A max offer would make absolutely no sense when they already have Josh Smith, Josh Childress, Al Harrington and Marvin Williams. Why not go after a big man or a point guard? Does a Babcock still work in Atlanta?
I am sooooo happy for Atlanta that they've found their franchaise player. Jesus, you gotta feel bad for Hawks fans... if there are any left.
If the Suns lose Joe, then who is their shooting guard. Finley could be an option, but he is gettingup there in age.
I think you're completely right that should JJ take the max, it will mean deciding between JJ and Marion. In my opinion, that decision has already been made and it's Johnson all the way. Where I disagree is that the Suns would dump Marion before signing JJ. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't just sign/match Johnson first and then take their time and see what they can get for the Matrix later.
So Atlanta's best player is Josh Smith, a small forward... with the #2 pick, they pick... a small forward... and then they try to hand a G/F a max deal? Don't these guys want, you know, maybe a point guard? Or a big guy?
Actually there is not an ESPN article. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2103569 Only says "There's also talk from multiple league sources that Johnson is in serious negotiations with the Atlanta Hawks about signing a max offer sheet."
so now atlanta will have joe johnson, josh childress, josh smith, marvin williams, and al harrington playing two positions. wow they really know how to build a team down there in atlanta, i guess that's why they're a guaranteed lottery pick every year.
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/hawks/0705/09hawks.html Curry bullish on Atlanta? Center unhappy with lack of contract talk progress By SEKOU SMITH The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 07/08/05 A Hawks roster that includes both Joe Johnson and Eddy Curry might not be quite as far-fetched as it sounds. Not with news that Johnson could receive a maximum contract offer from the Hawks on July 22 and that Curry is willing to depart from his hometown Bulls because contract negotiations with Chicago are moving much slower than he anticipated. Johnson, a restricted free agent, had a breakout season for the Suns last year but reportedly received a contract offer from the Suns last week that was less than the maximum amount allowed under league rules for free agents. The Arizona Republic reported the Hawks intend to offer Johnson a maximum contract — five years and between $68 million and $72 million. The Suns can offer about $90 million for six seasons but reportedly made an offer for six years and just $60 million. But the Suns can match any offer to Johnson, within seven days, since he's a restricted free agent. Curry, also a restricted free agent, has recently resumed daily workouts after his season ended March 30 due to episodes with an irregular heartbeat. But he's made little progress in his contract negotiations with the Bulls. "They said that once I got cleared, they were going to lock me up [with a new contract], and that was going to be it," Curry told the Chicago Sun-Times. "But that doesn't seem like it's going to happen. It certainly isn't happening right now. It's definitely leaving a sour taste in my mouth. . . . "I never wanted to leave Chicago, but it's a strong possibility that could happen from the way things look." The Bulls are reportedly offering an incentive-laden contract to protect themselves in case Curry's irregular heartbeat becomes an issue again. A team like the Hawks could offer a lucrative deal without those incentives and force the Bulls to match or pay more than they are willing, forcing a sign-and-trade deal that could possibly include Hawks forward Al Harrington. But one hurdle in a potential deal for Curry is that he doesn't intend to work out for interested teams, a stipulation most teams are sure request before offering him a contract. The Hawks have maintained an organizational gag order on their free-agent plans. But with an estimated $24 million or more of salary cap space to work with, their status on the free-agent market is that of a major player.
^^^^^ agreed. i think something may be seriously wrong with curry's health, but he and his agent are still going to try and get the most $ possible. don't get me wrong, i hope he is okay because i believe he has the ability to become one of the game's best centers very soon but too me with everything going on, i think his health is a MAJOR issue.
It's true, but guys like Childress and Harrington could fetch some pretty good packages. One rumor (unlikely) is a package of Harrington/filler for Marbury. They got a nice backup PG in Stoudamire and they definitely need a starting PG and a C. Word is that they are looking at Curry. Just Imagine: Marbury Johnson Williams Smith Curry That would be a pretty good lineup, especially in the East.
On face value it looks odd. But not every move is in a vaccum! If they get Joe Johnson they put him at the 2, Josh Smith at the 3 and Marvin Williams at the 4. They then have Childress and Harrington to use as TRADE BAIT to get the PG and C they need. In FA, just take the BEST AVAILBLE GUY ON THE BOARD and then worry about holes later. They can always make trades to tweak the roster.
No, he is 6'9". He is more of a SF but I think can play some PF minutes, especially in the East. The Hawks want to run a more uptempo game and Josh Smith and Marvin Williams at the forwards is a pretty athletic pair. Then imagine they add Joe Johnson at the SG spot and perhaps Eddy Curry, or Kwame Brown or Sam Dalembert at center. That would be one athletic team.
The Suns would be so screwed if JJ signed with the Hawks for the max. If the Suns match then they are in salary cap hell for several yrs and if they decline then suddenly tey have lost their starting SG and SF from last year's team. If they do lose JJ and the Mavs cut Finley is their any question that the Rockets (with the addition of Walker/Swift/Marshall) would be the second best team in the West behind the Spurs.
if the suns don't want to screw their salary cap forever by matching on Johnson, then maybe they should work a sign and trade with Atlanta
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2104688 Well shucks. I was hoping Atlanta would sign Curry and Johnson and thus take themselves mostly out of the Swift sweepstakes.
