<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</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. 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. </div> Source
this would be a great pickup for us. joe has star written all over him. plus, he's a great playmaker, and could play PG. i think we have the best chance of signing him too. we'll offer him a max deal, and i dont think the suns will match, since they are going to need that money to sign Amare next summer... if worst comes to worst, we might do a sign and trade
He would be a great pickup, because of the fact he's a big guard, it would allow the Hawks to play Salim Stoudemire at his natural spot, SG. The Suns said they would match any offer for JJ, let's see if they meant it, because this deal puts them to the test.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I would like to see JJ here he would get his chance of being the star on the team.</div> yeah he would... and that would be a wicked tall backcourt: JJ at the PG 6'7" and Childress at the SG 6'8". they'd be able to get shots off at will basically...
I can't see the Suns matching if the Hawks give JJ a max deal.. I mean with all seriousness, where can they fork all this money out, and still keep Amare. Marion is already maxed out, Nash is close to max, then if they try to max JJ, there's no cap for Amare, plus they have an expensive bench. If the Hawks max JJ, what would happen in their pursuit of a bigman?
Well, the Hawks won't have to face the Cavs since they got Hughes and probably won't also go after JJ, or at least won't be able to offer anywhere close the amount of cash. Still, it seems like the Hawks don't have a clear direction with this move. They are stockpiling talent, but their pieces don't fit and they're going to run out of money. I know this team has taken a few hits in the past years, but it needs to play it smart. Singing JJ to a max contract is sexy because he is one of the best players left in this offeason, but not smart because of Atlanta's makeup. The Suns will be able to sign Amare and JJ if they want to spend the money, due to the Bird rule.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">They are stockpiling talent, but their pieces don't fit and they're going to run out of money</div> i dont agree with that. he's a talented playmaker who could accel at the point. and that fits great, since we don't currently have a passfirst type of guy.
