Johnson Tells Suns Owner Not To Match Hawks' Offer

[BOSS]

Johnson Tells Suns Owner Not To Match Hawks' Offer

30th July, 2005 - 7:05 am

Arizona Republic - Joe Johnson told ESPN.com Friday that he wants Phoenix to let him go to Atlanta.

ESPN.com reported that Johnson told Suns managing owner Robert Sarver this week that he would rather Phoenix not match the Hawks' five-year, $70 million offer sheet. He can sign the offer Tuesday, leaving the Suns a week to match and retain him.

Johnson told ESPN.com that the Suns still plan to match the offer, although a sign and trade could develop and would not have to match in salaries because Atlanta has cap room.

Johnson spoke out while in Toronto for Steve Nash's charity game.

"It's a lot of things," Johnson told ESPN.com. "How things were handled last summer (Sarver declined to give him $50 million for six years), how things have been handled this summer (Phoenix offered $60 million for six years). There's been some things going on that aren't great."

Johnson has not returned calls and canceled an early July meeting. His distaste for Phoenix is well known, according to other teams' officials. Talks turned nastier last week.

Maybe he wants to be in Atlanta cause he wants to be a star. If Atlanta gets Johnson, this will mean Marvin Williams will have to come off the bench.

C : Collier - Stewart
PF: Harrington - Gugloitta
SF: Smith - Williams - Smith
SG: Johnson - Childress - Diaw
PG: Delk - Stoudamire - Ivey

They still need to get a C and a PG. Maybe they can use Diaw as trade bait to get what they wants because their front court looks weak.

[J@3]

Lol at least now we know where you get all of your articles, they were posted one after the other at RealGM

Anyways Johnson's nuts, I'd rather make shitloads of money, be the 3rd option and win then make shitloads of money, be the 1st option and lose.

[BOSS]

Lol at least now we know where you get all of your articles, they were posted one after the other at RealGM

Anyways Johnson's nuts, I'd rather make shitloads of money, be the 3rd option and win then make shitloads of money, be the 1st option and lose.

Hmm ur right. Wherever he'll go he'll make a shitload of cash but if he goes to ATL he can be the star on the team but still have a losing record and when's he is in Phoenix he'll be the 3rd option and be on a winning team. Both are good offers so it'll be hard for him.

I jus noticed that all the good free-agents landed in the Eastern Conference.

Abdur Rahim = Nets
Hughes = Cavs
Jasikevicius = Pacers
Marshall = Cavs
Daniels = Washington
Simmons = Bucks

ETC.

[RxC6]

i still think that Hawks has too many guards.. still i'll be looking forward to see JJ play for the hawks.

i prefer this line up

Collier
Harrington
Williams
Smith
JJ

JJ can play the 1 2 3 spot ...

[Amphatoast]

Suns get raped if this happens.
They traded Richardson for a reason
They traded for cap space for a reason
now he wants to go for free?
Sorry but a sign and trade is needed here so the suns get something in return

[Fenix]

i still think that Hawks has too many guards.. still i'll be looking forward to see JJ play for the hawks.

i prefer this line up

Collier
Harrington
Williams
Smith
JJ

JJ can play the 1 2 3 spot ...

Yes, the word is that they plan to play him at the point - an idea Johnson likes.

[Indy]

I cannot believe it.

This is Al Harrington all over again. Choosing to play for a bad team and be a star rather then trying to win. I HATE it when players do that.

[maes]

Same with Antonie Walker, he asked to be traded from Dallas to Atlanta because of lack of touches due to Nash & Nowitzki being the core of the team...he felt being the 4th option behind Finley was too far out of it.

Yep it's amazing, they probably traded Q with the idea of resigning JJ, now if JJ bolts they've lost their 2 most productive shooters.

Real management meltdown in Arizona.

[Andrew]

I still think it's a bit selfish on JJ's part. You couldn't really blame him if money was the key issue - how many of us would turn down a raise? - but it's not really about the money since Phoenix can match any offer. And I suppose you can't really blame him for wanting a bigger role and to be a superstar since that's probably a dream we as basketball fans have all had at some point, but I hate to see players handling situations like this as he's been doing.

After all, you could argue that JJ's not really worth $60 million over 6 years and it's clear the Suns have placed a lot of trust in him and consider him a valuable part of their organisation. If he does go to Atlanta to be a star, he better produce or he's going to be the bad guy, not Robert Sarver or anyone else in the Suns' front office.

[Nel]

I wish that someday athletes would play for a team that they really wanted and not go to a team just coz of money.

