Joe Johnson: He wasn’t a superstar, but he made a difference
Aug. 19, 2005: The Hawks celebrate their rousing victory over Steve Belkin. (AJC file photo)
For the first five years, the Hawks got what they paid for. Over those five seasons, Joe Johnson was their leading scorer and their best player. If not for him, this team’s 0-for-the-21st-century playoff drought might have continued to this day. That said …
If not for Joe Johnson, the Hawks’ owners wouldn’t have been suing one another. In the summer of 2005 Steve Belkin balked at the price of a sign-and-trade — general manager Billy Knight wanted to ship Boris Diaw and two No. 1 draft picks to Phoenix; Belkin believed one pick should suffice — and the whole thing wound up in a Boston courtroom, where Knight famously declined to shake Belkin’s hand, and the veil of contentment among ownership was put asunder.
No, that wasn’t Johnson’s fault. He had no control over these owners, and he delivered on the promise Knight had seen in him. From being the Suns’ fourth-best player, Johnson developed into “the best Hawk since Dominique Wilkins.” That was the description offered by Michael Gearon Jr., another of the owners, and it was and remains the gospel truth.
There were nights, many of them, over those first few seasons when Johnson was the only reason to watch the Hawks, and as the team began to improve he remained the best reason. He scored 35 points, 20 in a frenzied fourth quarter, against the Celtics in Game 4 of the 2008 playoff series, and that performance is among the finest by any Atlanta Hawk ever. Afterward Boston’s Sam Cassell said of Johnson: “He’s their franchise ballplayer.”
But Johnson was a strange sort of franchise player, not least because the Hawks — stop the presses — are a strange franchise. His arrival was overshadowed by the management kerfuffle. His best years here were the ones when nobody was watching because the team was losing. Even that Game 4 against Boston is more widely recalled as the night Zaza Pachulia went forehead-to-forehead with Kevin Garnett.
About that Game 4 windfall: It would take Johnson 31 games over more than three calendar years to break 30 in the postseason again. That became the biggest knock: Come the playoffs, the franchise ballplayer wasn’t often a franchise ballplayer. Johnson averaged 20.8 points over his seven regular seasons as a Hawk; over 47 playoff games, he averaged 18 points.
It was after one of his worst showings — eight points on 15 shots in a 30-point Game 3 blowout by Orlando here in 2010 — that Johnson said he didn’t care if fans showed up. That summer he became a free agent, and the Hawks, who’d just promoted Larry Drew to head coach in large measure because Drew promised to back away from Mike Woodson’s Iso-Joes, spent $120 million over six seasons to keep Johnson from leaving.
In sum, they lavished superstar’s wages — Johnson was making more than LeBron James, who also was a free agent that summer — on a player who had demonstrated he wasn’t quite a superstar, and now that player was closing in on 30 and his team didn’t want him to play in the same way that had made him an All-Star, and he’d just angered the paying customers to boot. With the new contract, the Hawks were no longer getting what they paid for. Within two years, Johnson wasn’t even their second-best player.
For all the good work he did here, Johnson was never the people’s choice. He’s not a smiler, and the bulk of his public comments tended to the negative. (Even after victories, Johnson could be heard to say his team needed to do something better.) He was never an unwilling passer — he and Mike Bibby worked beautifully together — but the Iso-Joes could leave that impression.
When the Hawks reached an agreement to trade Johnson to the Nets, local reaction was euphoric. No more albatross contract! No more sour Joe faces! Lost in the latest bit of giddiness was the memory of a similar giddy day in the summer of 2005, when the other Hawks owners had deposed Belkin as their NBA governor, and the sign-and-trade for Johnson had finally gone through and a celebration was staged on the floor of Philips Arena.
A free agent of substance had committed himself to a team coming off a 13-69 season, and for a downtrodden franchise that marked a new beginning. Seven years later, nobody was sorry to see him leave, but if not for Joe Johnson, this city might never have realized the Hawks were still in business.
By Mark Bradley
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182 comments Add your comment
Herschel Talker
July 6th, 2012
11:45 am
MB:
What’s shaking?
HT
Flipman
July 6th, 2012
11:45 am
First…to say farewell Joe. You were good player but not a superstar which is what we were paying you to be.
Joe Johnson
July 6th, 2012
11:45 am
You fools going to be sorry I is the greatest since Spud Webb
Smokey
July 6th, 2012
11:49 am
Glad hes gone but agree…
Khao$
July 6th, 2012
11:49 am
Great way to sum up the strange dichatomy that is Joe Johnson…
atkII
July 6th, 2012
11:50 am
Joe Johnson drew a lot of ire, but for this formerly disenchanted fan, he brought me back to Philips. Thank you, Joe.
Preston
July 6th, 2012
11:53 am
Good article. Too bad that his legacy is what it is, because I think he showed up, played hard (and great D), and more often than not played really well.
Mr. Brooks
July 6th, 2012
11:54 am
don’t worry people! the falcons are on the rise. matt ryan is lifting weights and julio jones got a haircut to make him faster. the falcons are on the rise!
Sammy Hagar
July 6th, 2012
11:59 am
Joe should have never been resigned. No other team was offering him 75%what the Hawks gave him. Bad ownership decision.
Joe Johnson: He wasnta superstar, but he made a difference | G-trends
July 6th, 2012
12:02 pm
[...] Reflecting on the seven seasons Joe Johnson spent with the Atlanta Hawks. Oddities abounded. …Source Tags: joe [...]
Sage of Bluesland
July 6th, 2012
12:03 pm
So long, Droopy. Thank God they didn’t trade Horford.
PMC
July 6th, 2012
12:04 pm
Given the way Billy Knight spent draft picks he should have sent them 5.
Leon Justice
July 6th, 2012
12:05 pm
I feel Joe is an All Star. The only reason he didn’t score more was because of bad coaching. The Offensive System was aweful or hardly ever executed. Josh being hard headed or not playing hard. There are alot of factors that go into what happen with the Hawks. Watch what happens in Brooklyn. He will be an All Star again with better numbers and they will beat the Hawks in the playoffs this year in the first round. you heard it hear first.
DP
July 6th, 2012
12:06 pm
All that history about Joe Johnson and Mark Bradley can’t bring himself to acknowledge that he was an advocate of the Hawks signing Johnson to the 6 year extension that would have wrecked the franchise for the next several years had Danny Ferry not come along and found a buyer dumb enough to take him.
Don Mills
July 6th, 2012
12:07 pm
The irony of the trade is now Joe will be paired with the point guard that we could have had (Deron Williams) and we will get a chance to see what could have been. I bet Joe will be a better player because of it.
Lon Stotts
July 6th, 2012
12:07 pm
Joe was a great player on the court, and I don’t doubt his love of the game, work ethic, nor his will to win. However, when you’re making the kind of money he was making, there’s an implied leadership position that comes with it. Joe was never the kind of guy to step up and say something during tough times, and the ASG should’ve recognized this before tendering him such an obscene offer. Still, you can’t fault Joe for simply taking a pay raise and maintaining his frustratingly detached personality. That one’s on ownership. The guy can ball, but he’s never been a leader.
JayInAtlanta
July 6th, 2012
12:08 pm
This was a pretty well-balanced goodbye letter, until….
“Within two years, Johnson wasn’t even their second-best player.”
Wait, what now?
Lifelong Hawks supporter here. Now we just have to get used to not being in the playoffs…maybe for another decade. The “fans” got what they wish. Hypothetical hope in the next five years about big-names and championship contending = the odds of a lightning strike.
Pro basketball lovers who support the home team are in for a lot of pain. Sorry, I would have rather been a first-or-second round playoff dynasty any day.
Wink
July 6th, 2012
12:08 pm
I don’t blame Joe for signing the contract. Problem was he did not perform or demonstrate leadership. As for his All Star appearances, Joe did not have any memorable moments in those exhibition games of showmanship. He was just ordinary and the highest paid Hawk. Too bad we could not get Marshon Brooks from the Nets. This kid destroyed Joe in head to head competition.
Joe will not make the Nets better. His personality is not made for New York. The spotlight is going to be too much for him. If he could not take the Atlanta fans, the New York fans tolerance is even worst. Really glad to get that contract out of here and Belkin was right all along.
We can still make the playoffs as an 7th or 8th seed, really we have had top seeding and it did not make a difference. Joe makes a difference now that he’s gone, we have room for growth and a GM with some serious pedigree to make change!
PMC
July 6th, 2012
12:09 pm
Sad that the salad days of a franchise would be…..yay the 2nd round.
Oh Atlanta has no passion for thier pro sports teams…. why would we have any passion for them?
Sam
July 6th, 2012
12:12 pm
Very good article.
Loving all this Hawks love on ajc.com.
mike
July 6th, 2012
12:12 pm
Big fan of Joe, hope he does well in NJ. If he was not around the past 7 years we would be nowhere. I’m not a big believer that every athlete has to be charming, smile a lot, etc. Just get wins.
