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From Hoopshype:

J.J. to N.J.? Let's just say New Jersey isn't exactly the odds-on favorite in the Joe Johnson sweepstakes. The Atlanta star guard, bound to be a free agent next summer, was asked in an interview with FanHouse before Wednesday's game against New Jersey if it would be more difficult to sign with a team like the 3-32 Nets due to their record. Johnson agreed it would. "It matters, man,'' Johnson said before facing a New Jersey outfit that will have more than $20 million of salary-cap room next summer. "It matters. A lot comes into play. Nobody wants to go to a tough team. But you've got to keep everybody in consideration.'' FanHouse

Really? It matters if you sign with a **** team? I guess so...You know, if your team is on the verge of making it to the Championship and then going to a team like, lets say...The Hawks? Yeah, that would be tough.

Itmotep wrote:From Hoopshype:

J.J. to N.J.? Let's just say New Jersey isn't exactly the odds-on favorite in the Joe Johnson sweepstakes. The Atlanta star guard, bound to be a free agent next summer, was asked in an interview with FanHouse before Wednesday's game against New Jersey if it would be more difficult to sign with a team like the 3-32 Nets due to their record. Johnson agreed it would. "It matters, man,'' Johnson said before facing a New Jersey outfit that will have more than $20 million of salary-cap room next summer. "It matters. A lot comes into play. Nobody wants to go to a tough team. But you've got to keep everybody in consideration.'' FanHouse

Really? It matters if you sign with a **** team? I guess so...You know, if your team is on the verge of making it to the Championship and then going to a team like, lets say...The Hawks? Yeah, that would be tough.

Yeah freaking hypocrite. As I remember the reason he left the Suns was so that he COULD go to a crap team where he would get more money and be the star. I know ATL is better now but hell no, not when he left us.

Eh, I guess it's a pretty typical progression in a player's career. Looking for money and the spotlight early on, then a ring later on. Still, makes him look kinda like an ass.

Joe Johnson went to the Hawks when they were 13-69. He doubled they're wins when he played the first season to 26-56. Then I thought he would add another 13 wins but instead the next season then went 30-52. Then 37-45, and last season they did 47-35. At least they are improving every year even though it takes 5 years to where he was at when he was with the Suns!

Wouldn't it be ironic if we were one of the teams he viewed as a team he could go to and have a chance at contending.........lol

I would take JJ back in a Suns uniform.

So would I, it just would be ironic as heck ...

Just funny he left a championship team for a 13-69 team, yet wont go to NJ cause they suck.

Itmotep wrote:Just funny he left a championship team for a 13-69 team, yet wont go to NJ cause they suck.

Lesson learned, I guess

if they offered him a max contract he would go for sure. I hope he looks back and regrets the day he signed with the Hawks.

J-Rich for expirings + moving Amare we could afford JJ and David Lee........

David Lee sucks. He can't create his own shot, he reminds me kind of like Marion.

Nothing strange about what he said, back than he was like 24 years old and wanted to be "the man" while now he's pushing 30 and probably wants to win.

Qwigglez wrote:David Lee sucks. He can't create his own shot, he reminds me kind of like Marion.

Marion sucked too bro, HE SUCKED!

Qwigglez wrote:David Lee sucks. He can't create his own shot, he reminds me kind of like Marion.

Okay, but the guy is a double-double machine. And, in the scenario mentioned, he'd be behind Nash, Johnson and Frye in terms of creating opportunities.

Not a bad idea.

Qwigglez wrote:David Lee sucks. He can't create his own shot, he reminds me kind of like Marion.

david lee realy sucks, haha. but i wouldn´t mind if he would play in phoenix. i would love it.
lopez sucks too, so lopez and fillers for lee anyone???

Nash
JJ
Hill
Lee
Frye

Love it. JJ makes up for Lee's downgrade in offense. Lee would get 12-13 rebounds on this team while constantly hustling. Kind of like a Lou who finishes and has an outside shot. He averages 19 points on 57% shooting. Amazing stuff. He's also an underrated passer.

I see the Marion comparison for Lee in terms of impact. The difference is that Lee can't be shut out on the wing like Marion did. Lee's all hustle, rebounding and garbage baskets off broken plays. Somewhat similar to Marion but harder to just shut off.

JJ would give the Suns another creater, which they could really use now. That team would be such a good passing team that the offense would probably be even more efficient then it is now.

His comment was pretty hypocritical, but like miklo said, it's part of a player's career progression.

His comment was likely in regards to the top free agents in 2010 like Lebron, Wade, Bosh and himself. Lebron, Wade and Bosh all had opportunities to lead a team and it's time for them to go to a team that is contending. Those guys aren't looking to do what JJ did when he left PHX, to lead a sucky team to a decent record, they've done that. They are thinking about their legacy already and how it would set back their career if they go to a team like the Nets who even if with he addition of a Wade or Lebron, it probably still a season or two from making noise at all.

JJ is particular, is getting up there with age so he would most likely want to go to a decent team where he can contribute while he's still in his prime and hopefully some luck goes his way and he wins a ring. Nobody wants to be a loser like AI and waste their prime being stubborn and playing for sucky teams (except for the Nuggets).

JJ telling it like it is.

I don't see how anyone can be knocking JJ for leaving Phoenix - he earned a big raise, the FO pissed him off and insulted him, or at least made him feel he'd been insulted, in their negotiations and ATL offered him a big payday so he took it.
I mean, he was bothered enough by the PHX management he said, don't bother matching it. I don't want to be here.

At least that's the version I've always heard

from 2005

"ESPN.com is reporting that Phoenix will do a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Joe Johnson. The trade will give Johnson a $70 million, five-year contract, which is great for Joe, I guess, but it appears that his agent forgot to tell him that it would mean having to play for Atlanta. Johnson apparently asked Phoenix management not to match Atlanta's offer, saying: "It's a lot of things. How things were handled [with Johnson's contract] last summer, how things have been handled this summer. There's been some things going on that aren't great."

Yeah, JV. But now he says winning is important? If he stayed with Phoenix, he would have had a chance at a championship for the last 4, or 5 seasons now.

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