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The Cavaliers' LeBron James, the Heat's Dwyane Wade and the Hawks' Joe Johnson plan to discuss their respective plans with each other before making a decision once free agency begins July 1, Wade told the Tribune on Wednesday.

link here

The first thing I thought when I heard this was one of these things is not like the others. The 2nd was if they plan on playing together somone has to take the pay cut for it to work (good luck with that discussion). The 3rd thought is don't Joe Johnson and Dwayne Wade play the same position? The 4th thought is are they splitting up the market so they don't step on each others' toes.

1st time poster to this, I moved to GA from Miami in 2007, the Hawks are one of my favorite east teams behind Miami and Orlando. Been to about 6 Home games, plan to attend more. Been to most falcons home games"

Can't wait until July 2010

Is Joe there to fetch their drinks?

Chris Bosh will join them.

This is wise of the top free agents to do this and it should work to their advantage. I'd really love to know what Joe Johnson says to them about Atlanta. Why should any of them settle for a them that won't pay the luxury tax?

IMO, Joe will be in high demand. He already has admitted he would become a #2, so the real question only depends on what Bosh wants to do, and if Wade will want to play with any of the top stars.
I think LeBron lets everyone find their slot before he decides where to go should he decide to leave Cleveland. But the firing of Mike Brown might force Cleveland to come up with a big name coach to take the reins or they have to know that LeBron will not stay home with a team that might be in transition.

Carlos Boozer and Amar'e Stoudemire are key to me.

I expect one of them or Chris Bosh to sign with Miami. Amar'e lives in Miami during the off-season, not that it matters, but it's still one thing to take into account. Carlos Boozer is going under the radar compared to Amar'e and Chris Bosh.

Things should fall into place once both of them are about to sign. I say about because you know damn well if one of them signs with Miami Dwayne will know first and can feel better about the future of the team.

I wonder if Joe will tell them he wants to play with them AND get the max...maybe they'll tell him to get real.

I would think that if Amare was smart and he finds a team in the East that he feels fits with his game, I would head East as fast as I could....same for Boozer.

Tough to get past the spending of the Lakers. The odds are better to get to the Finals than staying with Nash in Phx, especially if Phx is starting to be cost-conscious.

saloonyk8 wrote:I wonder if Joe will tell them he wants to play with them AND get the max...maybe they'll tell him to get real.

The interesting point is how is it possible to think that you would want to take a pay cut if you play with a top player, and don't want a pay cut and ask for max contract in ATL, which would lead to eat all the money instead of leaving room to add a player or trade for higher salaries.

Today there is a headline of Amare wanting to be at the summit, so we're up to 5.

Maybe Joe's not so involved with the major FAs. Did anyone else pay attention to this quote by James? http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... bosh_wade/

"If you put me and Bosh on the same team, if you put me and Wade on the same team, a lot of teams would be much better."

Where's Joe's name?

He's not there, but I think in his interview with Larry King he mentioned JJ.

Am I the only one hoping JJ leaves?

You might be. I want to either re-sign Joe for a reasonable amount or SNT him for good assets.

S&Ting is still him leaving

azuresou1 wrote:S&Ting is still him leaving

You're right, of course. The reason I hem and haw is that I still really like him and I'd be thrilled to get the player he could be. I'd love for him to sign a reasonable contract and STOP HOGGING THE BALL. I worry he has no idea of how good a catch-and-shoot player he could be. He's trying to be a poor-man's Kobe when he is actually a rich-man's Reggie Miller.

I also think none of the trade/FA alternatives are any good. But I try to live in the real world, so ....

Well, I'd like Joe Johnson too if he played within his game, but hey, in 2K10 my Smoove/Horford frontline is averaging a combined 45/18 on .78 TS% and I'm 28-4.

Unfortunately, players are who they are, so Josh will never play solely within 8 feet of the basket, Marvin will never attack, Joe will always hog, etc.

Hopefully, coaching matters. Marvelous HAS attacked - at times - when Woodson called for it. And maybe Joe was "going iso" for the same reason.

I just think it's more reasonable to believe we can keep Joe and fix him than it is to believe we can let Joe leave and replace the lost value.

Of course, OVERpaying for Joe brings on another set of woes.

If Joe wants to sign a 3 year contract for $36 million, sure, I'm on board. More likely? He asks for 5/$75, which he's most definitely not worth for our team.

Anything longer than 3 years is IMO a bad signing.