Phoenix or Atlanta?The Hawks traded: Boris Diaw and two future first-round draft choices.The Suns traded: Joe Johnson.
Well, considering how much Joe Johnson was asking for, I think the Suns made out great getting rid of him while still getting two first rounders and Diaw (who was just suppose to be a throw-in, but obviously has proven more) in return. Not considering the Suns were almost forced to trade him, I think the Hawks got the better end. Diaw is good and versatile, but Joe Johnson is on another level, he's one of the best perimiter defenders and scorers in the league. Either way though, like I said both teams made out great, but the Suns really lucked out with Diaw, he's a perfect fit for their system.
I say Phoenix. Joe Johnson is a real good player, but Diaw can play any position and has All-Star potential too, plus they got two 1st rounders. I think it was alright for both teams. Atlanta just didn't know what they had in Diaw, wow. But again, Phoenix got a future All-Star caliber player along with two picks for a good player who wanted too much money.
In my opinion, Phoenix won that deal. How? Well, imagine if Joe Johnson was around in the 05-06 season with the Suns. Imagine Amare Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas getting injured, as so... Who would have taken over the C spot? Not Joe Johnson... Not even Shawn Marion because he's not so strong to post up and play in the post, low-block... Diaw brought that with him. Atlanta sent the total package. Phoenix sent a great player who was traded at the right time, but to the wrong place.
Depends on the picks for me. How high they are and what Phoenix does with them(cost cutting ways seen from this past draft show they might be trading picks to avoid excess contracts in the future). Talent wise, Hawks got the better end of the deal imo.
I definetly think the Suns did. Diaw has a big upside. He should definetly continue to get better even with how good he was in the playoffs. He can do everything pretty well and I see him as an all-star in the future once Phoenix unloads some salary and he's back in the starting line-up. Those picks should be pretty good. One looks like it will be a high pick unless the Hawks surprise everyone this year. I'll take Diaw, who I think will be better than Joe Johnson eventually over a guy that's getting WAY more money than he's worth. I remember I was so pissed off when this trade happened but the Suns really got lucky.
The Suns. They don't need Joe Johnson. They already have a ton of offense. They got Diaw who can contribute defense, points, rebounds, and assists, and he is still very young. Last year was his first good season in the NBA, so the sky's the limit for him. They get 2 future picks also. Look at the Hawks. They are going no where anytime soon. Phoenix won this deal. They are in position to win a championship next season.
Probably the Suns because they can add more depth with the draft picks down the road at a decent price. I think people are vastly overrating Boris Diaw and his potential.
Well you didn't see him like I did. I saw him as the season went on and he got better and better. He was better near the end of the season than what his season stats indicated. He has a lot of talent and learned to be more agressive as the season went on and that led to more points and a sweet dunk over Dirk. If he can improve his jumpshot, because he really doesen't have one at all, I see him putting up some very nice numbers because then he'll be even tougher to guard.Another reason I think we won is being able to get Raja in JJ's place because of not having to pay JJ 17 mil. last year. Raja was better on D for us, he was much tougher and actually played injured when we really needed him. His shooting wasn't far from JJ either with Nash passing to him.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AliG @ Sep 24 2006, 09:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Diaw is not all-star potential. Im sorry but he will never make all-star.</div>Great post. Want to let us know why?
This helped both sides out. Joe Johnson is a leader/franchise player in Atlanta, and Boris Diaw is a great fit in the Suns organization. If the picks turn out good, and you know they will, then the Suns will have the better side of the deal.
I think the hawks did, so far. Diaw is an extraordinary talent, but he couldn't handle playing any pg, and joe johnson could/can. not to mention the pick they got was #21, which they traded away for a future pick, which will likely be in the 24-27 range (Cavs). And the hawks also have an outside shot at the playoffs, so phx's pick might not even be lottery. Joe Johnson will be an all-star for a while, whereas the Suns will just have a few pretty good players inplace ofhim. so really, nobody lost this trade. everyone benefits.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BCB @ Sep 24 2006, 10:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Probably the Suns because they can add more depth with the draft picks down the road at a decent price. I think people are vastly overrating Boris Diaw and his potential.</div>I agree... I think diaw might get a lil better, Maybe... Johnson will Keep on improving and getting better......
Joe Johnson has been in the NBA for 6 seasons and he got some good playing time every season. He's almost at the peak of his abilities and I don't see him improving much. He is not a franchise player. He's the 2nd option at best. He's only the 1st option on his team because the Hawks are terrible. And sure he can fill in for the point guard once in a while but he's really not all that great there either. Diaw can play more positions than JJ can. Once Diaw improves his mid range shot he can be put at guard too because of his passing ability and quickness. This is the first year he actually got some playing time and was a big part of the team and he played well. He has kept improving and it's crazy to say he won't get any better when that's just what he's done since he's come here. Every month you saw him get better and right now he's already better than what his season stats showed. He was much more impressive during the end of the season and in the playoffs. He should continue to improve, more than Joe Johnson will.
