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Alright I didnt see it posted but I am somewhat of a Pistons fan.

wrote:It was after watching his veteran core tire during their fifth consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference finals last season that Detroit GM Joe Dumars let coach Flip Saunders know it was imperative they expand the roles of Maxiell and Johnson. Johnson even spurned more money from the San Antonio Spurs to re-sign with the Pistons because Dumars promised him more minutes.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... &type=lgns

More money, play next to Duncan, and compete for championships...I would have taken San Antonio. I don't think he stayed here because Joe promised more playing time. I just think because the Kid is so young he chose the place he was more comfortable at.

I don't think this is entirely accurate. I could be remembering wrong, but I think the Spurs "more money" was actually less per year but with an extra year added on. So not only will Amir make more per year w/ us, but it's actually beneficial to him to get out of this contract sooner, assuming he performs. Somebody will wanna pay the kid.

Amir wanted to stay in Detroit, were he started his career. What can you say the kid is loyal.

His agent probably advised him to stay put and earn a better contract sooner on a shorter contract.

If were Amir during that time, I would have been more apprehensive about staying put (knowing what he knew then about young guys and PT in Detroit). Im guessing Dumars promised him a role this season to get him to stay. In fact, I may have even heard that from somewhere.

Pistons#1 wrote: In fact, I may have even heard that from somewhere.

I am sure you heard that from somewhere.

Pistons#1 wrote:His agent probably advised him to stay put and earn a better contract sooner on a shorter contract.

Totally. Young guys always take more $ per year in shorter lengths to earn raises.

I think San Antonio offered a longer deal, the Pistons offered a shorter deal but with more money a year, the Spurs deal in the contract together would be more but he gets basically more money here.

m23uza1hem36 wrote:I think San Antonio offered a longer deal, the Pistons offered a shorter deal but with more money a year, the Spurs deal in the contract together would be more but he gets basically more money here.

Thanks for clearing that up.

In essence, to say that he turned down an opportunity to play in San Antonio is a falacy. Remember, he was a restricted free agent and Dumars would have matched that contract, so he was staying in Detroit no matter what. At that point it became a decision for Amir and his agent to decide which contract they wanted.

I wonder what his next contract is going to look like?

Hunter wrote:I don't think this is entirely accurate. I could be remembering wrong, but I think the Spurs "more money" was actually less per year but with an extra year added on. So not only will Amir make more per year w/ us, but it's actually beneficial to him to get out of this contract sooner, assuming he performs. Somebody will wanna pay the kid.

Right. The Spurs offered 4 years and 13 mill. One million more for and extra year added on!

srt4b wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Thanks for clearing that up.

Anytime, to add more information it was a 4-year $13 Million, The pistons are giving him 3-year $12 Million.

T-Wolves fan. Would it be totally unreasonable for me to buy an Amir Johnson jersey. Is there any way you guys see this kid being unsuccessful?

dunkonu21 wrote:T-Wolves fan. Would it be totally unreasonable for me to buy an Amir Johnson jersey. Is there any way you guys see this kid being unsuccessful?

He's still very raw and very young so there is always a chance things will go poorly. And for all we know he could be the next Jonathan Bender.

But based on what we've seen from him this season I'd say there is every reason for optimism.

To clear things up, San Antonio offered a 4 yr/$12 million contract. Amir signed with the Pistons on a 3 yr/$11 million contract. So he gets less money overall, and 1 less yr, but he gets more money per.

Instead of making $3,000,000/yr, Amir is raking in $3,666,666/yr. Not bad for a kid who played all of 11 games before signing his current contract.

Hunter wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

He's still very raw and very young so there is always a chance things will go poorly. And for all we know he could be the next Jonathan Bender.

But based on what we've seen from him this season I'd say there is every reason for optimism.

Bender's issue was health, so I've never bought that comparison.

If I were to give him a worst case scenario, it would probably be someone like Stromile Swift.

BDM22 wrote:Bender's issue was health, so I've never bought that comparison.

If I were to give him a worst case scenario, it would probably be someone like Stromile Swift.

His name immediately came to my mind at the start of the season when he had multiple injuries and couldn't get onto the court.

But regardless I'm not really comparing him to Bender, just saying you never know when a promising career can be cut short by injuries.

Hunter wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

His name immediately came to my mind at the start of the season when he had multiple injuries and couldn't get onto the court.

He missed the pre-season games and the 1st game of the season. After that, it was on Flip. If AJ wasn't ready to go, he wouldn't have played against Orlando in the 2nd game of the year. That span of 3 weeks or so has been the only time I've heard about him getting injured in the last 3 years, which include loads of D-League games, practices, and the occasional NBA game.

Comparing AJ's pre-season ankle sprain to Bender's epically jacked up knees is crazy IMO.

But regardless I'm not really comparing him to Bender, just saying you never know when a promising career can be cut short by injuries.

Then you could say that about every young player on the planet. If a player doesn't have a history of big injury problems, I don't think you can predict career ending injuries. We're not talking Greg Oden here.

BDM22 wrote:Then you could say that about every young player on the planet. If a player doesn't have a history of big injury problems, I don't think you can predict career ending injuries. We're not talking Greg Oden here.

That's exactly my point. I wasn't predicting anything or comparing him to anyone. I think maybe you are inferring something from my post that wasn't really there.