Suns in Trouble?

[bigbadred00]

Hot-lanta to the max

A player personnel source in the NBA's Eastern Conference tells us that the Atlanta Hawks not only intend to offer Suns restricted free agent guard Joe Johnson a maximum contract offer on July 22, there are people within the Hawks organization saying they're going to end up getting him.

And a Western Conference source tells us that the Cleveland Cavaliers will turn their attention to Johnson now that Michael Redd has agreed to return to Milwaukee.

That has to be a scary thought to the rest of the NBA, because a 24-year-old Johnson could play Scottie Pippen to the 20-year-old LeBron James' Michael Jordan.

The exact contract could be worth between $68 million and $72 million for a five-year deal, which is what all other teams can offer Johnson.

The Suns could offer around $90 million for six seasons, but we hear the offer they have made is for six years and about $60 million.

That ultimately doesn't matter if the Suns are serious about matching all offers, which they would have seven days to do.

One source told us that most teams are convinced that the Suns will match, but perhaps Atlanta and Cleveland believe that the Suns are bluffing in attempt to get Johnson for less money.

However it plays out, if the Suns are going to keep him, they're going to pay a lot more than the $50 million for six years they could have locked him in for last summer.

 

[bigbadred00]

If the Suns lose JJ, I can't see them repeating last years performance. JJ was 2nd in the league in 3 pt fg%, is one of their better defenders and is only 24. The Suns could match the Max deal but would leave the team in utter cap hell as I said earlier this year. If he gets max, Amare will definitely get max, Marion already gets max and Nash is making 10 a year. I calculated it, that's 55 million for 4 players, which is pretty impossible. Suns=1 Year Wonders? Hopefully for the Kings sake. Ain't big @ss salaries a B.

 

[Bballkingsrock]

J0e Johnson goes to Atlanta and Larry Hughes will go to Lebron's team, the CLeavland Cavaliars. I love the offseason!

 

[Bricklayer]

Think the Suns will match. So no, they're not in trouble if they do, but I do think that will put a crimp in their plans to improve through other player acquisitions. Their new owner is very aggressive, but I don't know if he is THAT aggressive to suddenly have to take on a new max deal and then just keep on spending. Might help the Kings in the long run by hamstringing an opponent.

On the flipside, vindictive ******* that I am, if I were the Suns and Atlanta actually dropped a max on JJ and made me match, you better believe I would be looking for ways to hurt that franchise in the future. Steal their players. Much up their deals. Draft guys you know they want. (all assuming they are possibilities for you too). Stupid little crappy franchise anyway -- who are THEY to be causing the Suns problems.

 

[funkykingston]

I could see this for the Cavs. They can run Hughes at the point and LeBron and Johnson on the wings. With all three being great ballhandlers and passers, you could get by without a true PG. Might be a bit tough defensively though. Hughes is a very good defender but I don't know if you want him chasing point guards around all game, every game. If they could still land a guy like Earl Watson, it would give them a lot of versatility.

But I don't see this at ALL for the Hawks. That team has gaping holes at the point guard and center spots. They already have plenty of guys who can play the 2 & 3: Diaw, Childress, Josh Smith, Harrington and prized rookie Marvin Williams. Even 2nd rounder Donta Smith is still on the roster. If they are really offering Joe Johnson a deal, they must have a plan to move other pieces. Maybe the Marbury for Harrington & change rumors have legs. Maybe they really think Williams is best suited as an athletic PF.

Or maybe they're the Hawks and there's a reason they suck and will continue to suck.

 

[bigbadred00]

JJ is really a 2. I'm betting they keep Smith at the 3, put Marvin at the 4. Get JJ at the 1. Thing is if the Hawks high-ball JJ, Suns will have to match it. In either case, the Suns keeping JJ at Max or losing JJ, both situations are bad for the Suns. I'm not crying for them by any means.

 

[Bricklayer]

I could see this for the Cavs. They can run Hughes at the point and LeBron and Johnson on the wings. With all three being great ballhandlers and passers, you could get by without a true PG. Might be a bit tough defensively though. Hughes is a very good defender but I don't know if you want him chasing point guards around all game, every game. If they could still land a guy like Earl Watson, it would give them a lot of versatility.