1988
July 6th, 2012
12:12 pm
Good article, Mark. I was estatic when the Hawks traded Joe to Brooklyn, but not because I dislike Joe Johnson. Just because, as you said, he was probably the third best player on the team and was eating up a ton of cap space. I wish him well in Brooklyn, although I fail to see how the Nets are going to build a championship-caliber team now that they have taken on his massive contract.
What do you think is next for the Hawks? I am fine with regressing for a year and making a run at Dwight Howard and/or Chris Paul, but I worry that if the Hawks are pinning the hopes of their franchise on the possibility that those two guys will pick Atlanta over a lot of other (at least as attrative) suitors, it will be the New York Knicks all over again. I hate to part with Al Horford, but do you think an Al Horford and Jeff Teauge for Dwight Howard sign and trade could be a real possibility?
Shug
July 6th, 2012
12:14 pm
I’d put Joe J. somewhere behind Dominique, Pistol Pete, Sweet Lou Hudson, Dan Roundfield, and a few others in the Hawks pantheon.
mookie
July 6th, 2012
12:14 pm
Joe was an offensive ‘black hole’, the ball would go into him and it never made it’s way out. The hawks would be on a run with offensive ball movement and he would come down the court and isolate and jack up a 25 footer with a double team and a man open in the paint. He just didn’t seem to have smart basketball instincts. His best years were in Phoenix when he was directed by a true point. He should never have been re-signed after his first contract. Enjoy Brooklyn.
Falkor
July 6th, 2012
12:14 pm
Well said MB
1988
July 6th, 2012
12:18 pm
Also, was 2005 really that long ago? Why is everyone’s suit in the photo three sizes too big? Mike Woodson looks like Suge Knight in that picture.
Veteran Fan
July 6th, 2012
12:22 pm
How many times in a crucial situation in a game has Joe declined to take it to the basket and settled for a fallaway jumper from long range? He never played above the rim and he declined to take leadership on a team that desparately needed it! He is like other overpaid millionaires in this league, he got his money so he would show up and play, but he decided how much effort went into that. Maybe his leaving will convince Josh that he needs to step up and lead a little and quit worrying about stats and his pride! Its about winning guys and then everything else will follow! Lebron finally figured it out, can the Hawks?
Dan Struggla
July 6th, 2012
12:22 pm
I’ve been a fan since 69, and I honestly cannot remember being so estatic! Joe was a good player, but they will be better without him. He dominated the ball, wasting WAY TOO much time dribbling, and insisted on taking clutch shots despite being double and triple teamed. Teague was afraid not to give him the ball down the stretch, and if Joe passed- it was to Josh for a 3! He clogged the offense up, and is past his prime. Let’s keep Horoford, Teague, Smith, and Jenkins, and go after Paul next year. We don’t want Dwight. Despite his talent, He’s becomming a self centered baby.
Marcus
July 6th, 2012
12:24 pm
The remaining value of the contract and the pending [age-based] diminishing returns from ending his career as a Hawk. It would have been nice to see a more formal transition from JJ to Al/Smoove/Teague as the teams best player(s). JJ seemed to indirectly acknowledge as much earlier this season or last during a particular exhausting game (forget opponent) when he was quoted as telling Josh Smith that he is young and he could handle playing the full 48.
I am just not 100% sure he embraced his journey to a reduced role because he continued to do many of the things required of him when the team was young and playoff-challenged. After a while, his role and expectations should have changed as the team changed, but it seemed like everyone (coaches and players) was still caught up in the 2005-2009 paradigm of “Joe does everything” vs. asserting themselves and really complimenting each other.
JJ and the Hawks were brought back to relevancy during his time and we should be forever grateful, but the balance due and inability to adjust (on everyones part) brought us to this point.
Good luck JJ except when the Hawks are on the other sideline.
Jaded Hawks Fan
July 6th, 2012
12:26 pm
I think a lot of the hatred toward Joe was misdirected anger. He was very good NBA player. He wasn’t a great NBA player and wasn’t worth what he was paid. The frustration should have been at the people who so grossly overpaid him.
I’d take Joe as my third option any of the day of the week. Heck, he was awesome in that role with Phoenix.
BobWeiss
July 6th, 2012
12:28 pm
I know I’m in the minority, but I think trading Joe Johnson was a mistake. It reminds me when the Hawks blew up a pretty decent team back in the 90’s (Blaylock, Smith, Augmon, Laettner, etc.) The team was probably never going to make the NBA Finals, but it was far more entertaining watching a 50 win team compete in the regular season and maybe win a playoff series as opposed to the eight years of misery that followed. It took a lot of work to get this team back to respectability. I hate to blow it up again just because a few players might be overpaid. I hope Danny Ferry is the brilliant GM everyone is saying. I wonder if the same moves would have been made if Horford would have been healthy this year and the Hawks would have won a playoff series or two?
Dan Struggla
July 6th, 2012
12:28 pm
Joe was a good player, and certainly helped the Hawks become a pretty good team. His Iso-Joes killed the offense, and his insistence on taking every big shot (regardless if he were open or double or triple teamed) really hurt the team. Teague was afraid not to give him the ball down the stretch. Maybe Josh will stay, and we can get Chris Paul next year. I’ll pass on Dwight- he has become a self centered baby. Wonder how Deron will like it down the stretch when Joe insists on dribbling in a stationary position for 15 seconds before throwing up a prayer!
Jimmy Crack
July 6th, 2012
12:29 pm
What is evident is that NBA defenses had figured out the Hawks simply by double teaming Joe, leaving 3 defenders on 4 Hawks all the time. Now what? Somebody else better start filling up that basket next season (and I’m not talking about Josh’s rainbows). Our guards need to account for at least 25 points per game between them, so the SG spot has to be highly productive out of the gate. Let’s hope John Jenkins’ jumpshot is juicy.
Bmarko
July 6th, 2012
12:33 pm
The only thing Joe Johnson was good at was playing 1 vs 5 and dribbling the ball for 20 sec before launching a 20 ft fadeaway as the shot clock expired. Nuff Said
Dawg Haus
July 6th, 2012
12:33 pm
Very good article, Mark. He was a good player but the Hawks were holding themselves hostage with that contract.
CazLand
July 6th, 2012
12:34 pm
JJ was our best player but far from an ALLSTAR imo. He came to play every night,just did’nt have any consistant help. I wish him the best & thank him for his services.
md
July 6th, 2012
12:35 pm
“Making a difference” isn’t enough when one is paid superstar money………he should of been paid “making a difference” money. His absurd contract hamstrung the organization and Ferry had no choice….
Mark Bradley
July 6th, 2012
12:37 pm
As for me never admitting I supported the re-signing … seems to me I conceded that very thing just the other day.
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2012/07/02/for-gm-ferry-trying-to-trade-johnson-is-the-right-first-move/
I like to think I’m pretty good about owning up to mistakes. That’s what the annual Accountability Scoreboard is for.
Raybud
July 6th, 2012
12:38 pm
@ Marcus…Well said bro. I think the best i’d ever seen Joe was in that Boston series when the first made it to the playoffs in over 10yrs. Game 4, i thought at the time, helped define him and i felt “assured” that we would be the team to come out of the east within the next few years. After the Orlando Series two years ago, he made the comment the he didn’t care “if the fans showed up or not”. I think he made his own way out of the door with that one. We all wanted more from him, but he show us that he is really an 17-18 pt a night player. The future of our team hinges on the front court of Smith and Horford. Smith showed us that we were ok even when our top two players are out for multiple games. All Smith needs is a “coach”, not an assistant. He needs someone that tells him the truth about himself. He and Horford, I believe, are 20-10 players. We will definitely find out this year what type of team the Hawks really are.
Gapeach
July 6th, 2012
12:39 pm
I for one am going to miss Joe. He did a lot of good things 4 the team contract aside he is very a good player. Because he had a quiet demeanor doesnt take away from the fact of his play. I hope he does well in BK. I will be cheering 4 just not against the hawks but when he comes back i will cheer 4 him. Thanks Joe I appreciate what u did reguardless if the city of Atlanta didnt. And 4I those of u sayi g falcons this and that chile plz still waiting on them to “RISE UP’
CazLand
July 6th, 2012
12:40 pm
JJ was our best player but far from an ALLSTAR imo. He came to play every night,but just did’nt have the consistant help we needed to get over the being middle of the road NBA team. I thank him for his services & wish him the best.
Just up the Street
July 6th, 2012
12:45 pm
I see 4 losers in that picture.
Justahawkfan
July 6th, 2012
12:48 pm
Lets hope we find someone =\> joe Johnson. If we don’t it’s hello loneliness, goodbye goodbye happiness, hello loneliness I think I’m gonna die.
