Rumor:Suns might let Johnson walk?

[ChumpDumper]

No one's going to take a maxed out Marion. He's been exposed in the playoffs twice as someone who is easily shut down by anyone who plays any semblance of defense.

They're stuck with that contract.

I'd call Zeke first -- lightning can strike twice.

[JsnSA]

They're trying to call Atlanta's bluff, IMO.

How exactly are they trying to call Atlanta's bluff?

That doesnt make sense.

Now Atlanta going ahead and making an offer to Joe after Phoenix said they would match any offer...that would be Atlanta calling Phoenix's bluff.

But there is no bluff for Phoenix to call. Atlanta wants to sign Joe...its as simple as that. And they have the money to overpay a bit.

All that is going to come from these rumors that Phoenix might let Joe walk is that it will be even MORE likely that Atlanta will make Joe an offer...thinking that Phoenix is bluffing when they say they will match.

[picnroll]

One scribe specualted that somewhere before the trade deadline the Suns would move Matrix for Tim Thomas and his expiring contract.

[wildbill2u]

The salary cap is not rising as fast as the escalation of player salaries as teams fight to add stars to their squads.

New owners with lots of money are trying to buy championships with big contracts to FAs (example: Nash to Phoenix) and that drives up the price of players overall. As someone posted earlier, Phoenix now finds itself in the position of having to pay most of their cap money to a few stars on the starting five which would leave them with zilch for the bench.

That business model is breaking down. And letting JJ go may be the first sign of the breakdown.

[Kori Ellis]

Suns' Johnson starting to get anxious
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DIME Magazine / Dime Magazine
Posted: 3 hours ago

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3765426

Joe Johnson is terrified right now. The Suns are apparently having second thoughts about matching the Hawks' offer for Johnson. The Suns have a new owner and we're not sure that he's ready to s out the necessary $70 million over 5 years. New Sun Raja Bell is good, but not Johnson good. This story isn't over. ...

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[ducks]

if jj does not want to be a hawk why should he sign the offer sheet

[ChumpDumper]

$

[ducks]

suns maybe trying to call jj's bluff

[ChumpDumper]

Yeah, Atlanta doesn't have alot to lose at this point besides overpaying JJ a few years.

Calling a Hawks bluff would entail the Suns' offerring a sign and trade before the offer sheet is signed. That would push JJ's price even higher.

[timvp]

This should remind Spurs fans how lucky it was for the Spurs to extend Parker last summer. He got a six-year, $66M contract, which is a good chunk of change. But if Holt would have held to his guns and not sign Parker, Parker would have easily been offered something close to the $70M over five years that JJohnson was offered.

A 23-year old point guard with two championship rings would have made a whole lot of sense to teams like the Hawks, Cavs, Clippers and Bucks.

[usckk]

This should remind Spurs fans how lucky it was for the Spurs to extend Parker last summer. He got a six-year, $66M contract, which is a good chunk of change. But if Holt would have held to his guns and not sign Parker, Parker would have easily been offered something close to the $70M over five years that JJohnson was offered.

A 23-year old point guard with two championship rings would have made a whole lot of sense to teams like the Hawks, Cavs, Clippers and Bucks.

Yep! All you crazy people that want to trade Parker are insane.

[SenorSpur]

Yep! All you crazy people that want to trade Parker are insane.

Give the Spurs management and Holt, in particular, a lot of props for coming to their collective senses. Of course, it took some prodding from both Pop and TD to make it happen.

Again, NBA salaries go only one way - UP!

[mavsfan1000]

The way players are getting overpaid these days I was surprised that Parker didn't get offered the max. Joe Johnson is not good enough to be a max player in my opinion.

[ChumpDumper]

The way players are getting overpaid these days I was surprised that Parker didn't get offered the max.

He would've had he been a free agent.

[SenorSpur]

I would still trade him for Kidd, and even Marbury

Why the would anyone suggest that?

Kidd, abeit is a better playmaker, but he makes way more money, is a uva lot older and slower and - after 10 years in the league - STILL CAN'T SHOOT.

Makes no sense.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I would still trade him for Kidd, and even Marbury

Shawn Michaels, you're doing a very good job of proving that no one knows less about basketball than you.

Keep it up, you're working on becoming a legend. You make Isiah Thomas look competent.

[tophy7]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...s_time_marion/

CNNSI - Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen reports that Isiah Thomas might take a run later at Phoenix forward Shawn Marion, whose remaining deal for four years and $63 million could become prohibitive if the Suns retain Joe Johnson and re-sign Amare Stoudemire to max deals.