But I don't see this at ALL for the Hawks. That team has gaping holes at the point guard and center spots. They already have plenty of guys who can play the 2 & 3: Diaw, Childress, Josh Smith, Harrington and prized rookie Marvin Williams. Even 2nd rounder Donta Smith is still on the roster. If they are really offering Joe Johnson a deal, they must have a plan to move other pieces. Maybe the Marbury for Harrington & change rumors have legs. Maybe they really think Williams is best suited as an athletic PF.

Or maybe they're the Hawks and there's a reason they suck and will continue to suck.

I agree with that bit about the Cavs. If they were actually in the market and able to get Johnson, they would be set for the next 10 years. Just add in roleplayers to bang inside and shoot open jumpers, because they would have three extremely versatile young guys to handle all of the ballhandling, scoring, passing etc. etc. Problem is that you get some icompetent franchise like the Hawks bungling their way into the mix, and all of a sudden everybody else has to up the ante to the max to get JJ. Is there any chance that the expansion of the NBDL can include just trading the Hawks and Hornets down?

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

There goes thier 3 points threat if they do lose JJ too, that changes thier entire team around, chemistry wise they will have trouble as well.... Do it ATL, Max Him

 

[Evenstar]

sucks for the suns.

a max contract wouldn't make JJ happy in atlanta. that place is basketball hell.

 

[bigbadred00]

It might be basketball hell but they have a couple of good young players. I don't understand JJ, I thought Dalembert was a player more suited for there team. They got Harrington, Josh Smith, and goofy head from Stanford on top of getting Marvin. I wouldn't bet the farm on the team but if they get a decent coach, they have talent.

 

[loopymitch]

Unfortunately nobody wants to be a hawk, OK it's better than nothing(perhaps) but they had Payton and Sheed for like 24 hours and they got out of there quick. JJ will fight this tooth and nail if it goes down. True they do have some young talent and a big name could do a lot to help, but no-one sticks around long enough to help them. I'm not a fan but it would nice to have a team that doesn't totally suck for a change and can bring the bigger names. Coaching is part of the problem but I honestly believe if we got Phil, we'd still suck and it doesn't sit well with bball fans in this area. I'm not saying win the championship, I want the Kings to do that but at least be competitive and win more than 30 games, maybe 40. Sadly though I'm not betting the farm on it.

 

[bigbadred00]

Huh? He has a choice. All players have a choice. They don't have to take a max deal. He can take a lesser deal or avoid the Hawks totally, it's his choice. Sheed was dealt. I don't believe he had a no-trade clause, I could be wrong.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

Is there any chance that the expansion of the NBDL can include just trading the Hawks and Hornets down?

lmao...nice

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

Atlanta offering JJ a max deal is either idiotic or for the purpose of screwing with another francise. Either of those is inexcusable. The Hawks have plenty of talent at the 2-3, as mentioned, and I don't imagine they can get a hell of a lot in trade value compared to how good those guys are gonna be. The other thing is the fact that JJ does NOT deserve a max deal.

The Suns are screwed either way if the Hawks, or even the Cavs, can offer much of a higher deal. If I were them, I would DEFF not resign JJ, I'd just other pieces or sign/trade or SOMETHING. Signing JJ to a max would be the absolute most idiotic move the Suns could make, and they and their fans will regret it sometime in the next 5 years, I can promise that(not that I'd MAKE anything happen, if thats what it sounded like...)

JJ woudl be agood choice for the Cavs, but I'm not sure he would be the best. I think Hughes would be a much better idea. That and getting a good PG would make the Cavs a playoff team, even without bigs, like eveyrone says they need.

 

[thesanityannex]

Signing JJ to a max would be the absolute most idiotic move the Suns could make, and they and their fans will regret it sometime in the next 5 years,
.

Didn't they sign Marion to a max, that is more idiotic.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

naw, I think Marion is better than JJ...although signing Marion was stupid too.

 

[bigbadred00]

Guys you have to realize there are a TON of bad NBA contracts. The league is finding out how dumb they are and the league is self-correcting but they cannot go back on alot of bad deals.

Bad Deals Include:

Webber
Houston
Jason Kidd (Injury)
Finley
Penny
Grant Hill
Keith Van Horn
Jalen Rose
Eddie Jones
brian Grant
Tim Thomas
Antonio Davis
Theo Ratliff
Boozer

And these are just players in the top 30 salaries in the league, there are a ton more.