Miriam Webster
July 6th, 2012
12:52 pm
Mark – did a double take on the “kerfuffle” comment. Nice one. Been watching Wimbledon coverage the past couple weeks?
Clydesdale
July 6th, 2012
12:55 pm
Joe did all he could do. Joe is a 6′7” guy who has great coordination but lacks explosion. He can’t leap 45 inches off the ground and can’t run a 4.4 40 yard dash. Joe could post up short guards. Joe could penetrate by being a very good dribbler for his height but once he got to 12-15 feet he had to pull up. He made many of these pull-ups. Joe played tough defense against other players who often had the hops and speed he lacked. That tells you a lot. Rich guys who play D care about winning. He did all he could do. To be a superstar you need hops, speed, coordination so you can shoot outside, dribble inside and finish at the rim. Joe could only do the first 2. Not his fault. He maximized what he had.
Mike L
July 6th, 2012
12:56 pm
The only problem with Joe was his big contract. Joe is just not as athletic the modern NBA superstar. I admire Joe because he was good at all the things that require a lot of work growing up and during the offseason. The dude put in his time to be good, He was just misplaced a bit. Still the second best player in Atlanta Hawks history if you ask me.
cdog
July 6th, 2012
12:57 pm
with danny ferry, the hawks are headed in the championship direction. no more excuses about the asg.it was rick sund who was the asg who was holding the hawks back. three road blocks gone, marvin williams, joe johnson and sund. now, wif they can eliminate larry drew and bring in dwight howard, you will see a championship unfold.
nola ATL fan
July 6th, 2012
12:59 pm
Mark – I am REALLY glad you wrote this. Joe deserves as much … he brought the Hawks at least back into the conversation in the NBA
Just up the Street
July 6th, 2012
1:03 pm
You don’t get paid more than LaBron and not get results.
bigcalidawg
July 6th, 2012
1:08 pm
JJ got us into the playoffs and over .500, but the last 2 seasons, he was downright indifferent.
Paying that kind of money, a player has to figure out a way to have an impact on a game. Half the time, he just mailed it in.
We are extremely fortunate that a fool and his money were quickly parted.
Jt
July 6th, 2012
1:09 pm
Perfectly said, Mark. I have nothing to add.
Jimmy Crack
July 6th, 2012
1:12 pm
Whatever the case, Joe will get a standing “O” the next time he visits the Highlight Factory.
biz
July 6th, 2012
1:15 pm
We may not be able to hit the jackpot with the few stud FA signings but the move allows the Hawks to build a smart team that can survey the field take advantage of other GM’s mistakes while continuing to build our reputation and remaining at the ready for good fortune. Signing someone of the level of Dwight Howard is difficult, signing someone of JJs talent is much easier and can be done at a fair price. Lets go Danny Ferry!
Thanks for the years of service Joe. Wish you the best. Happy to see your contract leave the building.
Only in Moultrie
July 6th, 2012
1:15 pm
Mark,
Do you know who Phoenix selected with those 2 draft picks we gave them along with Boris Diaw?
Only in Moultrie
July 6th, 2012
1:16 pm
Also, Phoenix would’ve been really good had they kept Joe.
JSS
July 6th, 2012
1:18 pm
The problem in 2005 is that Belkin was a A** in a room full of A**es! He knew then what the Thrashers strategy was… He knew then what (lack of a) Hawks strategy was! The DASG was going to be mess, it only mattered to what degree!
Joe Johnson was like Junior Bridgeman, he should have been a piece instead of a centerpiece!
DP
July 6th, 2012
1:26 pm
Joe Johnson showed he was more about stats and a paycheck than winning when he forced his way off a great Phoenix team with Nash, a young Stoudamire and Shawn Marion to a horrible Atlanta team.
I saw an interesting note on ESPN.com a couple of days ago. It said Josh Smith was potentially more open to staying with the Hawks long term because he liked the moves Danny Ferry has made so quickly, i.e. dumping the ballhog Johnson and the near worthless Marvin Williams.
I think the Hawks will be better off without Johnson whether they sign anybody to replace him or not. Teague can finally play as a point guard with the ball in his hands, Josh Smith can slash to the basket, Horford can post up and play pick and pop with willing passers. Wait until Deron Williams finds out first hand what a black hole Joe Johnson is on offense. I predict sparks will fly in Brooklyn.
Nelson Muntz
July 6th, 2012
1:36 pm
I’ve been waiting for this appreciation to be expressed. When the story of the trade went down, it was interesting to read what in-the-know members of the national media think of Joe Johnson. Their opinions bore no resemblance to the vitriol directed at him on this blog. Overpaid? Definitely. Way overpaid. And Ferry’s miraculous unloading of the contract deserves all the praise it is getting. But every Hawks fan needs to acknowledge the truth of the first paragraph of Bradley’s column.
Marvin
July 6th, 2012
1:36 pm
Where is the love! I was a #2 draft pick- in the whole draft! So what if I had many nights with 30 minutes pl;ayed, 4 pts and 2 rebounds. I played as soft as you can and still got paid. Plus, with Joe hogging the ball, I quit trying to get open. I’d just spectate and watch him endlessly dribble or Josh throw up another brick in the wall.
Big Crimson 75
July 6th, 2012
1:45 pm
1. Joe deserves & will receive a standing O when He returns next Season.
2. Steve Smith & Dikembe were as good in Atl as Joe, if not better.
3. Belkin was wrong about the trade. At the time, Joe was worth his 1st contract. He was worth Boris Diaw & the picks —- which I believe only turned into 1 first rounder — Branden Rush.
4. Joe could have been a better “leader” & given up some of the $$$ to allow Atl to keep Jamal last yr.
5. Brooklyn made a huge mistake. Williams, Johnson, Wallace, Brooks & Lopez are the new Hawks!!! First Rd NBA Playoff purgatory here We come.
j
July 6th, 2012
1:46 pm
Thanks Joe for getting us back to a respectible franchise. Joe is not only a good player but a good citizen. Hope your time in Brooklyn in great!
BulldogBen
July 6th, 2012
1:48 pm
Heads up boys, Bradley’s chumming the waters…….
beone
July 6th, 2012
1:51 pm
The team’s expectations (leadership) and Joe were never aligned. If we’d had a real coach, he would have forced the issue around year 2 or 3 of Joe’s tenure with the Hawks and when it likely didn’t work, we would have known and could have moved in a different direction. The lack of a coach who demands respect and adherence to his directives has been killing the Hawks and will continue to do so until it is corrected. Even in the NBA coaching matters.
Skram30082
July 6th, 2012
1:52 pm
Hey Mark,
Does this mean Steve Belkin was right?
Just wondering…
zgoldatl
July 6th, 2012
1:56 pm
Well done MB. I agree completely about the impact Joe had in turning around this franchise. He reached his ceiling and that’s no fault of his own. He is a class act. I thank him for what he has done and wish him nothing but the best in Brooklyn.
Whatever
July 6th, 2012
2:02 pm
It’s not necessarily that I wanted to see Joe go, just his contract.
donte080
July 6th, 2012
2:08 pm
Actually, it’s kinda funny, but Hawks ended up being “right” in re-signing Johnson…if they hadn’t, we would have been a worse team, and also wouldn’t have ended up with anything for him (Morrow + draft pick)….most of his contract was back-end loaded…all in all, thanks to Ferry and Nets, Hawks made out like bandits on Johnson..
JSS
July 6th, 2012
2:21 pm
Belkin was never right…
atltodolavida
July 6th, 2012
2:24 pm
Joe and Josh carried the Hawks to a 4 seed this year, don’t forget.
Scoots
July 6th, 2012
2:26 pm
Mark – good piece.
JJ does deserve credit for helping get the Hawks back to winning, but he wore out his welcome and got overpaid in the new contract. And as talented as he is, he just doesn’t bring any energy to the team from what I could tell.
I think our sentiments can be described in this way: “It’s been real, Joe.”
WeBurn
July 6th, 2012
2:40 pm
Mark,
You REALLY think he is the best Hawk since ‘Nique?
My Rankings for the best Hawk since Dominique
1. Mt. Mutumbo
2. Smitty
3. J-J-J Joe Johnson
4. Mookie
5. J Smoove
Ted M
July 6th, 2012
2:40 pm
Mark – Who the heck do you want Ferry to get for small forward?
