At this time there are a ton of players people would be willing to take over T-Mac. Consistent productivity over the season and playoffs > Great productivity for only a few games!
Joe Johnson played 79 games last season and averaged: 21.4 ppg 4.4 rpg 5.8 apg 44% from the field 36% 3 point 83% free throw We can only hope that McGrady comes back and gives the Rockets anything close to those numbers but don't count on it. For everyone holding out for Wade or Lebron stop. It isn't happening so we need to start hoping this team can realistically land a 2nd tier All Star player like Joe Johnson. Youth and durability being mandatory as well provided it's more than a 3 year deal. McGrady in his prime was miles better than Joe Johnson is now. Hell, he was light years better than everyone in the league except Kobe, Lebron and Wade. That was years ago. It's time to stop living in the past, stop wishing and stop making excuses and accept that this team is not going to land nor to they need a player of that caliber. What they do need is for Yao to get healthy (or replace him) and to bring in a wing player who can score and create.
Exactly! This is right on point. Be sure that you skim thru this post A Beezy, it'll clear up a lot of what you're thinking Tracy McGrady still is.
It could be part of their master plan to move up in the 2010 draft and personally I think it would help them there (if that was their goal).
Joe is good but he is not a player that you build a championship team around. While Tracy may not be what he was a few years ago, he brings more versatility and natural ability to the table than JJ. In my opinion, JJ is the perfect complement on a team that has two other frontline stars. He is the guy I would have targeted last year instead of Artest and it is my opinion that he would have helped the team from the offensive standpoint that Artest failed the team during the playoffs. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't make that trade if it was a viable trade option. Now if it was Battier and a couple of our role players, or if Atlanta was offering Josh Smith then I would be all for considering it.
I'd love to have Joe Johnson on this team. I don't think they trade him, but lose him this offseason. He seems to be the type of player that Morey would go for. I don't know that he'll get max money, and if Morey could swoop in on a good value, that'd be great.
I don't know what attendance is like in ATL, but I would assume this would be one of those trades where ATL has to pay up front to complete the trade (losing JJ) but they gain at the end of the year when T-mac comes off the books. T-mac's cost is going downward after this year and JJ's is going up (I suspect he's going to GET PAID by someone on the next contract). It seems to me that this would be "the trade" that we've been hoping for where a team that's hurting financially and going nowhere takes T-mac in order to cut back after this year (or make a run at stud next year depending on the team in question). That said, I FREAKING LOVE JJ AND WOULD DYE MY BODY RED AND GOLD IF THEY SIGNED HIM. Please don't tell my wife I said this. I hope I spelled everything right. To lazy to use spellcheck.
While I would probably do it, I think we need to step back and look at our team strategy. Its obvious we are committed to Yao and thus far we have tried to pair him with explosive wing players, neither of which have put us over the top. Maybe we should mix it up and try and get either an explosive PG or PF.
These people saying JJ stinks in the playoffs really need to do some research before they speak up. I mean, really. He was absolutely incredible two years ago when the Hawks took that heavily favored Celtics team to seven games. Same with his last year in Phoenix that ultimately helped earn him that mega contract from Atlanta. The guy can play. And he wasn't BAD this past season -- like everybody seems to be implying. Just because he couldn't go toe-to-toe with the best player in the league while half of his team was injured is NO reason to condemn him.
let's make one something clear kids. Joe Johnson is a GOOD basketball player. Dave put the stats up like anyone was arguing his play. He is an all star.. so he is good. BUT Tmac brings a lot more to the rockets both on the court, and contract wise. The HOPE that tmac might be able to come back and play pretty good... is a better than to have a joe johnson. there is no reason why the rockets would make this trade. this organization does not want to win playoff series...they wanna win championships. Therefore Tracy gives them a better shot than Joe could. He IS a tremendous player.. jst not what the rockets need both on or off the court. tht simple. not stats needed. PHX found out that out about Joe... ATL sees it.. he is NOT a superstar.
First, no one said he is a bad player, but someone said that he was a better playoff performer than tmac which clearly is not true. And Johnson's stats did all drop significantly across the board. He is a 1a/1b option on a mediocre team in the east. He is a very good player, but to say he outperforms tmac in the playoffs is just absurd
Like I keep telling you, McGrady has not been the player you're describing in quite some time. He has had multiple surgeries and is 30 with tons of mileage on his legs. You keep talking like the guy has value on the court but nobody knows what he will be like when he gets back. What we do know is players his age who have major surgery (and an injury history) tend to never return to their top form. I saw you mentioned me listing Joe Johnson's stats and thought that was pointless. Can you tell me McGrady's stats from last season? See my point. I'm comparing production while you're comparing potential and the potential for McGrady over the next 3 years isn't good. Certainly not as good as a guy who is 28, healthy and just averaged 21/5/6 for a season. You need to put the pipe down if you think anyone in the league would take McGrady over Joe Johnson at this point. One guy is in the middle of his prime while the other is several years removed from his and fading fast.
There were a few posters that implied he couldn't get the job done in the playoffs which is, quite frankly, ignorant to say such things. I follow the Hawks closely and I know what he has done, what he hasn't done and what he's capable of. I choose not to participate in this T-Mac vs. JJ absurdity. Just don't expect to get away with making false and blanket statements about the Hawks when I am around. By you labeling them mediocre (again, consult a dictionary) you are swimming in the very pool of ignorance that I am talking about. No, the Hawks aren't as good as Cleveland/Orlando/Boston but when healthy they can give any of those teams a run for their money. They did it two years ago and would have done it last year if everybody was healthy.
Here is what is blowing me away; you are willing to overlook the fact that, Joe Johnson played 79 games last season and averaged: 21.4 ppg 4.4 rpg 5.8 apg 44% from the field 36% 3 point 83% free throw In exchange for "versatility and natural ability", vested in Tracy McGrady no less. Furthermore, you would be willing to package a combination of "Battier and a couple of our role players"? Seriously, crack kills. I'm sure someone on this board works for Houston Crack Heads Anonymous, HCHA, that would be more than willing to help.
Exactly. Seriously folks, Tracy McGrady is a step away from being this guy: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=0376
Uptill 07-08 mcgrady was the better player. but with JJ's age and tmacs age and mileage on he's legs you have to be nuts to turn this down
LOL. I would run for joy. I would run and skip to my lou for joy. I would have another child and name him Joy Johnson #2 because I would have already changed the oldest sons name to Joy Johnson #1. I would laugh and the world would laugh with me. It would be awesome. Seriously guys...Morey get'r done.
