Johnson Hits Court Full Tilt

Atlanta Journal Constitution

Joe Johnson slipped through the door at Philips Arena shortly after midnight Tuesday, bound for the Hawks' practice court with basketball on the brain.

His midnight rendezvous was much more about an insomniac's love for basketball than any nerves the Hawks' high-priced free agent might be feeling as he heads into his first training camp as the new face of the franchise.

"I love to work," Johnson said. "And I don't feel any pressure to do anything but what [Hawks coach Mike Woodson] asks me to do and help my team out anyway I can. I'm ready to go."

Johnson's late-night workout, which lasted more than two hours, likely will be his last foray at Philips without anyone watching. The scrutiny intensifies this week. The Hawks begin training camp Tuesday with hopes of a miraculous turnaround from last season's dismal 13-69 finish.

Johnson will be expected to spearhead that turnaround as the Hawks' leader and starting point guard, two new and significant wrinkles for the 24-year-old budding star as he enters his fifth NBA season.

"I just think we're talking about a kid with a different mind-set," said Woodson, set to begin his second season with the Hawks and as a head coach. "We're talking about a guy that wanted to go somewhere and establish himself, to the point where he can make a difference and that difference being the start of something special for the Atlanta Hawks.

"I think it goes without saying that Joe is a huge piece to what we're trying to do in terms of turning this thing around and ultimately making the playoffs, which is the bottom line and why I'm here."

The risk was great for both sides. The Hawks' $70 million contract offer, with a whopping $20 million front-loaded payout in the first season, forced the sign-and-trade deal with Phoenix that brought Johnson to town. It also served as the impetus of an ownership struggle that led to the ouster of part owner Steve Belkin.

But the desperate need to resuscitate a franchise often calls for desperate measures.

Johnson also could have stayed in Phoenix, with a team already stocked with talent, including reigning league MVP Steve Nash, a team already on the cusp of playing for an NBA title.

But he would have had to swallow his pride to do so, accepting a lesser role --- compared with in Atlanta --- with Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion's names all on the marquee above his own.

"I don't agree that it's a risk either way," Woodson said. "It's all relative. The fact is Joe was right there with Ray Allen, Michael Redd and Larry Hughes at the top of the free agent class. Are they all worth max dollars? I don't know. But to get them, to get a good bona fide player, you have to pay the max dollar. And if you don't somebody else will.

Source