just didn’t win a championship.
If Ferry can get us to the ECF, that would be major progress.
bill
July 3rd, 2012
10:52 am
Danny — keep up the great work, but hurry up, Gearon will be back from vacation soon!
Hawks_4_life
July 3rd, 2012
10:57 am
Yep those DF moves are already paying off…for the Nets. JJ enjoy the championship. You deserve it. We know you want throw it in our face when you come back but the 30 points you light us up will say it all.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2012/07/espn-reports-dwight-howard-could-be-going-to-nets/1#.T_MHkRehSSo
tmgotech
July 3rd, 2012
11:22 am
Can you win Executive of the Year before the first tipoff?
Walker, Texas Ranger
July 3rd, 2012
11:28 am
I’d like to see what Ferry does with a lottery pick. I’m sure it wouldnt be a Marvin instead of Paul or the Landlord Williams instead of B. Roy,
Mike
July 3rd, 2012
11:28 am
Hey Mark, do you want to hear a whopper?
Its seems like the reason why the Hawks is making these trades is because Peter freakin Vescey was saying that the reason why Atlanta was making these trades because his “sources” was saying that Hawks was goign to relocated to St. Louis and talks was underway.
chris
July 3rd, 2012
11:36 am
Mark….You better be more cautious about announcing Danny Ferry the 2nd coming!! Yes, I agree with the moves and busting up this team and going in another direction. However, how many Big Name players have you ever heard say they want to be a Hawk??? The reason Lebron left Cleveland was because they could never get a big time player to come in play alongside him. Who was the GM??? Danny Ferry. So yes we have money to spend but let’s see if he can get anyone to actually agree to come play here.
creative
July 3rd, 2012
11:39 am
haha… I didn’t make it past the 8th grade so you got me beat.
wreckmaniac
July 3rd, 2012
11:41 am
Trade the rest of the team for Chris Paul or Rondo. Then get 8 or 9 picks from this year’s college draft and enjoy myself
Williams made us all forget about Jon Koncak.
jobro
July 3rd, 2012
11:45 am
love the moves howard is not going to come here he has back problems and hes a tool but i do like the fact that we could be building around josh and al i love that
iBALL
July 3rd, 2012
11:47 am
I agree with most that Dwight or CP don’t want to play in Atlanta. At this point, why would you want Dwight Howard? I have lost all respect for this immature home grown kid. If he does not get his way he wants out. Talented but has issues he needs to overcome. Sorry, Atlanta does not need this problem child.
welikebaseball2
July 3rd, 2012
11:48 am
If Howard goes to the Nets, do you package an offer to the Lakers for Bynum?
Dee
July 3rd, 2012
11:50 am
To all those people saying the Hawks will suck next year, WE KNOW THIS. The things is, we’ll take it knowing we’ll get better the following year. Ferry did well breaking up this oil-slicked track meet of a “Core”.
GTanner
July 3rd, 2012
11:53 am
Hawks are not going into lottery territory. This team is not being torn down. Marvin was a non-presence. Joe was good and someone asked earlier who would replace his 18-4-4. That was a huge problem … for the second highest salary in the league, you HAVE to get much more production than that.
DDPO
July 3rd, 2012
12:00 pm
I’m really liking what Ferry has done with the team so far. We needed a change in strategy moving forward.
That being said, I wonder if Ferry would have drafted differently in the first round if he knew that he would be able to move Marvin & ISO Joe?
Kane337
July 3rd, 2012
12:01 pm
All hail Danny Ferry
Joe Johnson? Gone. Marvin? Gone. Danny Ferry? A keeper
July 3rd, 2012
12:01 pm
[...] one with room again to grow. It took him a week to reach an agreement to send Joe Johnson . …Source Tags: Joe Johnson window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({ appId : 275244229221412, [...]
wreckmaniac
July 3rd, 2012
12:10 pm
Why did we have to hire this guy to do the obvious ?
Rise Up
July 3rd, 2012
12:11 pm
Love the move Ferry! Next year will be tough, but our future looks to be heading in the right direction. Let’s get as many ping pong balls as we can for the lottery next season.
wreckmaniac
July 3rd, 2012
12:12 pm
I would trade the rest of the team for Chris Paul or Rondo. Then get 8 or 9 picks from this years college draft and enjoy myself.
Williams has made us all forget about Jon Koncak.
wreckmaniac
July 3rd, 2012
12:13 pm
I don’t care if the Hawks lose 50 games this year and another 50 next year as long as they on the improvement part of the curve.