MaRKBrAdSUX
July 6th, 2012
2:46 pm
He didn’t make a difference he sucked. My prediction is if the HAwks keep the team they have they will still be the 4th, 5th or 6th seed playoff team
D-Man
July 6th, 2012
2:56 pm
Seven yrs was too long and it wasn’t all Joe’s fault. The same ownership that brought him here should have seen what we the fans and anyone with any b-ball knowledge could see and that was getting Joe Johnson was NOT enough in the first place. He couldn’t carry them, but they (team mgmt) kept putting him in that uncomfortable position. He just wasn’t that guy. If they put him with another high caliber free-agent or otherwise player maybe that would have worked who knows, but they (team mgmt AGAIN) never tried to get someone else of that caliber and thus the dubious “Iso-Joe” show mercilessly continued no matter how many embarrassing beat downs occurred come playoff time. Everyone in the free world knew “Iso-Joe” was what Woody was going to call. Hell, Stevie Wonder could see it coming. The Hawk fans didn’t deserve that and even as much as I tired of “No Show” Joe’s emotionless playoff play- he didn’t deserve that either. He didn’t do himself any favors with those “I don’t care if these fans never show up” comments after trying to build another wing to Phillips Arena with all those bricks he laid that night, but hell it probably was out of frustration with the whole situation. These fans didn’t care to show up either to see the longest running re-run in syndication of NBA playoff flops, excuse me embarrassment either. How could Joe expect fans to be behind a team that set a record for THE most lopsided playoff loss EVERRRR (Orlando Magic 30+ pt wins every game in a 4-game sweep) plus that 2008 game 7 up in Boston which happened to be the first and only time I’d EVERRRR seen a basketball game be over in the first five freaking minutes of said game, struggles with a Miami Heat team (pre-LeBron James of course) they should have mopped the floor with, or the same struggles with a Bucks squad that shouldn’t have even been in the playoffs? Ever single time THAT moment arose that they could take a step forward here comes a Josh Smith 3 pointer, a Mike Woodson terrible substitution and/or play call, bad foul, turnover, offensive shutdown, or worse – the Iso-Joe play. We in the military would call this whole situation a FUBAR (@#$%-ed up Beyond All Recognition) of mass proportions from the top down. A bad choice in free-agency, a stubborn coach (Woodson) with no imagination, an ownership devouring itself whole, a GM (Billy Knight) who couldn’t draft his way out of a wet paper bag, and fans who were tired of it all. I believe this was a doomed marriage from the jump and this divorce was better for all parties involved…especially Joe. We were only so happy that we got Joe at first because we were willing to accept ANYTHING that meant we could exit the cellar-dwellar status we were cursed with for years before him. So now Joe you can go be the best supporting actor on another team that you should have always been here in Atlanta. Good luck JJ, and DANNY FERRY FOR MAYOR!!
GO HAWKS!
D-Nice
July 6th, 2012
3:11 pm
For the record I disagree with the best player since Nique moniquer. I guess Steve and Mookie never played here right? Steve was a better shooter and better passer and thats not even close.
Big Man
July 6th, 2012
3:15 pm
Joe is the second best Atlanta Hawk ever. This trade was a mistake unless we get both Chris Paul and Dwight signed to multi year contracts.
Native Son
July 6th, 2012
3:22 pm
Like I said before. Joe was not the problem, nor Marvin. Coaches run out of plays;” ISO Joe”…Last seconds in the game; clear out for” ISO Joe” when every coach, and player; knows “Joe” gets the ball. For the first five years, “Joe’ was showing the new young talent how to win, as he broke every record in the book for minutes played. In my opinion ” He got the big contract, but he’d already earned it.’ He brought a franchise off the floor, and made them relevant again. Good luck, and Thank You J-J-J- Jooeee Johnson!!!!
Peace from The Most Native
Post Script: Marvin didn’t draft himself after playing one year at UNC, and off the bench. But he payed for it every day in Atlanta. Another team would have tried to develop his talent instead of tossing him in the starting line up with three other rookies. In spite of all of that, Marvin is a solid performer, and we probably would have seen him flourish if not for the fact he had to give the ball up to Joe. Thanks Marvin, and good luck to you.
PPS: I think you all know exactly what Joe meant when he said ‘ He didn’t care if no one showed up”
HawksFanSince'89
July 6th, 2012
3:38 pm
If Joe was a true superstar, who wanted to win a championship, he would have restructured his contract, so the Hawks could bring in more talent, to help up us win a NBA title.
Good Riddance,
HawksFanSince’89
JayD
July 6th, 2012
3:49 pm
Not a smiler??? Fickle Atlanta sports fans – This will not end well!
KBP
July 6th, 2012
3:50 pm
Better power forwards than Josh . . . Aldridge, Nowitzki, Griffin, Gasol.
Better center than Al . . . Howard, Bynum, Hibbert, Garnett.
Better shooting guard than Joe . . . Bryant, Wade, ? ? ?
How were Al and Josh the two best players when Joe was on the team? They both are too limited offensively to be considered better than Joe. Al is not a great defender in the post and Josh is a very good weakside shot blocker but not a great defender when other PF’s take him away from the basket.
Joe may not be a superstar, but he certainly was the best player on this team. Are the eastern conference coaches all overstating his talent by placing him on 6 all-star teams and 1 all-nba team? Our Hawks needed more from Joe, but he is who he is. Why blame him for not having James’ talent? Why blame him for not being an assassin like Bryant and Wade? We will miss him this upcoming year(not his contract) when we are back to winning 30 games. Where will the offfense come from? Morrow,a spot up shooter? Jenkins, a spot up shooter? Al? Josh? Even if the Nets don’t get Howard, their current team is better than ours because they have Joe and we don’t. Lopez owns Horford, Williams is better than whomever is our PG, and Joe is better than whomever our SG is and Humphries is a better rebounder than Josh. If neither teams adds any more players, they are clearly better than us.
tom
July 6th, 2012
3:51 pm
JJ teased us with that great performance in the 4th quarter against boston in 08′. it is a shame he couldn’t build upon that. Great player no doubt. good luck to you JJ.
GTanner
July 6th, 2012
3:52 pm
Best since ‘Nique is the gospel truth? No. But, then again you supported that albatross of a contract until you recovered your senses.
Chilidawg
July 6th, 2012
3:53 pm
Joe did a lot of good things here, but he could not carry a team by himself. By today’s standards Joe is not a superstar. It is ironic that much of the Hawk’s trouble started with the acquisition of Joe, and the internal fighting among the owners. Was Steve Belkin correct? Despite the good things Joe did for the Hawks, I think Steve Belkin was correct. There is a teachable moment in all of this, Joe Johnson is soft spoken and doesn’t call people out, and fans will always have positive memories of his time here. While Steve Belkin was portrayed as a big mouth jerk and a greedy capitalist.Although he was actually right, the fans will never acknowledge that. At the risk of sounding like a big mouth jerk, I do think this is one of the better comments on this blog.
moboman
July 6th, 2012
3:55 pm
For once the Hawks get rid of a guy at the right time in his career. We had no choice but to give him the new deal, and you can’t blame him for that. Who would turn that down? His agent played his leverage cards correctly. He had a positive impact on this franchise. He’s not a superstar. But he was a star while he was here, and made the Hawks worth watching again. Give him his props for that. Lets hope we turn the trade to our best advantage with Ferry at the helm. But no reason to hate on Joe for being what he was, he worked at his craft, and gave his best efforts, playing big minutes every night. I wish him well.
Tumbledown
July 6th, 2012
4:07 pm
BobWeiss (12:28) – I disagree with your opinion. It is important more than ever to not be satisfied with a team that can just make it to the playoffs. This type of attitude has permeated our sports teams and fans too much, and we must not ever be satisfied with just making the playoffs. I want championships. We must accept nothing less.
Sage of Bluesland
July 6th, 2012
4:09 pm
Somewhere, Joe Johnson is finally getting that pole-polishing.
1988
July 6th, 2012
4:28 pm
There’s nothing really wrong with making the playoffs every year and not winning championships. At the very least, it’s a lot better than sustained losing (see: Royals, Kansas City; Pirates, Pittsburgh; Bills, Buffalo). I just read an article the other day talking about how Royals fans still talk about 2003 in glowing terms, a year when they finished just over .500 and third in their division, just because it was so much better than any other year in the past 25 or so. Ask fans in Minnesota how much better off they are without Kevin Garnett (no playoffs in eight years).
That being said, the problem with the Hawks was that there was always a sense, from ownership down, that making the playoffs was the only goal. From what I’ve seen of Danny Ferry so far, he seems really serious about building a title contender. If he wanted a playoff team, he would have kept Joe Johnson. If the Hawks swing and miss on all the best available free agents and they end up out of the postseason for the next five years, I will really be lamenting the good ol’ days when Joe Johnson was helping the Hawks to a four seed. But organizations don’t have a lot of chances to be truly great, and if the Hawks had to give up a sure thing (being good, but not great), for a chance at true greatness and a championship, I’m glad they took the risk.
Native Son
July 6th, 2012
4:30 pm
@Chilidawg – Steve Belkin wanted the hawks to tank, and get lottery picks( not a bad Strategy, except for the fact you ain’t made the playoffs in 10 years) The other owners wanted to put a team out that would draw attendance and pay dividends immediately.