[Amphatoast]

I wish that someday athletes would play for a team that they really wanted and not go to a team just coz of money.

he is, he wants to be a start with the hawks. Suns can offer him more money so money isn't the reason

[The X]

JJ is a swingman, so Atlanta is the right place for him....Suns will match offer so it doesn't matter....there's no way they won't match after letting Q go in a trade....

[Matthew]

If its what he wants, then fine. Its upto him. Don't hate on the guy becuase he wants to help turn a situation around in Atlanta.

Think about this way: If shaq wasnt traded from the lakers, and kobe decided to goto the clippers to try and build a championship run there would he be hated? Probably, but its not right. It just another perspective. Good luck to Johnson if he gets his wish.

[The X]

yep, ^^^ that is true....it's no different to a normal person finding another job with better conditions or even just for a change....

[Andrew]

It's not so much about his choice to leave, it's the way he's handling the situation. He appears to be insulted at what is a very generous offer and is publically denouncing a team that not only gave him a chance but is obviously very keen to keep him at any cost. It's not quite a Carlos Boozer move but it's still disrespectful.

[paseo85]

Thats' the brothers choice and im down for whatever he does the guy did mention he wanted to be closer to home. Thats what makes America, America you have choices.

[Matthew]

It's not so much about his choice to leave, it's the way he's handling the situation. He appears to be insulted at what is a very generous offer and is publically denouncing a team that not only gave him a chance but is obviously very keen to keep him at any cost. It's not quite a Carlos Boozer move but it's still disrespectful.

How can you say he feels insulted? He just wants to play in atlanta instead of pheonix...

[Andrew]

Perhaps using the world "insulted" is assuming too much. According to the original article, he seems to be unhappy with a contract offer that is quite generous, which comes off as being greedy and selfish; though it's strange as the situation can't be all about the money because he's willing to go to Atlanta for less than Phoenix can give him which makes it a bit hypocritical for him to complain about the money.

But mainly, it's the fact he's denouncing an organisation that is keen to keep him and gave him a chance to earn big bucks that I consider a cheap move. He's not just moving on, it's not just about him wanting to play in Atlanta, it's about how he's handling the situation in Phoenix.

[Matthew]

"It's a lot of things," Johnson told ESPN.com. "How things were handled last summer (Sarver declined to give him $50 million for six years), how things have been handled this summer (Phoenix offered $60 million for six years). There's been some things going on that aren't great."

Thats what Joe Johnson said. He wanted the extension last year (6 years for 50 million) and pheonix declined... I can see how he finds that disloyal.

He just wants to goto Atlanta. I dont see the difference between kwame and Johnsons situation.

[Andrew]

I can see where he's coming from, I just don't like to see players going through these public "divorces" with their teams.

[Matthew]

He probably saw how it worked with Lamar Odom and thinks he can pull a similar move...

[Fenix]

Who exactly could we consider to be a 'franchise player' on this team? JJ is just a superb role player, we can expect Childress to develop into one. Josh Smith? He is a elite athlete who can sell jerseys and tickets, but a franchise player? He has potential to develop a decent shot and his slashing ability will progress with development of his handle, but I don't know... He has that loser aura surrounding him. I could be wrong. And Marvin Williams? I saw two NC games this year and he is obviously a good athlete. Not in the Josh Smith mold, but still... But he still looks like a role player to me. And again: all four are swingmen and their natural position is SF. Hawks should take a gamble and trade some of them.

BTW, I'm positive that the Hawks are drafting Rudy Gay next year. There's no way that this doesn't happen.

[Matthew]

Childress reminds me too much of Darius Miles. If they do get Joe Johnson, I'd go with the following lineup:
centre: who knows
power forward: Harrington
Small forward: Williams
Shooting Guard: Smith
Point Guard: Johnson

[Fenix]

Childress reminds me too much of Darius Miles. If they do get Joe Johnson, I'd go with the following lineup:
centre: who knows
power forward: Harrington
Small forward: Williams
Shooting Guard: Smith
Point Guard: Johnson

Smith has no skillz to be a legit guard. I hoped that he would be the man of the summer league, but the reports say that he didn't improved a bit. And Darius Miles=Childress? WTF? Perhaps because they're both skinny?

[Matthew]

Smith spend alot of time at shooting guard in the second half of the season. He could develop into a McGrady like player in the future (not as good as tmac, but somthing similar)

Childress reminds me alot of Darius Miles. A world of potential, athletic, unpolished, with hype around them. I hope Childress doesnt turn out like Miles, but I wouldn't be shocked if he did.