UGASlobberknocker
July 3rd, 2012
12:18 pm
Now get something good for Josh Smith… Then we can accept that we will suck next yr since we have hope now…and gear up for a run at some quality free agents next summer. Way to go ,Ferry!
Blair Rasmussen
July 3rd, 2012
12:19 pm
Billy Knight would have traded for 6 forwards- 4 named Williams. We should re-sign Ivan, Kirk and the rest can go (including the twin towers- Dampier and Collins). We’ve now got 2 point guards, Jenkins, Farmar and Morrow can all shoot, with Smith (if he stays), Horoford and Zsa Zsa up front. Still a 500 team with plenty of $ next year for Chris Paul.. Oh- what will we do now in late game siuations without Joe to dribble down the clock and throw up a prayer!
Monday Morning QB
July 3rd, 2012
12:21 pm
Peter Vesey is reporting that the Hawks are dumping salary as a prelude to selling the team to an ownership group in St. Louis. Hopefully this is BS – but from the spirit group anything is possible.
BobbyLeeLane
July 3rd, 2012
12:25 pm
Great move.Now he needs to convince Josh,AL.Chris and Dwight that,the team is committed to winning a title.
JT
July 3rd, 2012
12:30 pm
Rumor has it the Hawks are moving to St.Louis.
Jason Hawthorn
July 3rd, 2012
12:33 pm
I can’t help but think the Hawks should have asked more from the Nets. The only real value we’re getting is the mid-first round pick, Morrow, and possibly Farmar. By all means, dump Johnson(’s contract), but this trade is as close as giving him away as Ferry could manage.
HAWKLESS
July 3rd, 2012
12:48 pm
We need to get a top flight coach now to work with the new hawks roster. LD is not an elite coach. The team will not rise above the quality of the coach regardless of what players you have on the roster.
Buster brave
July 3rd, 2012
12:50 pm
DANNY FERRY IS A SHOE IN FOR NBA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR IN HIS 1ST WEEK………THANKS JOE AND MARVIN FOR YOUR EFFORTS,BUT YOU DID GET PAID,AND NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR THE FUTURE………NO HOWARD,PLEASE HE DOESN’T WANT TO COME HERE AND IT IS A GUARD DOMINATED LEAUGE,AND HE IS BECOMING INJURY PRONE………A D, FERRY COACH,AND A FEW MORE MOVES,AND POSSIBLY A LOTTERY PICK NEXT YEAR,WOW WE HAVE A CHANCE FOR A TEAM THAT CAN COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP……..
Kenny D
July 3rd, 2012
1:00 pm
The Hawks should have drafted CP3, before Marvin Williams and that was a stupid draft….
Ok, what have Danny accomplish in his history of being a MG ! Danny only accomplishment is drafting Lebon James and he couldn’t keep him in Cleveland.
Really, do you folks think Howard or CP3 will Play for the Hawks, NOPE IT WON’T HAPPEN ! The Hawks is NOT a championship team and never will be on that Level. The Hawks is the Cubs of the NBA………..
Atlanta is a big Market city, with avry inconsisted Teams.
Falcon 0-3 in the playoff
Braves can’t make the post season
Hawks-Never could play under pressure (Ask the Celtics)
confused
July 3rd, 2012
1:04 pm
Now I am confused: Couple of weeks ago, when Hawks exited we all said: Keep the team, they’re growing, they foughtt, but injuries, etc., etc. So what everybody believed was a good plan, obviously is not anymore. Are we sure this is going to work out BETTER, than what we had? There is already one comment there, that the Hawks will get worse…Hmmm…….
j
July 3rd, 2012
1:10 pm
Couldn’t have come at a better time with the way the Braves have been so depressing. Welcome Danny and we are so happy to have you! I am looking forward to the Hawks future.
hopeful
July 3rd, 2012
1:14 pm
I like having so much salary flexibility but we need to start accumulating some draft picks too. We can’t do it all with free agent signings. Maybe we can trade Josh for a few picks.
But at least we haven’t traded away any of our future picks, so we have our full allotment going forward.
Just up the Street
July 3rd, 2012
1:14 pm
I see that Bruce Levisnon in the background. Makes me want to punch his face.
HAWKLESS
July 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Peter Vescey is saying that the Hawks are dumping salaries to sell the team to a group of investors in St. Louis. Has anyone heard anything from the atlanta spirit group denying that report?
HB
July 3rd, 2012
1:53 pm
Two out of three are gone. Maybe those mild-mannered Brooklyn fans will appreciate “Iso” Joe’s ballhogging style of play.