@Hawks’FanSince’89 – Restructure “your” paycheck so mgmt can bring in more talent. The contract was bad either way you go. Joe is 30, and a restructured contract would have kept him here even longer, as it would probably involve a no trade clause.
To all: Steve Smith came with bad knees, wasn’t mobile, and Mookie was “allegedly” up in smoke. They had a nice team, with good chemistry, and thats all. They definitely were not going anywhere near the finals, so it was imperative that team needed busting up. The team prior to the JJ trade was as close to getting to the finals as anybody. I think they needed some better shooters, and a real center. And I would define that as someone that was actually groomed for the position.But never mind. What do I know?
Peace from the Most Native
PS: IMVHO; there is a big wide chasm between Nique’ and Joe. And Smoove is right there except, no can convince him that he’s not a guard
.
GSmooth
July 6th, 2012
4:32 pm
Joe helped us get to the playoffs 5 years in a row.. unfortunately I will only remember how he bashed the city and fans after getting blown out by Orlando in 2010. He was a good player but not clutch in the least.. the dude missed countless free throws that could of won us games. Good riddance. Time to move forward.. Danny Ferry got rid of the 2 plagues this franchise had.
reebok
July 6th, 2012
4:33 pm
I’m confused. I thoughtb the Hawks moved to Winnipeg?
BobWeiss
July 6th, 2012
4:44 pm
Tubledown, I’m not necessarily satisfied with losing in the first round either. However, a team will often get hot at the right time in the playoffs. It would have been very easy for the Dallas Mavericks to blow up their team before the 2011 season because they appeared to be a team on the downside. They would win 50+ games each year and flame out in the playoffs nearly every year. In 2011, they found lightning in a bottle and won a championship. You can’t get hot in the playoffs if you aren’t in the playoffs.
If the Hawks are able to use the cap space to sign better talent and win a championship, nobody will be happier than myself. I’m just not jumping up and down with joy about trading one of our best players for a bunch of spare parts.
superiorblogman
July 6th, 2012
4:51 pm
Good article. I was watching sportcenter the other night and saw that Nash is only a 8x all-star and was almost floored. Joe is a 6x all-star and people cheer him gone for the dream that cap space allows them to have. Once again, I don’t get it. I have heard it said before that selling a man a dream can break him. A lot of you so-called fans will end up down when you finally realize that Paul and Dwight are not coming here. Ferry is allowing you people to dream. He really has yet to do anything to put a better product on the floor. In this age of the internet you people get too much into stuff other than the product on the court. The true problem with the product on the floor is Josh Smith’s bad decision making and Al Horford playing out of position, but dream and and rejoice in giving a 6x all-star who may end up in the Hall of Fame away.
superiorblogman
July 6th, 2012
4:54 pm
Nash is only a 8x all-star. Joe is a 6x all-star. Joe may end up in the Hall of Fame and people rejoice in giving him away for no talent in return. You can’t make anyone sign with you to fill up all that cap space. Ferry is allowing you people to dream. You will wake up once it is too late to a nightmare. We solved nothing on the court as long as your best player, Horford is playing out of position and your worst shooter, Smith, is taking more jumpers than anyone on the team.
superiorblogman
July 6th, 2012
4:56 pm
Joe is a 6x all-star Nash is a 8x all-star. Joe could end up in the Hall of Fame and it will go down in the history books that the Hawks traded him for scraps and you people are so blind that you can’t see that just because Ferry allows you to dream of cap space.
superiorblogman
July 6th, 2012
4:59 pm
We did not fix anything on the court with that trade. Fixed more with the Marvin trade to be honest because Harris can be flipped again because he is a actual talent. As long as Horford is playing out of position and Josh Smith is making bad decisions this team is broken on the court.
Brad
July 6th, 2012
5:10 pm
There were a few times, few and far between, when Joe showed that he had the talent to be a truely elite player. During that 4th quarter of game 4 in 2008, he was unstoppable. Shooting 3’s, driving to the basket, mid-range, he was unbelievable. When he hit that 3 after breaking Poe’s ankles, me and my son almost destroyed our house. Unfortunately, for what ever reason, he never could come close to duplicating that quarter again. For those 12 minutes, Joe Johnson was a superstar!
Delbert D.
July 6th, 2012
5:25 pm
Steve Smith was better.
21shudbintop50
July 6th, 2012
5:31 pm
Well said Bradley. More an indictment on ownership than JJJJJJ…Joe Johnson! We can’t (or at least shouldn’t) -hate the playa.’ If we need to hate something, ‘hate the ‘game’ the spirit’ has been playing. Hopefully (uuughhh, did say hope, which is NO strategy) the Ferry move portends for the future.
21shudbintop50
July 6th, 2012
5:33 pm
…BTW. forgot to say ‘Much LOVE Joe!’ You were not a Super Star; but, you were/are definitely a Super player. thanks for making the Hawks relevant again.
Ted M
July 6th, 2012
5:35 pm
“My prediction is if the HAwks keep the team they have they will still be the 4th, 5th or 6th seed playoff team”
Dude, the point of getting rid of Joe was to free cap space so the Hawks would be able to get whats needed. Where the heck have you been? Did you just get connected to the internet for the first time?
donte080
July 6th, 2012
6:15 pm
Steve Smith was not near the player for Hawks that Joe Johnson was.
moorman
July 6th, 2012
6:21 pm
excellent article mark. the problem REALLY wasnt joe, it was the fact the hawks couldnt bring in another big time superstar to help joe because of his contract…………..
Native Son
July 6th, 2012
6:56 pm
I believe some people see Steve Smith on NBA TV amd think he must have been a great player. He is way more suited as an analyst.
tjhook
July 6th, 2012
7:45 pm
The argument of Steve Smith vs. Joe Johnson:
Steve Smith played more like the person we wanted to see lead our team. Joe Johnson had the skill and strength needed to be a star for us. I don’t know what player fans were watching, but Joe was a clutch player- made a number of shots during the closing parts of games. If anything, Joe was a victim of a persona that was created during his early years here. Woodson asked Joe to carry the team home when it came to the secxond half and Joe got used to it. Remember how he would lead the league in minutes played as well as shot attempts. That wasnt selfishness, that was by coaching design. Point the finger at Woodson and especially Larry Drew. Drew claimed he could get better team play out of the Hawks and unfortunately, he couldn’t quite bend Johnson’s mind to a new approach on offense AKA more motion throughout the contest. And Joe was too established on the team to be crossed by anybody else.
Joe was the most overall entertaining and successful ballplayer the Hawks have had since Domonique. I’m proud to say i was a proud jersey-wearing supporter (never brought anybody else’s) and thankful for his contributions. If he is guilty of anything, it is of foolish pride. He never realized that the team would improve if he put the team’s interests in front of his own, financially and on the court. He will be tough to replace.
Now Marvin Williams: he was a mess. Should be ashamed of himself. Could have been a much better player.
tjhook
July 6th, 2012
7:47 pm
Good article and appropriate, Mark Bradley. I wish you would have gotten more fact based in your assessment about Joe. Particularly, open up how Joe handled the ball so much for the team during most of his time with the team. And how that affected the lineup positively and negatively.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 6th, 2012
7:56 pm
He deserves a standing O when he returns as a Net. With that said, Danny Ferry absolutely made the right move in trading him. Not his fault that he was overpaid and his contract crippled this team’s ability to improve.
john
July 6th, 2012
8:40 pm
i usually dont like your writing. but you summed up joe’s time here perfectly. thank you for everything jj. goodluck.
tyger
July 6th, 2012
8:50 pm
Good Luck to Mighty Joe…
JJ brought respectability back to ATL…
JJ defended the NBAs best night in-night out…
JJ anchored a young, fragile, mentally weak team…
JJ took ATL to playoffs every season…
JJ easy target, double JJ, Hawks choke – simple…
JJ closer to NBA championship now…
Hawks will miss JJ…
He was not a vocal leader…
His play did his talking…
How many game winners did he hit?…
Who’s going to take that shot now?
Most neophytes too focused on offense…
Not realizing the defender JJ is…
JJ checked Kobe, LBJ, Melo, Vinsanity…etc…
Hawks are going to sorely miss that…
KakNiqueTree
July 6th, 2012
9:23 pm
Yeah suppose he wasn’t the happy go lucky sunny type but i liked that. The man seems not to have an ounce of BS in his body. As for the comment about the fans, you wouldn’t be happy when you get booed. That’s what sparked his comments in the first place. Wish him the best in the BK.
max j
July 6th, 2012
9:48 pm
jj–maybe the biggest waste of money in atlanta pro sports history. more dumb moves by the moron atl owners. it never changes in loserville.
Christian L.