By sending Kurt Thomas to Phoenix last month for Quentin Richardson, Thomas essentially supplied the Suns with Marion's replacement at power forward. If the Suns are intent on wiping Marion off their books, trading him to New York prior to the February deadline for the expiring $14 million contract of Tim Thomas would be a logical move.

[mavsfan1000]

This is good news that Atlanta offered that contract to Joe Johnson. I hope Phoenix lets him go. They will not be the same without him. San Antonio and Dallas would be the top in the west in my opinion without Joe Johnson and an aging Nash.

[mavsfan1000]

The suns would be stupid to trade Marion because he is their best rebounder and defender. He is more important to that team than Joe Johnson. Even though he is overpaid they will not be the same without Marion. Dallas would own them and Dirk would go off if Phoenix loses Marion because Stoudemire and K. Thomas won't be able to guard him..

[exstatic]

Well, they've already replaced his rebounding with Kurt Thomas, and Johnson is easily twice the offensive force that Marion is. Marion is good on the break, and for spot up jumpers. That's it. He can't handle or create. Johnson can, both for himself and for others. I would even go so far as to say that they should have kept Q, and done the Matrix for Tim Thomas trade this summer.

I like Matrix, but he's a complementary player being paid the MAX. His numbers are inflated by the run and gun system he's in.

[mavsfan1000]

Marion's the guy that shut downs Dirk. No one else on that team can do that. Kurt Thomas would get embarrassed by Dirk. It already happened when Dallas was up on New York by 39 at halftime. Kurt Thomas is a joke on defense. Dirk would much rather Kurt or Stoudemire guard him than Marion. Joe Johnson is a great player but is just a role player. Marion's high flying game is more important to Phoenix. It also wore Dirk down to have to run the floor after every basket to keep up with Marion. Dirk had 23 points in 25 minutes against New York. That shows how great Kurt Thomas is.

[exstatic]

Is Dallas their target, or is SA? Oh, as for that high flying ? That don't get you a trophy. You, as a Dallas fan should know that.

Matrix is good, but Johnson has the possibility to be great. He's still unfolding facets of his game. Believe me, the BEST thing for SA would be if Phoenix lets Johnson walk on a MAX offer and keeps Marion. SA's game is defense, and Marion is FAR easier to defend than Johnson.

[mavsfan1000]

Is Dallas their target, or is SA? Oh, as for that high flying ? That don't get you a trophy. You, as a Dallas fan should know that.

Matrix is good, but Johnson has the possibility to be great. He's still unfolding facets of his game. Believe me, the BEST thing for SA would be if Phoenix lets Johnson walk on a MAX offer and keeps Marion. SA's game is defense, and Marion is FAR easier to defend than Johnson.

First off, Phoenix can't lose anyone if they want a chance for a le next year. Marion is more important to that team because there really isn't a replacement for a player that is extremely athletic and able to shut down players on the other team while being a tough matchup on the other end. No Marion means Bruce Bowen can guard Joe Johnson all the time. No Marion means Dallas can beat Phoenix. There are alot of shooting guards that can hit the 3 but there aren't too many players like Marion who can rebound that well while causing tough matchups at the power forward. Marion doesn't have to make plays because Nash is the one that does that. Not everyone has to create on the team. Marion can hit the 3 or take a dribble and shoot the midrange 2.

[exstatic]

Except Marion won't be playing the 4 this year. Amare had a snit, and now the frontline will be Marion at the 3, Amare at the 4, and Thomas at the 5. As for playmaking, Nash isn't the most durable player, or any kind of ironman. You need SOMEONE else to set up and initiate your offense. According to their budget, the Suns are going to lose someone, since they don't want 4 MAX or near MAX deals. I say that Marion, as a 3, is the smaller loss between him and Johnson. You disagree.

[mavsfan1000]

Except Marion won't be playing the 4 this year. Amare had a snit, and now the frontline will be Marion at the 3, Amare at the 4, and Thomas at the 5. As for playmaking, Nash isn't the most durable player, or any kind of ironman. You need SOMEONE else to set up and initiate your offense. According to their budget, the Suns are going to lose someone, since they don't want 4 MAX or near MAX deals. I say that Marion, as a 3, is the smaller loss between him and Johnson. You disagree.

Marion will be the backup 4 and Amare the backup 5 so losing Marion will shrink their frontcourt even more than now. This would force Voskuyl to get at least 16 minutes a game as a backup 5. This is what you are missing. Their bench is too thin in the frontcourt to lose Marion. They will still play small when K. Thomas is out. Bell and J. Jackson and possibly Finley can fill in for Joe Johnson though not quite as well but serviceable. That is why Marion is more important.