Max
July 3rd, 2012
2:36 pm
The thing that people need to realize is that Ferry would not of made these moves if he didn’t have a bigger plan in the works. Everybody calm down and let Ferry do his thing.
champion chips plz
July 3rd, 2012
2:42 pm
rumors about a move to st. louis are BS.
City of Losers
July 3rd, 2012
2:45 pm
I still can’t believe Ferry even came here. And now he does all of this within one week. I hated that guy as a player but he is getting it done here. One thing I also find interesting is that we draft a shooter in what I think was a bad pick. We get another shooter in Morrow. Maybe they think they need those since they plan on having a big guy in the middle.
BTR
July 3rd, 2012
2:57 pm
I want this team moved, sold or dissolved, I could care less about nba and the thugs in it and the lying owners who own this horrible franchise. I have never been to a nba game and never will,
why so many give a damn is amazing, it is such a nothing sport from start to finish, and will lying loser owners, like drunk levenson, why should anyone give a damn. Moving is the only move left for this bunch, nobody should care one bit !
Blair Rasmussen
July 3rd, 2012
3:00 pm
WE do not want Howard. He has become a spoiled, selfish player- ala Joe, Melo, and Iverson- no headaches, please. If we keep Josh (and Ferry can ban him from shooting beyond 15 feet), and add Paul next year, we’ll have plenty.
Rabiddawg1
July 3rd, 2012
3:02 pm
For everyone saying that Ferry failed in Clev in acquiring talent around LBJ, maybe it had nothing to do with Ferry but rather nobody wanting to play in Cleveland. I mean who wouldn’t want to live and play in the metropolis of Cleveland. When LBJ, Wade, and Bosh we’re talking about where to play, why do you think they decided on South Beach and not Cleveland?
Barry Levene
July 3rd, 2012
3:03 pm
I don’t care if the Hawks win 5 games or 50 next season. We needed to do something and this is a magnificent start. Joe Johnson didn’t care about improving the Hawks and bringing them to the next level. Joe got his payday and didn’t really give a crap outside of that. It was evident to any and all. Marvin Williams: what can you say. What a dud. Full of promise, but just never did anything with it. I wish him the best of luck in Utah or for any other team he plays for. Welcome Danny Ferry. This is what we’ve needed for years!
champion chips plz
July 3rd, 2012
3:06 pm
by the way, the headline in new york…’Crooklyn, Nets steal Johnson from Hawks.’ didn’t know you could steal something that you are paying $90 million for. how do the nets have money to get howard? they will be around $60 million with 4 players.
ATLBRAVE
July 3rd, 2012
3:11 pm
The JJ contract should have never been offered in the 1st place. But, they were already 4th in the East (without Horford) now we trade our best player for a bunch of no names for the purposes of creating cap space NEXT season. All they are going to do is take steps back this season, and then overpay for another free agent or two the season after next and at best the Hawks will return right back to the 4th seed where they were already at last season. I just don’t see the point in getting rid of JJ and not receiving an All Star back in return that can help the team win NOW. The window for winning and short and the Hawks were on the door step. Have fun next season watching guys that nobody even knows run up and down the highlight factory!
Mike
July 3rd, 2012
3:14 pm
Bottom line: Hawks write off 2012-13 season, and unless they can resign Josh Smith (who will not be happy playing for a worse team this year) will have plenty of cap space but no players saince we’ll have two replace two all star caliber players. Johnson and Smith. I’d have much rather gone for everything in 2012 and worry about 2013 then. I hope I have to eat these words, but unless there is already an agreement in place to resign Smith, this is a poor deal that will doom us for the forseeable future. Bring back Billy Knight who managed to parlay four first round draft picks in one season to a decade of mediocity, only to be rescued by Joe Johnson and a maturing Josh Smith.
richy
July 3rd, 2012
3:38 pm
@ATLBRAVE The “win now” approach obviously hasnt worked for the hawks the past few years. This is the model for the new nba. Deal with it. The hawks have also been “on the doorstep” ever since the took boston to 7 games. Ferry is trying to build a contender. Contenders dont happen over night.
boxxiethebull
July 3rd, 2012
3:39 pm
do not trade horford for howard….howard as a free agent sounds better to me and if not, the hawks can win with horford and josh and teague…not interested in trading teague unless dwill is cp3 is coming to town how it shoulda been anyway…devin harris is interesting as a back up but is a great trade chip….put deshawn way down on the other end of the bench for emergency use only….hey… devin and deshawn for metta world peace?