Atlanta may not have a ton of leverage in a SnT scenario. If JJ is leaving regardless, they're better off taking Ariza (or Battier could work too to reduce a swingman glut)/whatever package than just to watch him walk. Ariza is a serviceable young player; I don't see why ATL wouldn't be able to use him on the court or in another trade. A lot has to happen to make that a reality, but it isn't an impossibility. In any case, he wouldn't be my first choice, but if we strike out on other options, I wouldn't pass on trying to pick up JJ because of a swingman glut, as roslolian was suggesting. Having too many good players is a good problem to have.
If I'm Atlanta, I'd probably rather fenagle Wilson Chandler (making only $2.13M next year) and a future first round pick (or even swap rights) with the Knicks before agreeing to take on the approximately $13.2M in additional salary it would take to deal with Houston. Unlike Toronto, I just don't think Atlanta will have much need for the players that the Rockets would need to include in a sign-and-trade deal (including at least one out of Battier, Ariza or Jeffries) with their already loaded frontcourt. I just don't think Joe Johnson is in the cards for the Rockets. Sorry.
LOL Bosh is a beast man and can be the focal point of a winning team.. theres a reason he played more minutes and in the 4th quarter in the olympics over dwight howard.. hes a player that u can win with if surrounded with an actual team
What future first round pick? The Knicks traded their 2012 pick, so they can't also trade their 2011 pick (unless they trade something for a 2011 or 2012 pick first), isn't the earlier pick they can trade a 2013 or 2014 pick? I guess they can trade for the right to swap the Hawks pick for the lower of the Houston and Knicks picks.
It's the Rockets that don't have leverage because they can't give the Hawks anything they would want. Ariza + filler and draft picks ain't gonna do it. The notion of JJ coming here is fantasy. If a SnT happens for JJ, the Rockets won't be the team making a trade with the Hawks.
Joe Johnson is a free agent this offseason. If he doesn't want to go to New York, Atlanta can't trade him there. Johnson has leverage in deciding where he wants to go. ATL can block him from coming to Houston, but they can't just shop him around like an asset. So, I think it is reasonable to think Johnson is gettable.
We don't need JJ we have Martin. And to all the haters, he just GOT here. Damn people need to learn to be patient these days
True, but this entire thread was in the context of Joe Johnson stating publicly that he'd be willing to go to New York. My point is that I don't think Atlanta would agree to any plausible sign-and-trade scenario with the Rockets for Joe Johnson (unless Houston completely empties out its treasure trove of assets, which Johnson just isn't worth). So Johnson wanting to come to Houston is basically a moot point.