 

[bigbadred00]

There are also currently some good deals out there, alot are rookie deals.

Ron Artest makes 6.5 million this year.
Arenas makes 10 but it's a pretty good deal for an AS.
Maggette makes 6.7 million.
Camby makes 7 million.
Mike James makes 3.5 Million.
billups makes 5.9 million.
Big Ben makes 6.5.
Ginobili makes 7.5
Parker makes nearly the same.

So there are good deals, but they aren't very prevalent in the league.

 

[hrdboild]

If the Suns have to max out Joe Johnson along with Marion's contract and a likely max extension for Amare and that huge contract they signed Nash to and Kurt Thomas signed for three more years, they're going to be up in New York/Dallas territory with their payroll. I guess they really did have to trade Q-Rich. Replacing Richardson with Thomas already changes that team dramatically. If they lose JJ too, it's good bye run-and-gun. Basically they just become Dallas 2.

 

[tyrant]

That has to be a scary thought to the rest of the NBA, because a 24-year-old Johnson could play Scottie Pippen to the 20-year-old LeBron James' Michael Jordan.

you lost me right here

 

[hrdboild]

Basically he said Joe Johnson is to Lebron James as Scottie Pippen is to Michael Jordan. Or in other words, since both are so young, he could be his wingman for a long time. And maybe that means lots of championships for Cleveland.

I guess now it's Larry Hughes though.

 

[AriesMar27]

jj..... i dont feel sorry for the suns, but damn..... if they keep him, like everyone else has already said... they'll be dallas 2.0..... if the ylose him, what was the point of trading qrich? i would have waited until i had jj locked up..... but oh well....

i may be the only one but id doubt that lebron will be winning any rings in his career.... even if the cavs got jj and hughes.... i have this funny feeling that he will end up like vince carter.... he became popular way to fast.... i just dont see him winning it all, or even a mvp for that matter....

 

[funkykingston]

I think tyrant might have been thinking more along my line of thought, that comparing Joe Johnson to Scottie Pippen is ludicrous.

It seems that any long, ballhandling forward is compared to Pippen just as any tall PG is the next Magic or any white shooter with all-around skills is the next Bird.

Pippen's defense, playmaking and athleticism are on a whole different level than Johnson. I like Joe Johnson, but the comparison is way off.

 

[KingKong]

Only thing is LJ is no MJ. He reminds me a of a Dominique Wilkins type player with Magic's passing abilities and court awareness.

 

[Yoda]

Only thing is LJ is no MJ. He reminds me a of a Dominique Wilkins type player with Magic's passing abilities and court awareness.

Since Nique's (21 was one of the all-time greats- underrated) weaknesses were passing and court awareness, LBJ may become the greatest bball player ever.

 

[KingKong]

True dat

 

[FrenchCanadianKING]

jj..... i dont feel sorry for the suns, but damn..... if they keep him, like everyone else has already said... they'll be dallas 2.0..... if the ylose him, what was the point of trading qrich? i would have waited until i had jj locked up..... but oh well....

i may be the only one but id doubt that lebron will be winning any rings in his career.... even if the cavs got jj and hughes.... i have this funny feeling that he will end up like vince carter.... he became popular way to fast.... i just dont see him winning it all, or even a mvp for that matter....

To compare LeBron to that soft overrated dunker Vince Carter, is just wrong. At 20 years old, Lebron is already a zillion times better than Vince (who in his prime), and is already one of the top 5 players in the world. Oh yeah, and he's about 7-8 years from hitting his prime....

How is being popular, fast, any indication on a players impact , or lack thereof, on the NBA? MJ was crazy popular as soon as he came in the league and he didn't do too bad.

You'll probably think differently when LeBron wins MVP every year, earns as many rings as Jordan, and does some crazy s*** like winning the scoring title and the APG race in the same year or average a triple double.

LeBron will win MVP next year, he's a year older, wiser, better, more mature, more skilled and his overall production is gonna increase significantly from his already excellent stats. WHat do u expect? Hughes is in town. LeBron now has his "Scottie Pippen"...

I'm sure most of us will be sick and tired of seing him win everything and torch every team in a few years that we'll regret that he didn't turn out to be the next Vince Carter.