July 6th, 2012
9:54 pm
By the time the Hawks see any benefits of blowing up this team Danny Ferry will be long gone. If I recall he has a six year contract. I predict after four or five years of being in the lottery he’ll be sent packing. Maybe Billy King will give him a job. Joe Johnson will be just fine, he’s in a better place now. He never fit into this town because wasn’t “tatted” up and had a normal haircut. He showed up and played and for the most part kept his mouth shut. Josh Smith couldn’t carry his jock strap. If Ferry gives this bum a big contract you idiots will cheer, but in a couple of years you’ll turn on Ferry for signing him because he’s a piece of sh$% as a player and a human being. I’ve lived here long enough to know exactly how you people operate.
BTR
July 6th, 2012
9:58 pm
Yeah, That BITCH johnson is the reason the Thrashers were sold, after asg LIES !!!
I want this team to move so bad. When my brother and I assume full control of our family Argia Business 1/1/2014, we will bring the NHL back and buy this team and sell and move them, Take that nba fans, We cannot wait !
StephenHarris
July 7th, 2012
12:37 am
Incredible article, keep the Atlanta sports dream alive Mark. Atlanta hoops forever.
Joe's #1 Fan
July 7th, 2012
1:39 am
I think the Hawks fans have been very unappreciative of “Joe da Basketball Player”. Joe put Atlanta basketball back on the map, made it fun to watch Hawks basketball. Yes, I believe he was overpaid. I’d rather had seen him take a bit less money so the team could add another star caliber player to the roster. That, and his lack of athleticism would be his only faults. I think Joe was/is and underrated superstar. Some bad coaching on the offensive side could easily been said to be the reason for his offensive decline. His teammates didn’t do much but watch most of the time. Joe is the only star that I see get beat up without getting any calls from the refs. He had to work for his baskets, and never got the calls that his peers as superstars received because of his quiet demeanor, and the head coaches’ not being outspoken. In this era of touch fouls, Joe rarely shot free throws otherwise he could’ve easily averaged 26 ppg. He’s the only player of his caliber that I see guarding other stars at his position while being the main scorer on the team. Most teams protect their stars until the 4th quarter atleast, by assigning defensive specialists to guard other stars so their star player could have the energy to perform on the offensive side. Joe guard other teams’ best perimeter players whether pg, sg, or sf. Takes a lot out of you. And also, people fail to realize that Josh, Al, Teague, etc would never have reached their potential if Joe was putting up shots like the other “superstars”. He was the team’s best fascilitator, best perimeter defender, best scorer. Even Kobe couldn’t do all that. Joe just didn’t get his share of respect from the league. I shall miss him, and will the unappreciating Atlanta fans!!!!!!!!
BravesFan79
July 7th, 2012
3:38 am
As someone who swore off the Hawks after they traded Nique, first the Mutombo years brought me back, and then it was along time again before the josh smith/ horford years came. Im glad the Hawks are where there at now, because a 2nd round playoff level team is alot more fun 2 root for than a 20 win team! The Hawks need to target a top level Center, Hibbert or Kayman, and build on what we have currently. Morrow is a top shooter and i think Hawks fans will be happy with the ex GT hooper.
SWAT Native
July 7th, 2012
4:11 am
@ MB – to me the memorable moment from that game 4 was Joe putting. Leon Powe on his BACK with a crossover and then stepping back to drop a three point dagger. After that series, teams realized that the key to beating the Hawks was to stop Joe and they game planned accordingly. Plus the Hawks wore Joe out in the regular season (he was always top 3 or 4 in minutes in the league). That’s why the playoff performances dropped off. Watch how he does in Brooklyn with D-Will.
I understand the trade, but remember Joe’s the only big time free agent that has wanted to come here since Dikembe. He gave the Hawks some good years and fans shouldn’t forget that.
BosnianBaller
July 7th, 2012
5:20 am
I am sad to see Joe leave.I remember all the crappy seasons before his arrival and what he meant for the team was huge.Who knows what the Hawks will be now it could be another 9 years before we make the playoffs again.We want Ferry to bring us a superstar yet he couldnt even bring a second player to play alongside LeBron James in Clevleand.
kelly
July 7th, 2012
8:04 am
Glad he’s gone, superstar or not. The best thing the Hawks have done in years is get Ferry.
Vchandler
July 7th, 2012
8:04 am
Newsflash; The NBA is not the NFL, you cannot “restructure” contracts.
haha
July 7th, 2012
8:43 am
Deron williams signed with the nets because of the joe johnson trade. Joe Johnson is a damn good 2 guard.
Avery Johnson is a great coach.
Jimmyraybillybob
July 7th, 2012
8:56 am
Well said MB. Joe did give the Hawks some much needed credibilty at a time when they were a forgotten franchise. For several years he was the one guy that kept us in games or won games for us. When he was on he could be rediculously good. But at times it was like he was didn’t really care. It looks like a win win deal to me. Gott a hand it to DF, he did something noone thought he could do. Lot of fans are excited to see what’s next.
ChipperBones
July 7th, 2012
9:09 am
Dear AJC, please give Mark Bradley the pink slip. His articles are pointless and every once in awhile I make the mistake of reading them. I know, that’s my fault, but still, he really sucks. Seriously, just fire him. Now. Please.
dre
July 7th, 2012
10:17 am
Joe didn’t hold a gun to anyone’s head to get the money he was paid, so lay off, you idiot critics. Thank goodness for the few quiet NBA stars like Joe…unpretentious, “unTatooed,” not a thug wannabee. Too few like him.
shake&break
July 7th, 2012
11:04 am
Way to build a guy up and then reduce him to a scrub.
First, to even say JJ was not even the second best player on this team is absurd. I don’t know what the love fest is with Big Al, but Horford is/was not a better player than JJ. Josh has more talent than JJ, but I am not certain he is a better basketball player at this point than JJ. When speaking of a basketball player you have to look at the whole package. JJ could play the point, was a matchup nightmare, he could play the 2 or three, he was a good assist man, he had a very high clutch rating this season, a high free throw percentage, lead or was a very close 2nd in scoring, had a calm demeanor and above that he played great defense. JJ is not a great athlete, but he is a good one. He does not have good explosiveness, but he does have athletic ability. Al shoots a great mid range jumper and is a solid rebounder, but is not the most athletic big man. He is somewhat mechanical and not a good defender, nor does he have a good to great post game or go to move. Josh has enormous talent that blocks shots, dunks well and has a streaky jump shot, but is turnover prone, takes bad shots and let’s his temper impact his game. Therefore, to say JJ was not even the 2nd best player makes no sense when the other teams (coaches devising strategies) placed double teams on JJ consistently.
Second, just because someone pays you the most doesn’t mean you are a leader. There have been may teams where the best player or the most highly paid player was not the leader. for examples see Doc rivers, Rondo, etc. On the other hand there have been may cases where the best player and most paid player was the leader and it still did not work. See Barkley, Malone, Ewing, Reggie Miller. Point being it is all about having the right mix of personalities on the roster and the Hawks were close. Al Horford was the Hawks leader, but not their 1st or 2nd best player. They struggled in the playoffs without him. Zaza was their physical presence leader and they struggled without him late in the season and in the playoff. But make no mistake JJ was a straight up baller, bona-fide NBA allstar and a clutch player this season.
Just remember it was still JJ who had the Hawks very close to beating the Celtics this year in the playoffs without Josh or Al available. I think people gave up too quickly and forgot Al (third best player on team and definite role player) along with Zaza (4th – 6th best player on team) and only true NBA center on the roster was out and that Josh (arguably 1st or 2nd) best player was hurt during the Celtics series. I also think you need to remember the Celtics had the Heat on the ropes. It is amazing how people so quickly forget and support their teams demise. The problem was not so much Joe, it was that the core did not get a chance to play together as their talent level improved. Josh was getting better, Teague was getting better, Zaza was playing better and Al was likely going to have a better season if he had not been hurt. Nonethless, Hawks fan’s could not wait and wanted quicker improvement from their core which was showing improvement before Horford went down. Now you are staring at a 8th place playoff spot (maybe) and the possibility that you will be bad for a long time again. The funny thing is you are cheering about this and excited. If you don’t understand what I am saying just look to the Nets, who have a billionaire owner (who could acquired any contract) and the fans are happy as they can be to get JJ (bad contract and all) and Deron just to be relevant again. Also, it was interesting to hear Deron say he’s excited to play with a player like JJ and that it swayed his decision to stay with Nets) Way to Go Hawks fans!!
Daniel
July 7th, 2012
11:55 am
Therein lies the Big problem. Anytime you pay Superstar Wages to a Non Superstar, you will be stuck into a team that MAYBE makes it to the 2nd Round of the playoffs.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
12:17 pm
I hope that in the future that our players do care whether the fans show up or not.
I will never forgive Sour Joe for that comment and he will always be the most unlikable Atlanta athlete of all time.
Good riddance and thanks for nothing. A symbol of why our hockey team is no longer here.
