Joe Johnson What's going to happen with Josh and Josh?"

Post #1 » by **HMFFL** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:41 pm

Joe Johnson has the same question: "What's going to happen with Josh and Josh?"

The Hawks all-star guard inquired about the status of Hawks restricted free agents Josh Smith and Josh Childress while at a charity event in Mississippi over the weekend.

"That's our summer right there," Johnson said. "That's all there is to it."

Neither Smith nor Childress have signed offer sheets with other teams as the NBA's free agency period continues.

Johnson, who said he talked with Smith prior to the start of the free-agency period, just wants a team ready to build on last season's playoff appearance.

"Whatever happens, and I don't care to speculate on anyone else's business, we have to be ready to go as a unit when training camp starts," Johnson said. "We worked too hard and accomplished too much late [this past] season to let anything stop us now. We have to be ready to go as a unit when training camp hits.

"The rest of the East is loading up and getting ready to chase Boston. And we pushed them as hard as anybody did throughout the playoffs, so we know that we what we're capable of if we play at our peak. But we have to do it from the start. And that means coming to camp with everything in place, guys ready to go and knowing their roles and putting our foot on the gas from the start."

Link

Skyhawk1 · Post #2 » by **Skyhawk1** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:40 am

JJ is always cool. I love the way he handles these things, he kinda lets everyone know what he thinks without sticking his nose too much at somebody else's business. Anyway, I'm really glad to read this article. It shows that the Hawks HAVE thought about the possibility of a S&T involving J. Smith. Could that team be the Clippers ? Kaman ? I know the article goes on to say that the Hawks want to keep him, but I love the fact they're working with the idea of a different scenario. I also like the fact J. Chill is drawing some attention. Again, if we pair him with Zaza, maybe Speedy (who knows if there's another BK around the league) for a couple of guys who can help us at C and outside shooting, I'd look at it carefully. I love J. Chill's game, but again, we got to keep our options open just in case. Now, I really wonder why we'd want S. Jones back. He's way too raw in many aspects of the game and should take every opportunity that come his way. This is disappointing from a guy who's got a lot to learn.

evildallas · Post #3 » by **evildallas** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:44 pm

I was confused by skyhawk1's post until I found the full article link here, because when I clicked I just got the short blurb without most of what he covered.

I really don't want to lose Josh Smith, but I would want them to listen to those offers in case there is something that is too good to pass on being tossed their way. I'm sure I'd get over the loss of my favorite player if it made us a competitor for a title quickly. As for Childress, while I admit he's a bargain at the MLE, I am still interested in filling multiple positions with some additional skill sets (like an outside shooter off the bench and a backup big who can bang).

The worst part of the column was the tip that Lorenzen could be coming back to town. NOOOOOOOO! Didn't he just show how little was in his tank? His contributions on his last stint with the team were beyond sucky. Settling for him doesn't make sense no matter how you frame it. He might be great in the locker room, but even so the young bigs of the team have already spent time with him. If there was some bit of veteran advice he hasn't already imparted then we really got screwed on his last deal. Please get a different big in other than Lorenzen. Dikembe or half a season of Alonzo would be a good change. I know the pickings are slim, but you should still have game film of Lorenzen to scrub that idea.

lunarblues · Post #4 » by **lunarblues** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:01 pm

i think you have to look at who is actually attainable. wright is one of the few veteran bigs that actually have an IQ that want to play in atlanta. mutombo would play for houston over us 9 times out of 10 unless we offer more than the vet minimum which is what he is worth the same for alonzo. and all the other good bigs are scooped up. also you have to look at minutes. lorenzen is okay with not playing many minutes so that means that horford, smith and pachulia get more. i wouldn't want to have another sorry big pouting because he isn't getting many minutes around here.