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I wont go as far as saying that he is overrated but he is certainly not a max type player. A lot of his points come because of Nash and when Nash is gone or not playing at an MVP level I think JJ's numbers will come down. Its hard for me to imagine how the Suns can pay JJ 9+ million and also have 3 other max type contracts in Marion, Nash, and Amare (probably this summer).

 

His rebounding and assist/turnover ratio is comparable to LY, when there was no Steve Nash.

The big difference is the increase in his 3-point FG%, which may be largely attributed to Steve Nash, but JJ could have improved his stroke also.

I would pay him if I had a double team commanding post game, but I wouldn't pay him to be my #1 or #2 option.

 

No, it is not Ray Allen money, who will get the max (like 6/90+mil).

8-9 mil average is in the range of Rip Hamilton (7/62), Jamal Crawford (7/56), Ginobili (6/52), Okur (6/50), Rashard (7/65), and, not to be left out, Adonal Foyle (6/51).

It is LESS than Tony Parker (6/66), Erick Dampier (7/73), Camby (6/57), Murphy (6/58), Brad Miller (7/67), and Arenas (6/64) .

It is WAY LESS Odom (6/72), KVH (6/73), Boozer (6/70), J Rich (6/70), Sheed (5/60), R Jeff (6/74), and Finley (7/102)--of which only Finley has a max contract.

Given Johnson's youth, versitility, and rapid escalation in game--if they get him for 9 a season that is more than reasonable (6/56, 7/63), anything closeer to what Q got (6/43) is icing (though a little unrealistic). Who wouldn't want an Odom with a jumpshot - 2 years of age OR a Manu - five years of age. I believe another team would have to offer darn close to the max for Phx not to match.

 

I've thought the same thing.

Nash gets major-max money thanks to his years of experience in the league. Amare deserves the max and will be given that this summer, to kick in a year from now. Shawn Marion already gets the max. JJ will want major bucks.

As good as the Suns are this year, they'll look to deal Shawn Marion within the year, and maybe come out of the deal with a really good PF and expiring contracts. They'll have to find a taker for Marion's contract. I guess that means calling Dallas, NY, or Portland.

So the Suns, as constituted, may not be around for long.

 

I have put the major contracts and major resigning needs of a few of teams in the West. Also, the Suns are in a bigger market than most and are probably fairly profitble. Because the Suns don't have deadweight contracts (Bradley, Foyle, Fisher, Wahad) or borderline deadweight contracts relative to production (Rasha, Dampier) they look in pretty good shape to me.

The Suns will take care of Johnson (probably 6/55 mil range), give Amare the max (6/80, 7/92?), and fill the remaining roster with cheapy role vets (e.g. Jackson, Hunter, McCarty), drafted players (Barbosa) and minimum guys through 09. Seems like a reasonable strategy to me. For example, seems to me guys like Nene (or Melo), Dunleavy, Mohammed, Peja, Terry and Finley will put their teams in more financial jeopardy and are more plausible than Johnson or Amare to leave their current team in the next 2 years or so.

SUNS
*Joe Johnson .......... 4 $7,547,514 '05
Jim Jackson ........... 3 $7.3 million '06
*Amare Stoudemire ..4 $8,288,063 rc '06
Shawn Marion ..........6 $79mill p-opt '08
Quentin Richardson...6 $43.5 million p-opt '09
Steve Nash ..............6 $66 million t-opt '10

San Antonio Spurs
*Nazr Mohammed ....5 $25 million '06
Brent Barry ........... 4 $19.6 million '08
Bruce Bowen .......... 4 $14.25 million '08
Tim Duncan ............ 7 $122,007,704 p-opt '08
Radoslav Nesterovic.6 $42 million p-opt '08
Emanuel Ginobili.... 6 $52 million '10
Tony Parker .............6 $66mill '11

DENVER
*Nene .................. 4 $9,832,676 rc '06
*Carmelo Anthony.4 $15,108,241 rc t-opt '07
Earl Boykins ........5 $13.7 million p-opt '07
Eduardo Najera ..6 $24 million p-opt '07
Andre Miller .........6 $51 million '09
Marcus Camby .....6 $57 million '10
Kenyon Martin ..... 7 $91 million '11

WARRIORS
*Mike Dunleavy ......... 4 $14,063,491 rc '06
Nikoloz Tskitishvili .. 4 $11,850,010 rc xt-opt '06
Zarko Cabarkapa ....... 4 $6,095,497 rc t-opt '07
Mickael Pietrus ....... 4 $7,893,020 rc t-opt '07
Andris Biedrins ....... 4 $8,208,776 rc t-opt '08
Baron Davis ........... 6 $85mill p-opt '08
Derek Fisher .......... 6 $36.6 million '10
Adonal Foyle .......... 6 $51.2 million '10
Troy Murphy ........... 6 $58mill '11
Jason Richardson .....6 $70mill '11

SAC
*Cuttino Mobley ........ 6 $31 million p-opt '05
Darius Songaila ....... 2 $3.36 million p-opt '05
*Predrag Stojakovic .... 6 $45 mill p-opt '06
Mike Bibby ............ 7 $80.5 million p-opt '07
Corliss Williamson .... 6 $31,500,000 '07
Brian Skinner ........... 4 $20.7 million t-opt '08
Kenny Thomas ........... 7 $50 million p-opt '08
Brad Miller .............. 7 $67 million '10

Dallas Mavericks
Tariq Abdul-Wahad .....7 $43.3 million p-opt '05
Keith Van Horn ........ 6 $73 mill p-opt '05
Shawn Bradley ......... 7 $35 million p-opt '06
*Michael Finley ...... 7 $102,265,625 p-opt '06
*Jason Terry .......... 3 $22.5 million '06
Josh Howard ........... 4 $4,258,523 rc t-opt '07
Dirk Nowitzki ......... 6 $79.3mill p-opt '07
Jerry Stackhouse ...... 2 $18 mill '07
Marquis Daniels ....... 6 $36.75 million t-opt '10
Erick Dampier ......... 7 $73 million '11