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they would be lucky to get back to the wcf without him
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3763758
Arizona Republic columnist Paola Boivin writes that the Suns may let restricted free agent Joe Johnson walk if he receives a five year, $70 million offer from the Hawks.
they would be lucky to get back to the wcf without him
No way!!! Johnson makes the Suns so much better!
They're trying to call Atlanta's bluff, IMO.
JJ deal isn't time for Sarver to turn frugal
Jul. 15, 2005 12:00 AM
Suns season ticket renewals are due Monday, but an answer on Joe Johnson's future isn't. What seemed like a slam dunk days ago is looking more like a heave from half court because of Robert Sarver's growing concern about his team's payroll.
Caveat emptor. As you write that check today, know that the giddiness hangover of the postseason has been replaced by a vibe of uneasiness from several Suns officials who believe Johnson's return is no longer imminent.
The Atlanta Hawks are expected to sign the restricted free agent to an offer sheet worth approximately five years and $70 million on July 22. The Suns have the right to match the offer, and many assumed they would in order to keep much of last season's Western Conference le contender intact. But Sarver is concerned about the long-term implications the deal would have on his club, especially when Amaré Stoudemire's contract extension kicks in beginning with the 2006-07 season.
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If Johnson returns to the Suns, approximately $54 million would be committed to Johnson, Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Steve Nash in 2006-07. With the reality of a salary cap and luxury tax - even when factoring in cap aids such as a midlevel exemption - the Suns will face challenges putting together a supporting cast. Sarver became a successful businessman by making decisions with his head, not his heart, and he has the bottom line and a profitability margin on his mind.
That's fine, except that the Suns have sent out signals for several months that closing a deal with Johnson was a priority. General Manager Bryan Colangelo said in April that "my priority No. 1 is to sign Joe Johnson. My other priority No. 1 is to sign Amaré Stoudemire to an extension."
Sarver has spoken many times of Johnson's greatness. Just two weeks ago, Stoudemire said: "I think the main thing right now is that we take care of Joe. I know Joe wants to be here."
Those remarks led many fans to commit money and emotions to Johnson's return. The Suns have sold about 2,500 new season tickets and expect to move another 500. That means nearly 12,000 season tickets to occupy an 18,422-seat arena, which could translate to quite a few sellouts.
Many of those fans wrote checks thinking Johnson would be back.
While some have suggested that Johnson might want to play for the Hawks, the truth is, it doesn't matter. As a restricted free agent, he belongs to the Suns if they match Atlanta's offer. And don't buy the suggestion that he could become a disruptive influence.
Not on a team with a unifying presence such as Nash. Not on a team that has a real chance to be successful.
Plus, Johnson's teammates like him and often have spoken in his defense regarding contract talks.
Which brings up another reason fans won't be too willing to cut Sarver slack if Johnson doesn't come back. The owner could have had him for about $20 million less if the team had signed Johnson to an extension a year ago.
"It wasn't the money to Joe in particular," Sarver said recently. "It was the money to the team in total not knowing what we had that was the key. Sometimes you make good decisions and sometimes you make bad decisions."
It's hard to believe losing two starters - Johnson and Quentin Richardson - from a team close to advancing to the NBA Finals would be a good decision.
And before they write any more checks, fans would like to know whether the Suns agree.
Reach Boivin at [email protected] or (602) 444-8956.
Sarver needs to get out the chicken suit and put it on. Who the pulls a stunt like that when an opponent has injured players?
him.
Two posts from a suns board:
1)
"On 910 AM, Gambo is reporting that JJ actually wants to play for Atlanta. That his agent sold him on being the man there ... blah, blah, blah.
He's also not happy that we backed off the extension last year and that it's taking him signing a qualifying offer to get big money from us. He also feels like he may not see the ball much with guys like Amare and Shawn demanding it.
I'm not sure any of this matters. We still can match and that's all there is to it. But it looks like we could again be seeing the quiet, young, talented guy on the team actually consider a crap team. It's Dice Part 2: Electric Boogaloo."
2)
"I'm moving my posts here.
Gambo is saying that JJ actually wants to play for the Hawks, because he wants to be the man on that team, and become an All-Star.