My post before this one so it doesen't get skipped:Joe Johnson has been in the NBA for 6 seasons and he got some good playing time every season. He's almost at the peak of his abilities and I don't see him improving much. He is not a franchise player. He's the 2nd option at best. He's only the 1st option on his team because the Hawks are terrible. And sure he can fill in for the point guard once in a while but he's really not all that great there either. Diaw can play more positions than JJ can. Once Diaw improves his mid range shot he can be put at guard too because of his passing ability and quickness. This is the first year he actually got some playing time and was a big part of the team and he played well. He has kept improving and it's crazy to say he won't get any better when that's just what he's done since he's come here. Every month you saw him get better and right now he's already better than what his season stats showed. He was much more impressive during the end of the season and in the playoffs. He should continue to improve, more than Joe Johnson will.New Post:Looking at the season stats, with 5 less minutes, Diaw was much better in rebounding, blocks, FG%(yes I know he was in a better offense but he was still a lot better than JJ there if you take JJ's % when he was here and JJ relied a lot more on Nash for the 3's). They were pretty equal in assists and if you take what Diaw did near the end of the season in 2 less minutes he only averaged 2 less points, but with a much better %. The only things Joe Johnson was really better in was free throws, 3pt.% and steals and he has been in the league twice as long. Diaw will improve..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Sep 24 2006, 04:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Joe Johnson has been in the NBA for 6 seasons and he got some good playing time every season. He's almost at the peak of his abilities and I don't see him improving much. He is not a franchise player. He's the 2nd option at best. He's only the 1st option on his team because the Hawks are terrible. And sure he can fill in for the point guard once in a while but he's really not all that great there either. Diaw can play more positions than JJ can. Once Diaw improves his mid range shot he can be put at guard too because of his passing ability and quickness. This is the first year he actually got some playing time and was a big part of the team and he played well. He has kept improving and it's crazy to say he won't get any better when that's just what he's done since he's come here. Every month you saw him get better and right now he's already better than what his season stats showed. He was much more impressive during the end of the season and in the playoffs. He should continue to improve, more than Joe Johnson will.</div> Boris Diaw is a nice player, I like him a lot. But you have to consider the fact that he does play for the Suns with that offense....which turns Tim Thomas into a 20ppg scorer...etc...Also, I don't think Boris Diaw could play PF/C for many other teams which hurts his effectiveness on offense if he plays SF/SG. The guy does a lot of things in the post (such a nifty passer down low). I just wonder how effective he would be in most systems, Phoenix is the greatest place he could have ever gone.
I don't think he's better than Joe Johnson yet but I can see him being better soon. Sure it helps that he's in the Suns offense and can play center, but the Suns offense mostly helps guys like Marion and Tim Thomas because of Nash passing to them. The 3-point shooters get better because of that and Marion gets a lot of points off of assists(alley-oops, perfect passes as he's cutting to the basket), but Diaw mostly created for himself. I think he could play PF on some other teams but probably not center...anyway, the reason why I said I don't think he's better yet is because he hasn't developed the jumper yet. But last season he was getting better and better at that and when he gets that shot down he won't be slowed down on offense by too many people. If he plays against guards he'll be too big for them. He would shoot over them or post them up, which he did a lot of this season. And if a bigger guy defends him he'll be too quick. Add his good passing and he's a pretty darn good offensive player.Even without the shot this year he was actually a better player or just as good for the SUNS as Joe Johnson was. Then you get the saved money(which helped us get Raja and will help out a little more as the years go on) and the picks and I definetly think we won the trade.
All I'm going to say that if the suns had JJ instead of diaw they would've made it to the finals. He is the most underrated player in the nba. Greatscorer, grea psser. Underrated defense.
Or he would've gotten the calf injury like Raja and cried like a baby because, uh..., the brace was too tight, instead of coming back... I think if Raja didn't get injured they would have won another game or two in that series and maybe gone to the Finals. If we had Joe Johnson and weren't able to get Raja and Diaw on the team then we would've lost to the Lakers or Clippers. Tim Thomas and Shawn Marion as our full time center and PF with James Jones backing them up...yeah... Raja's D was just as good, actually better and I praised JJ's D plenty of times when he was here. Raja shot the 3 just as well with Nash passing to him. JJ's the better player than Raja because of his passing but Diaw provided good passing and was better on the team overall than JJ was last year with us. I don't miss him at all. I'm happy with just Diaw instead of him even if we didn't get the picks.Diaw being able to play center when Kurt went down was big for us. I showed the stats and JJ wasn't all that much better than Diaw was. He would'nt have helped us any more.
That's what I was going to harp on. Diaw played the 4/5. JJ wouldn't. Our lack of big man depth would've REALLY shown had we not had diaw. Diaw's ability to be a big man(position versatility) is the key here.
