[ESPN.com] Sign-and-trade with Hawks would net Johnson $70M

Joe Johnson also doesn't blow by you and get to the hoop, or able to create anywhere near Manu's level. Look at his past stats vs. this year. He's going to miss getting fed those open looks from Nash. IMO, Joe Johnson will go down as the most over-payed player of the off-season. I still can't believe he's getting the max..

 

That's pretty much what he said. He wants to be "The Man" in Atlanta and can't do that in PHX.

 

don't the suns get a HUGE TE out of this too? if so, that is a pretty scary thought.

 

Actually not as big as you might think. The differential between JJ's 1st year salary and Boris Diaw's salary ends up being around 5M. So 5M will be the T.E.

 

Not exactly. Joe Johnson becomes a BYC player out of this (though technically, not really, since the Hawks are under the cap. The difference between 50% of Joe Johnson's salary minus Boris Diaw ends up creating a trade exception worth around 5 mill.

 

So is Atlanta trying to compose an entire team out of swingmen? Now they've got the following:

Josh Childress
JR Smith
Joe Johnson
Al Harrington
Marvin Williams

This is absolutely unreal given the holes that they have at other positions.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/atl/roster

 

AHhhHaha glad I'm not an ATL fan

 

They get one of those picks next year, however it will be from either Boston or LA, and it'll probably be in the late teens or early twenties.

However that draft is gonna suck.

 

Joe Johnson can post up, he also has a mid-range shot, a good handle and is an excellent passer. He was widely considered by the Suns as their best shooter and 2nd best PG (when push came to shove). He is much more difficult to cover than you acknowledge--a much tougher cover on the defensive end than Q or Marion. He was the Suns highest MPG player (over Amare, over Marion) for a reason.

As for him just being a product of Nash, no way. In fact Johnson value was never more obvious when Nash was out or needed a rest. Further last year (as a 22 year old without Nash I might add) he put up 16.7PPG 4.7RPG 4.4AGP. We are talking about an outstanding all-around player who is very young, and potentially a star. Worst case scenario, Johnson is just a borderline star who has reached his peak and who has 6-7-8 productive years left, there are still lots of teams that would trade assets for him. More likely Atl got a star (though not a superstar) for a prospect who will not pan out and two middle 1st draft picks.

Joe Johnson and Salim Stoudamire probably will share the PG duties, at least for this year. I think if Atl can get Curry or Chandler they have a nice young team. There are lots of teams in worse states.

 

How could anyone laugh at the Hawks getting Johnson?He brings it on the defensive end and offensively he already wants that shot to decide the game?I agree with DS that many are selling JJ way short.With Nash and Amare,I believe Johnson's upside has been hidden and is probably at the superstar level....at least Joe's a perrenial all star.

 

Josh Smith, you mean.

 

I wonder why JJ didn't remind Amare about the night Yao grabbed 20 rebounds !!!

 

On the money again! JJ will do well in Atlanta. How well depends on how he handles a leadership position with younger teammates. This is something completely new for him.
If Salim Stoudamire is his backup, the Hawks are in trouble. Stoudamire is a rookie so-called PG who is accustomed to shooting. I don't see him being more than instant offense off the bench at best. The Hawks need a real PG to play behind and with JJ. I've loved Mike Woodson since his days at IU and it's great he could be on the cusp of something in Atlanta. But next year could be very rough for that team because they aren't well put together and Woody could be a fall guy.

 

Joe Johnson is from Arkansas area (so ATL will be closer to home). This is for the person who asked if JJ has family in ATL.

As for the question of PG, JJ is a legit PG and will excellenctly fill that role for the Hawks. To me, JJ is worth the money.....well if ATL over-payed it is not by much because JJ is a legit NBA star (and soon to be All Star. I feel he is as good as Ray Allen and Michael Redd, and both guys got more money. Yes JJ is a PG, SG and SF and he can do all of them at an All Star calibre level.

The Hawks will be a fun team to watch next season as their roster continues to take great shape.

They plan to have the following starting line-up

PG - Joe Johnson (6-7)
SG - Josh Childress (6-8)
SF - Josh Smith (6-9)
PF - Al Harighton (6-9)
C - Jason Collier (or possibly Curry) (7-0)

Bench
Marvin Williams
Zaza Pachulia
Salim Stoudamire
Tony Delk
Cenk Akyol


Just wow [at least on paper].

 

I see the offense going through Johnson,but don't see him being used like your conventional point guard.Joe's more like Kobe or Tracy,initiating the offense from the top or the wing with the aforementioned ability to post up,take it to the hole,stick the big shot,or find the open man.(making his teammates better)

 

I think that honor will go to Michael Redd, but otherwise I agree with you. Putting up 17ppg on a Suns team that averages 112 ppg would not normally net someone a max contract. Giving up two draft picks in addition to paying all of that salary is going to make the Hawks look really stupid, but then, they are the Hawks.

 

So "Did Amare himself play any (expletive) defense?" It would certainly be ironic or even hypocritical if Yao barked at Howard in front of the team: "Are you going to rebound the (expletive) ball?" Leader also leads by examples, not by his mouth only.