<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Arizona Republic:</div><div class="quote_post">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.</div> FULL STORY (bottom of page) Joe Johnson's future is a Hawk, but only if that's what Atlanta wants. Why? Because very fews teams have the cap to offer a MAX contract to Joe Johnson, and Phoenix is staring down a Top 3 payroll in the league in a couple of years if they're resign Joe Johnson to such an offersheet. Question is, does Atlanta truly want to sign Joe Johnson to a maximum contract when they have Josh Smith, Salim Stoudemire, Josh Childress, Marvin Williams, and Al Harrington? Where does Joe Johnson fit into that lineup?
Suns will match the offer If he even signs It. Would Johnson want to take a risk to play in such a bad place? I have my doubts. He wants to get paid but Is it worth It If the Suns don't match? either way,the Suns said they will match any offer for JJ, If the Suns owner is willing to have 3 young max players on his team then I don't see the problem with the high payroll.
I think they will re-sign JJ, but the owner actually would have a problem with that. The guy is a business man first and a basketball fan second, and that scares me.
Well he needs to think about something. Does he want to win? Is it worth leaving? I don't about him but I wouldn't take it
The Phoenix Suns will not give Joe Johnson a max offer, he's simply not worth that kind of money. The Hawks are willing and able to spend that kind of money on a player like Joe Johnson simply because they're not going to attract any big name free agents to play in their market. Michael Redd? Ray Allen? Those guys can get max contracts on winning teams, The Hawks don't even try and waste their time with those guys. They go for younger players who fly a little more under the radar and offer them the max deals, Joe Johnson fits that mold. Phoenix has a max contract on Shawn Marion. Steve Nash is paid VERY well. Amare Stoudemire is going to get a VERY NICE MAX contract. Kurt Thomas makes a good amount of cash. They still need to add some fire power off their bench too. Giving Joe Johnson a MAX contract is absurd. He's not worth that kind of money and he's not good enough that losing him will plummet this team's elite status. Why place your payroll amongst the top 5 highest in the league? For Joe Johnson? Is that Worth it? I'm sure the brass over in Phoenix don't think so. I'm sure it's more likely that you see Raja Bell or Jim Jackson starting in Joe Johnson's place...
If they do end up offering Johnson the max, trading Q might have been the biggest regret of the offseason for the Suns. Nash is a good scorer but he is ultimately a shooter, and they'll be lacking a slasher. Although I thought Q was overpaid, even that contract for him is better than Johnson with a max.. What a turnout this might be....
If we lose Joe Johnson I can almost promise you that we won't pass the 2nd round next year. He is very important to our team. And trading Q...I will never regret that. After the season I wanted the Suns to cut him from the team. He was horrible.
They got size for Q-Rich which is good, their starting lineup grew in size but they're still able to play their style even with the upgrade. Raja Bell will do alot for this team, with his addition alongside Kurt Thomas's your likely to see a much better defensive team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ArizonaSportsFan22:</div><div class="quote_post">If we lose Joe Johnson I can almost promise you that we won't pass the 2nd round next year. He is very important to our team. And trading Q...I will never regret that. After the season I wanted the Suns to cut him from the team. He was horrible.</div> ArizonaSportsFan22 we see eye to eye on many subjects. If we lose JJ then we are in trouble next year. Also Q was a liability in the playoffs because of his inability to create offense for himself, I wanted Q gone as well (I think every Suns fan did).
Losing JJ to the Hawks for the max offer won't be all that bad. The Suns still have Raja Bell, Barbosa, and could bring Michael Finley aboard. I think if the Suns decide to bring JJ back it means they will likely deal Marion in 1 or 2 years. There is no way they can afford to have 5 players with large contracts. They should learn from the Mavs that a lineup loaded with high profile players and expensive contracts doesn't work. The team already has a great trio with Nash, Marion, & Amare, they have added defense and depth to the roster so far. Would you rather have JJ around or Marion around for the long term?
I'd rather win a championship then trade JJ or Marion and start over I guess... after 2 or 3 years Steve will be 34... now is our time.
Marion definitely. I hate to see JJ go, but his value as a player versus the potential financial burden needs to be considered at length by the Suns FO. Hopefully they make the right call, either way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ArizonaSportsFan22:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd rather win a championship then trade JJ or Marion and start over I guess... after 2 or 3 years Steve will be 34... now is our time.</div> That's a really good point.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ArizonaSportsFan22:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd rather win a championship then trade JJ or Marion and start over I guess... after 2 or 3 years Steve will be 34... now is our time.</div> Yes I agree the window of opportunity is 1 or 2 years. They can afford to break the bank this upcoming season since Amare is still on his rookie contract. After they extend him though, then the Suns have some serious decisions to make, especially if they are not winning rings.
Joe Johnson is a freaking STUD, the Suns can't allow him to get away. Put It this way, JJ has improved every year he has been in the league. He is one of the biggest guards in the league (6-8) which makes It even tougher to stop him from getting his shot off. He is also one of the most strongest players you will find. He is tough as nails. He is a great shooter and the key behind to the Suns record breaking three-pointers made this year. He is a good rebounder for a guard where he averages 5 rebounds a game. He is a very good passer and in a different situation could average around 5 a game with ease. He is very good at creating his own shot and knows how to get open. He is going to keep improving and his impact will continue to grow. He may not be a max player yet but in say 2 or so years he will be pretty damn close. The Suns will not be a contender If they let JJ go. As good as Raja Bell can fill a role he is no Joe Johnson. I do agree though, the Suns will have a decision to make If they end up having 3 max players. Shawn Marion may be the odd man out but all in all It's not as If the possible 3 max players are old, they are still very young and have room to improve. It's all of a question If the Suns can get other good players through free-agency to come to Phoenix for cheap just to win a title.
Phoenix will reportedly match Atlanta's $60 million offer to forward <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Phoenix Suns aren't letting Joe Johnson go anywhere yet. The Suns will match the Atlanta Hawks' five-year, $70 million offer to the 6-7 forward, ESPN reported Saturday. The Hawks reportedly have a firm commitment to Johnson that they'll sign him to a maximum offer sheet on July 22, the first day teams can offer free agents contracts. The Hawks deal is reportedly front-loaded with nearly $20 million for the first year, which could be very attractive to Johnson. The reason is that the Hawks can only offer him a five-year deal, while the Suns' offer would be for six years at an estimated $60 million. That's far less than the max deal the Suns could offer, which could be as much as $90 million over six years.</div> <div align="center">Source </div>
i think suns will keep JJ. he is so versatile and i hear he wants to play point guard (probably the last remains of pennys influence... and jj told numerus times that he idolised him when he was young) anyway.. i see JJ playing the point a lot next year with jackson or bell playing the two guard when steve gets his rest ist just a shame that they will overpay him
I believe that Barbosa will get a lot of minutes at PG. He has been having a very nice summer league so far. This is his year.
i'm not sure about overpaying joe. I don't think the suns have that kind of money they should just start Jackson, pick up bell and barbosa behind nash. I hope this doesn't happen and that the suns can keep him.
I think the suns must keep Joe Johnson, unless they knew they were getting Finley. (seems unlikely now that they got Bell) I hope they sign Johnson, but I hope that he realizes that the Hawks will overpay him, and they Suns are a winning team and should pay his real price or slightly less. I think that 60 mill over 6 years is more than reasonable.
