| Joe Johnson Jetting to Hotlanta? Authored by Patrick J. Austin - July 8, 2005 - 4:14 pm
Rumors are running rampant about the possibility of Joe Johnson signing a max offer sheet with the Atlanta Hawks. Johnson is a restricted free agent that many assume will be signed by his current club, the Phoenix Suns.
Phoenix, like almost every other team, has said they will match any offer for their restricted free agent. Though, you have to wonder if they can really afford to keep Johnson at a max salary.
The Suns already have Steve Nash and Shawn Marion making max, or near-max dollars. Amare Stoudemire is due for an extension next summer and it’s a slam dunk (pardon the pun) he gets a max deal. So if they were to match Johnson’s offer sheet, they’d have close to sixty million dollars per year committed to only four players. That may work in New York, but not in Phoenix.
Let’s say, hypothetically, the Hawks sign J.J. to this massive offer sheet and the Suns let him go; is he really the right fit for us? We’re already stacked on the perimeter with Josh Childress, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Boris Diaw, and Donta Smith. We’re in desperate need of a point guard and center, so signing Johnson would be rather puzzling.
Of course, some argue Joe can play the point guard position. He’s often been compared to a young Penny Hardaway, so that could very well be true.
But is he really up to being the floor general of a young, rebuilding team? Can he handle guarding the likes of Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Stephon Marbury, and Allen Iverson in the backcourt? Not to mention the offensive production needed (i.e. fifteen to twenty points per game). To say Joe would have his hands full is an understatement.
This is shaping up to be one crazy summer for the Hawks. I mean, who would’ve thought we’d be in the running for a guy like Joe Johnson? Whatever happens, it’s good to see we’re out on the market trying to acquire talent. |
