John Salmons if Joe Johnson leaves?

[HMFFL]

Could Bucks Salmon become a Hawk?

One of the more bizarre rumors circulating during the just-completed Milwaukee Bucks-Atlanta Hawks playoff series was that Bucks shooting guard John Salmons could wind up wearing a Hawks uni next season.

As crazy as that sounds, there is a possibility it could happen.

The Hawks may lose star shooting guard Joe Johnson in free agency and, if that occurs, the Hawks could target Salmons as a possible replacement.

Salmons has a player-option clause in his contract, meaning he has the choice to stick with the Bucks for another season at $5.8 million or become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and sign with the team of his choice.

The Bucks have had some conversations with Salmons’ agent, Joel Bell, about signing an extension, but that isn’t likely to happen.

Salmons, 30, was a godsend for the Bucks this season. He averaged 19.9 points in 30 regular-season games after being acquired in a trade with Chicago. He averaged 18 points in the seven-game Eastern Conference first-round series against the Hawks.

[killbuckner]

If Salmons opts out it will be because he thinks he can get more than the MLE this offseason.

[WiscoKing13]

If Salmons opts out it will be because he thinks he can get more than the MLE this offseason.

Salmons pretty much is opting out, IMO he'll easily get two years MLE. So its easy enough to see why he'd opt out

[Skyhawk1]

Alright, you got a 30 yo player who's been in a bunch of teams (for a reason), and suddenly he's good enough to avg about 20ppg in a team plagued by injuries where he was the best offensive weapon. 30 games into a season and the NBA has a new 30 yo star. Don't you think NBA GMs suck either way you look at it?

[HoopsGuru25]

Salmons averaged 18 a game last year with both Chicago and Sacramento. His play with the Bucks wasn't a fluke.

[parson]

How do we afford Salmons if Joe leaves? I thought we would still be over the cap.

[betta1]

I'd be for this if JJ leaves and can't be SnTraded. He's no Joe but he gives us a 2/3 so some interesting lineup possibilities and trade scenarios (Marvin).

[Harry10]

Crawford/Salmons could just be as good as Joe/Bibby.... but the Hawks still need some cheap high powered offensive guy to come off the bench like Flip or Al Harrington.

[BucksRUS]

Hawks would be under the cap by about $8.5 mil if JJ leaves and Mo Evans opts out of his contract. If Mo doesn't opt out than the Hawks will just stay with the MLE, since to get cap space the Hawks would have to renounce their rights to Childress to clear his cap hold.

[The Real Dalic]

I think this would be better for you guys. cause to me Joe plays a little lazy (not saying Salmons is the most active player but still plays with more heart and hustle than Joe). and you could slide Jamal Crawford into the starting lineup assuming whoever the coach is next year for you guys would be willing to move Marvin Williams to the bench.

[D21]

Hawks would be under the cap by about $8.5 mil if JJ leaves and Mo Evans opts out of his contract. If Mo doesn't opt out than the Hawks will just stay with the MLE, since to get cap space the Hawks would have to renounce their rights to Childress to clear his cap hold.

I think this would be better for you guys. cause to me Joe plays a little lazy...

There is no way it makes ATL better in leaving Joe walk for nothing, leaves Childress rights and Mo Evans walk, and use the 8.5M to sign Salmons.

If Joe leaves for nothing, and Childress doesn't come back here, we have to do a sign-&-trade with him and get something.
We could keep Mo or sign him again, and use the MLE, even on Salmons if he was OK.

Any case with Hawks using cap space = worst case.
And if Joe have to go, better do a sign-&-trade.

[killbuckner]

The problem is that there are so many teams that can sign Joe outright that its not likely the Hawks could get anything meaningful back for Joe unless they are willing to take back a contract the other team doesn't want (Hinrich as an example). The Hawks might have to settle for a TPE which would still be better than nothing.

[evildallas]

I don't see Hinrich as a bad contract per se as it only goes 2 more years (same as Bibby). If it was longer it would be bad to me. I think the hope of a S&T lies with a team that doesn't have the cap space wanting Joe (Dallas?) or a team like Chicago possibly going for 2 free agents, a SG and PF. In order to do that one of the two has to be a S&T given back about 10M in salary which would be one of either Hinrich or Deng and possibly a rookie contract prospect like Johnson or Gibson.

[HoopsGuru25]

Chicago would have DEFINITELY traded Hinrich if they had the chance. Sessions and Jack got signed for less than the MLE and I'd argue that both are better than Hinrich.