Good riddance, good riddance, good riddance.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
12:22 pm
It does not matter who comes here, the Winnipeg Jets will win a championship before the Hawks could ever hope to get as far as the confrenct finals.
Ferry has the right idea, but there is no hope, even a Young Red Auerbach could not turn this mess around.
I will never go to another event at the arena again as long as Geraon/.Levinson are around. I do not really wish this team to win because of the owners.
Timbo
July 7th, 2012
12:45 pm
No heart.
Timbo
July 7th, 2012
12:47 pm
Steve Belkin had it right all along.
Timbo
July 7th, 2012
12:48 pm
@dre
You also forgot “not a winner”
J. Shuttlesworth
July 7th, 2012
12:53 pm
Mark/editors –
You refer to Joe Johnson as ATL’s only all-star. Al Horford was an all-star in 2010 and 2011. Bring back Sekou Smith.
Regards.
DawgNole
July 7th, 2012
12:58 pm
mike
July 6th, 2012
12:12 pm
Big fan of Joe, hope he does well in NJ. If he was not around the past 7 years we would be nowhere. I’m not a big believer that every athlete has to be charming, smile a lot, etc. Just get wins.
________________________
Problem is, he didn’t “just get wins” either.
Go Jackets
July 7th, 2012
1:28 pm
Good ball player, model citizen, but NOT worth the money. Cant blame Johnson, who among us wouldnt have taken that money. I blame Knight and ownership.
Go Jackets
July 7th, 2012
1:29 pm
Good, not great player, Not worht the money imho. but who among us would have not taken the money? Blame Knight and ownership.
falCANS
July 7th, 2012
2:48 pm
Really it was mode than just his outlandish contract it was the fact he had the talent to be a HOF but he lacked the clutch gene and the undeniable will to win… also see VinceCarter
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:02 pm
Had Joe been more likable and not made snide comments like “We don’t care if the fans show up” he would have been more accepted in the sportsscape of Atlanta athletes.
Yes, a good player and at times a great player, but not a guy you really like as your own.
Once again, GOOD RIDDANCE.
Same with Marvin though that was more Billy Knight’s doing. What as idiot Billy Knight was. The Williams brothers of suck, that sums up the failed stewardship of Billy Knight.
He too was also an arrongant schmuck.
Danny Ferry has given the Hawks more PR than at any time since the ill advised trade of Dominique for that hamburger Danny “I cannot hustle my fanny” Manning. Man, I hated Danny Manning and Kenny the Snake Norman remember those BUMBS?
The Lenny Wilkins era was fairly effective but boring.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:06 pm
No main player on a team should make offensive comments like “We do not care if the fans show up for the games”.
Very good player yes, but very unlikable.
Ferry has given this team more good PR since the ill advised Dominique trade. He got rid of two unlikeable guys, Joe and Marvin.
And we got a good basketball return for Marvin. Also, Morrow is not a bad plaeyr.
superiorblogman
July 7th, 2012
3:32 pm
A couple of clowns can try to clog up the board with foolishness all you want, but you only show your ignorance by jumping on the Ferry train. The guy just put the garbage in the bag, he did not even take it out. Forget the dream about Dwight and Paul coming here and get back to reality and you will realize that people don’t come to the arena to watch cap space.
D man
July 7th, 2012
3:33 pm
Joes contract kept the Hawks from being good enough to get past the second round because we didn’t have enough money left to get a superstar player or at least someone who could,start.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:57 pm
superiorblogman–
I do not have illusions about Dwight & CP3 comming here, but I know one thing that I did not like this team as it was and a good share of the ATL fan base did not like a team where its main player did not care if the fans showed up.
This team was never going to get better as it was and we got rid of the most unlikable athlete in ATL history in Joe Johnson. He did not have any redeeming qualities as a personality or focal point of the team.
Once again, GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:59 pm
Good article Mark, too bad you are now always appreciated by some of the bloggers.
Disgusted
July 7th, 2012
3:59 pm
I meant NOT always appreciated by the bloggers.
KellieJenee
July 7th, 2012
5:38 pm
I HATE TO SEE JOE GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He came here when no one else would and made the Hawks contenders. It’s too bad he wasn’t appreciated more!! I’LL MISS JOE BEING A HAWK, BUT I’LL FOREVER BE A JOE JOHNSON FAN! GOOD LUCK IN NEW JERSEY, THE NETS JUST PICKED UP A NEW FAN!!!!!!!
As for Hawks management, they better find a way to make these changes work. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 7 years now, and I’m not going through another drought with the Hawks. I started taking my son to games back when they were HORRIBLE, a few years before Joe came. And over the years we’ve enjoyed seeing them grow. And that’s what I want to continue seeing…growth!! You sent away a 6-time all star you would think it would be an improvement. I’m assuming your not done making changes because right now it looks like an EPIC FAIL!!
nash
July 7th, 2012
6:03 pm
well said Mark but I still think the biggest difference for this team was Bibby’s second year and, Horford’s first. That combination changed the fortune of this team more than anything. There is another player similar to this Joe and, that guy is J.R. Smith who I don’t think the Hawks need to take a look at
Mark
July 7th, 2012
7:48 pm
My God…Look at the ownership…It’s f’ n ownership….worst owners in the history of sports…in the a) dictionary, b) american history or c) whatever chapter of the bible is written on this age, the current Hawks ownership should be an example of a) don’t do this or you’re team will lose, b) don’t do this, it’s the worst sports story of american history or c) do this and you will see the red guy with the pointy tail!!
Andy
July 7th, 2012
8:01 pm
Loved him, he will be missed but the move is the best for the franchise moving forward! Excited!
DawgNole
July 7th, 2012
9:03 pm
KellieJenee
July 7th, 2012
5:38 pm
I’ve been a season ticket holder for 7 years now, and I’m not going through another drought with the Hawks. I started taking my son to games back when they were HORRIBLE, a few years before Joe came. And over the years we’ve enjoyed seeing them grow. And that’s what I want to continue seeing…growth!!
_____________________
You’ve been a season ticket holder for 7 years and you’re whining about a drought?! How bout those of us who’ve been Hawks fans for their entire 44-year history in ATL–and who’ve never once seen them make it past Round 2 of the playoffs? Now, that’s a drought!
Tigermike
July 7th, 2012
9:26 pm
Steve Belkin gets the last laugh.
HawksKingBibby
July 7th, 2012
11:24 pm
Enter your comments here
HawksKingBibby
July 7th, 2012
11:30 pm
Touching piece M.B I remember being on vaca in Williamsburg and following the JJ saga, wondering why this trade that was supposedly done wasnt going through. I still think Belkin was wrong. Im glad Joe chose us twice actually. However he was slowing down and wasnt the player he once was. It really is a perfect time to let him go because that contract will hurt every more every year till the last one when he is a huge expireing deal.
rae
July 8th, 2012
12:21 am
I agree we are now a lottery team and I hate it…we had a shot ….now we should just …be thankful….http://chuuba.com/?p=40 reminds of this article… allen is gone we woulda had a shot at the second round
hawksfan
July 8th, 2012
3:15 am
well said Bradley. Although I am sad to see Joe go, I am really looking forward to what we can put together. Hopefully, we can start assembling a squad like the Falcons…
SR
July 8th, 2012
3:26 am
Not only wasn’t he a “Superstar”, he wasn’t even a “Star”. The guy wasn’t a true basketball player. Real basketball players play D, dive for balls, box out, rebound, switch, make great passes and play selflessly- this dude was a ball hog who didn’t dish when 4 guys floated over to cover him. Get it?
Happy hawk
July 8th, 2012
6:56 am
I agree with the article totally and JJ did bring something to the Atlanta Hawks. However, at the end of the day the type of millions JJ was making he was expected to put up big numbers. He has to understand that people want to see him be aggressive and want the rock. People wanted to see him take on leadership by talking to his teammates about bad plays on the court. He accepted the contract so he has to agree that kind of money will bring pressure on any player to produce. He is a good player and I wish him the best with the Nets.
GFJacket
July 8th, 2012
8:42 am
Until the Hawks get another coach like Hubie Brown who will sit players that don’t perform and put those that want to win on the court – - not just showboat their talent – - they will continue to be outside the elite of the NBA. It’s time to change the attitude and approach…
Hawkfan
July 8th, 2012
9:03 am
I will miss Joe. Really great fundamental player and not his fault Hawks could not attract a player to go with him that could some of he things he cannot do. Also not his fault Hawks overpaid. What he did control was coming to Arena and busting his butt to win and early in the 7 yrs that was only possible because he was here. He could D up against Lebron, Rondo, etc. whoever the best player they had he could slow them down. He was explosive scorer when his jumper was on too. Good luck Joe.