Gambo says JJ is furious over the way things were handled, because they didn't lock him up last year, and now this year they didn't offer him the max.
Gambo added that although JJ loves playing with Nash, he doesn't like playing with Amare and Shawn, because he thinks there is some selfishness with them."
Sarver must have realized how much jack he was s ing out in the next few years. In the end, I expect him to pay, though. And Marion get moved after this year.
I hope the Hawks land JJ, another excuse for me to go to a Hawks game. If JJ comes to Atlanta, that seals it for me, I'm actually going to watch the Hawks *gasps* live
(watching your hometown team get blown out by 15 in the first half is not fun to watch, I can stand losing by 5 as long as it's close, :p)
That's what I'm thinkin.
They already have two top shelf contracts in Nash and Matrix. You know Amare is getting one, too. They just may not be able to swing 4 hefty contracts, and still be able to put anything else on the floor. It was obvious that their short rotation didn't work over the long haul in the playoffs.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but I would have kept Q, and traded Matrix. You would have returned a QUALITY big man. From what I've seen, Matrix can shoot the unguarded 3, rebound, and run out on the break. Robert Horry can do those three things. Matrix doesn't handle particularly well, doesn't created for himself, and doesn't create for others. Nothing about that says Max Contract. Here are my ratings for Sun players from last season's upsides:
Joe J
Amare
Q
Matrix
Nash
Now, here's who I think their best players were:
Nash
Amare
JoeJ
Q
Matrix
Yeah, poor Marion. Everyone undervalues him. I guess Bowen does that to people.
As for Gambo, he's an idiot who knows nothing about anything. Seriously, he's a radio talk show host who blurts off his mouth constantly spewing out the most stupid things. He won't cite how he heard JJ prefers Atlanta and is now backtracking his comments.
The Suns will match the offer and they are financialy secure.
That is alot of money to pay the JJ I don't think it would be fiscally smart to do it, but they will do it.
JJ is a very nice player he would fit on a spurs roster but not for his asking price also I like him but Id love to see him try and lead a team like the hawks the 3s wont be as open so that 48% willl drop A LOT
what? JoeJo & Q better than Marion? Hey I opposed to the Suns having 3 invites to the 2005 All-Star but I think Marion is better than those 2.
BTW, Q is gone already to Knicks.
i just hope when the time comes for amare to sign a new deal he won't bolt to other teams such as Lakers, Minny or Knicks...otherwise the Suns' fans will pull all Sarver's feathersJJ actually wants to play for Atlanta. That his agent sold him on being the man there ... blah, blah, blah.
He's also not happy that we backed off the extension last year and that it's taking him signing a qualifying offer to get big money from us. He also feels like he may not see the ball much with guys like Amare and Shawn demanding it.
From your team's board
Shawn Marion: 4 years $62M
Joe Johnson: 5 years $70M
Steve Nash: 4 years $44M
Amaré Stoudemire: 6 years $85M
Plus Kthomas and Raja Bell
How are they financially secure?
mw21 - don't believe the hype. Marion's limitations were exposed in the WCFs. He's a creature of the running game, and when that is shut down, he struggles. He's a quality rebounder, and a good spotup shooter. Q and JJ can both get their own shot.
It's their own damn fault. They should've signed JJ to an extension last summer - they would have saved 20 mil. Teams should realize NBA player salaries are not GOING DOWN. DUMB ASSES!
trading marion instead of q would have been smarter
marion has struggled in the playoffs before
lossing jj would be very bad for suns
are suns hoping mavs cut finely and sign him instead?
maybe we should trade for Amare so they can afford to pay Johnson or we could use nash too
I know during the Kidd FA period some people wanted marion
I would laugh if Joe J went to the Hawks, would suck for the Suns.
He's a better reincarnation of cedric ceballos. He's a great athlete but is limited in most aspects of the game.
Amare should be first in both categories. Nash is not the best player on the team and Joe doesn't have more upside than Amare. Q. is not better than Marion. Marion doesn't get noticed for all the little things he does. He can run the floor better than Horry, and rebound better than Horry, and defends better. Your analysis is one dimensional.
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.
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