Still a good trade but we will still have to make this franchise attractive to top free agents to become a contender. Ferry gets even more accolades for getting rid of Marvin who I will not miss. Goodbye and good riddance to the Duck of Hoop
Ryan Aaron
July 8th, 2012
9:20 am
I’m sorry, but losing one player, even an all star and marvin williams does not doom a team to nine years in the lottery. That is a ridiculous position at face value.
Ryan Aaron
July 8th, 2012
9:25 am
Seriously; if they had just let him go as a free agent, you would have had people being fine. But because he wasn’t traded for a hall of fame player, you have drama queens saying that not having joe Johnson and Marvin Williams next year dooms us to being the Charlotte bobcats.n Get. A. Life.
superiorblogman
July 8th, 2012
9:47 am
Disgusted:
I agree that the team was not going to go far as constructed but I think we could have got a legit C and moved Al to PF and Josh to SF and really had a shot. Who knows maybe we could have actually used the mid-level exception one of those years to do that. I understand Joe’s contract was a problem but trading him for that trash we got does not fix anything on the court. Josh Smith is still a horrible teammate and silly player. Al Horford is still your best player and being forced to play out of position and we still don’t have a legit C. What problem did these trades fix on the court? As fans people should be more concerned about the product on the floor that they will pay there hard earned money to see. I get it though, no-one here is planning to go to any games or really support the team anyway just fantasize over the internet so your are fine with this bunch of misfits that Ferry has thrown together and will call a team. Look at it on the bright side, atleast we want have to be the laughing stocks with half filled arenas on national television anymore. Doubt if we have anymore than 2 games on national television this year if that.
skyhawk1
July 8th, 2012
11:02 am
JJ is a great player. It’s obvious that playing 40-45mpg will affect you come playoff time. We never had a true PG until we got Bibby who was already washed up by then. He would’ve been great with an elite PG, just like he will be with D. Williams. So, when you add it all together, I think both the Hawks and Joe benefited from this marriage. We couldn’t stay together and be happy anymore though. We (Hawks) got flexibility and a sense we need to make changes to be an elite team and Joe gets to play for an exciting Brooklyn franchise with to me the best PG in the NBA. Ten years from now we’ll look back and realize that at the end, this was a great love that had to come to an end. No hard feelings.
STRETCH
July 8th, 2012
12:23 pm
Well, Hinrich is going back to Chicago. Thats another guy from last season they dont have to worry about.
CONFEDERATE DAWG
July 8th, 2012
1:01 pm
JOE WAS THE MAN AND THE BEST THING TO HAPPEN TO THE HAWKS SINCE NIQUE….
PERIOD
GOOD LUCK JOE….
Vick Supporter
July 8th, 2012
2:57 pm
Thanks Joe, but it was time for a change. I think he did the best he could with our disfunctional franchise, and he did have some exciting moments.
He will be better off playing with an elite PG in Brooklyn. Now all we need to do is somehow get a Superstar..
DawgNole
July 8th, 2012
4:22 pm
hawksfan
July 8th, 2012
3:15 am
Although I am sad to see Joe go, I am really looking forward to what we can put together. Hopefully, we can start assembling a squad like the Falcons…
_____________________
Like the Falcons??!! Hello? They’ve been here 46 years (even longer than the Hawks) w/o a championship. Why would you want to assemble “a squad like the Falcons”?
HawksFan
July 8th, 2012
7:47 pm
Joe Johnson is not a franchise player, he will NEVER take a team to the championship. I am glad the hawks got rid of him, but i hope the hawks management isn’t reluctant to spending that type of money again for a real star.
elroy
July 8th, 2012
7:47 pm
Bradley was never a star & he should be gone from atl like johnson
Mike Geigerman
July 8th, 2012
8:12 pm
Good look Joe.. Atlant’ans will miss you way more than the realize. Much luck in the remainder of your career and we will cheer you on your return. A toast to you and your professionalism.
Mike Geigerman
July 8th, 2012
8:14 pm
Dwight Howard and Chris Paul come on down (sorry Al you need to be DH trade bait)
gcs
July 8th, 2012
9:41 pm
In Brooklyn, Joe Johnson can take his rightful place as #3. He was never nor will ever be a #1.
What will it take to give Larry Drew his walking papers? As long as he is coach, I am not supporting team. (It’s nothing personal. He is just not a good head coach)
kuhndog
July 8th, 2012
10:11 pm
I liked Joe in the past30 years he was one of the best Hawks.If not for his big contract which was a damned if you do damned if you don’t if we would have let him walk the management would have been barbecued..This was the Hawks plan this last negotiation if we won a title he would stay, if we did not win in the first 2 or 3 years we would unload his contract which was back heavy,now we move on.This is a business and JJ and the fans of the ATL know it.That does not mean I am not going to miss watching #2 he is damn good ball player.The Nets are going to have to gel and quick time is running out on JJ career I think the Hawks made the right move.
Kyle
July 9th, 2012
12:29 am
Joe was a solid #2 option….but the Hawks were never going all the way with him….Joe has been in Atlanta 7 years and Atlanta never made it past the 3rd round meanwhile OKC Thunder are only 4 years old as a organization and made it to the finals.
Steve
July 9th, 2012
12:33 am
Nothing against Joe as a player, or for signing the big contract. However, I have everything against him for blaming the fans for his playoff fialures. You do not do that to the fans who are indirectly paying a significant amount of your salary for ‘playing a game’. It’s painfully obvious he has no concept of how hard people work to scrape together enough extra cash to attend games. For him to go off on the fans was inexcusable.
His ignorance of real world families and people, as well as his franchise-killing contract make me happy to see him go. I have no doubt he will throw barbs at the ATL as soon as this thing is official. Just wait for it.
Joe Adcock
July 9th, 2012
2:32 am
Netys won 19 games last season? Sounds like where Joe “No Show” Johnson needs to be. Even a dang two year old knows how to smile. Ask Magic Johnson…
Yosemite Sam
July 9th, 2012
8:16 am
It was a divorce not a marriage with JJ leaving Hawks dumarse.
JJ got paid to score 25-30 points per game. He wasn’t good enough to do that. Every team has a top scorer,JJ couldn’t handle it.
HawksFanSince'89
July 9th, 2012
9:17 am
If Joe was a great player, he would have restructured his contract to bring in more talent
to get to a NBA finals.
Peter
July 9th, 2012
10:17 am
Ok. but isn’t he one of the highest paid players in the NBA ? i guess it wasn’t his fault about the money………..who would turn it down…..
But in the big games was he big ? The reality is he is a nice part, and if he doesn’t have to do too much, then he is a great role player, problem is there were so many other mistakes..all the draft choices………… Marvin Williams, Sheldon Williams, never getting a point, and or a center….
Thank You for Danny Ferry. Hopefully we can now win as a team..and forget the iso days of JJ and Crawford.
Atlanta has room to make some nice moves, and I think this is a wonderful new beginning !
DHD
July 9th, 2012
12:14 pm
Now that Johnson is a former ATL player, the AJC will become obsessed with writing about him. That’s how they roll. (See Mike Vick)
Honky Talkin
July 9th, 2012
12:28 pm
I cringed every time they gave our $20 million player the ball with 5 seconds left. Not a good sign.
PhillyRon
July 9th, 2012
3:50 pm
I’m a 76er fan living in Atlanta…I feel your pain in loosing Joe.
NBA High-5: Kevin Love could be reason for Timberwolves’ higher-than-market … | Kevin Love Jersey
July 10th, 2012
5:23 am
[...] Joe Johnson’s massive contract when the Hawks traded him to Brooklyn. Although he argues that Johnson was sometimes the only good thing about the Hawks, the Journal-Constitution’s Mark Bradley notes the reaction in his city, writing: When the [...]
Jason
July 10th, 2012
2:09 pm
I’m looking at the big picture. Joe Johnson was never going to lead us past the second round of the playoffs, and his contract was going to restrict the Hawks from signing the talent needed for a deep playoff run. His post season numbers were unacceptable for the amount of money he was being paid. Johnson is a good player but the mark of a GREAT player is making those around you better. Joe Johnson did not do that. This is an opportunity for both parties to start over. The Hawks will be bad next year, but a couple years ago Miami had one of the worst seasons in franchise history. They cleared the books and put themselves in position to acquire the talent necessary to win the NBA Finals. Patience, trust, and faith.
BBIB
July 12th, 2012
4:28 pm
Let’s be honest, Joe Johnson is one of the most underappreciated players in history
People totally overlook how he made the Hawks relevant again for the first time since the 1990s all because of his contract.
A contract that was paid by the owners not the complaining fans
And Joe Johnson’s contract didn’t stop us from signing any free agent because none wanted to play for us anyway.
Basically Joe Johnson was the victim of wealth envy during a recession. People had envy for Joe Johnson’s contract and that’s the bottomline
Because again his contract didn othing to hinder a superstar from coming to ATL.