Wilbon Suggests a trade that will never happen...

[boscel33]

i'm not a capologist, but i don't think the salaries match.  there would have to be another piece.  but i could see the hawks doing something like this.  they might fell that they are too young and need the vet in the locker room to steady the ship.  then in the summer, they offload the 19 million and go after one of the big free agents.  boston in turns signs johnson to a new deal and re-signs ray at a cheaper deal.

[Donoghus]

The Hawks have, argubably, their greatest team in decades and are poised to make a run beyond the 1st round of the playoffs this postseason.

There is no way they sacrifice that opporunity (plus additional revenue) and make a deal like this. 

The risk of losing Johnson alone is not going to force the Hawks to take a step backwards.  Let's face it, Johnson is ahead of Allen these days and is a vital key to that team.

[ssspence]

It's not happening this season, because the Hawks would be giving up their playoff run (not to mention the playoff revenue).  However, I think this makes a lot of sense in the offseason.

I could see a trade based around a resigned Ray (say, 2 years, $18 million, de-escalating), a guy like Davis, and a draft pick or two, for a resigned Johnson.  

I know I gave Tanguay a rough time for suggesting Johnson could be joining the C's next year, but I think he was right about that being a posibility.  He just was not understanding how it could possibly happen.

Good point. Only issue is matching the money, and the Cs payroll. Johnson will likely get north of the $11-13mil you're suggesting above whether it's from the Hawks or someone else. He obviously fits in well with D'Antoni.

[Eddie20]

Atlanta wouldn't trade JJ for a player who isn't on his level when the likelihood of re-sining Allen being worse than re-signing JJ.

[wdleehi]

The Hawks have, argubably, their greatest team in decades and are poised to make a run beyond the 1st round of the playoffs this postseason.

There is no way they sacrifice that opporunity (plus additional revenue) and make a deal like this. 

The risk of losing Johnson alone is not going to force the Hawks to take a step backwards.  Let's face it, Johnson is ahead of Allen these days and is a vital key to that team.

You would think that.


But isn't this the same franchise that had the best record in the NBA, and traded Wilkins for Manning a decade ago? 


Nothing the Hawks do surprises me.


But I think this is unlikely unless it is a three way trade with Ray going to another team (like Philly or DC) and Johnson going to Boston.

[Brickowski]

Wilbon is an idiot.  If the Hawks can't resign JJ, they will wait until the summer and do a sign and trade.  They are not trading their best player to an EC rival in the middle of a playoff race.

And if they do sign and trade JJ, they will get alot more for him than the 35 year-old Ray Allen.

[BballTim]

It's not happening this season, because the Hawks would be giving up their playoff run (not to mention the playoff revenue).  However, I think this makes a lot of sense in the offseason.

I could see a trade based around a resigned Ray (say, 2 years, $18 million, de-escalating), a guy like Davis, and a draft pick or two, for a resigned Johnson.  

I know I gave Tanguay a rough time for suggesting Johnson could be joining the C's next year, but I think he was right about that being a posibility.  He just was not understanding how it could possibly happen.

  The only reason it has any validity is because it's the Hawks. Did they ever resolve their ownership issues? I coulod see them looking at Ray for a Bibby-type of deal if they were getting cold feet about giving Johnson a big, long-term contract.

  Not that I think it would ever happen, but in terms of contracts the Hawks are kind of Clipper-like at times.

[Chris]

  Not that I think it would ever happen, but in terms of contracts the Hawks are kind of Clipper-like at times.

To be fair, have you watched any of their home games this season?  They are one of the top 5 teams in the league, and the building is still always empty.  They have been putting money into the team lately, but no fans are showing up.  Its pretty pathetic.  So I don't necessarily blame the owners for not wanting to throw more money at it.

[Donoghus]

The Hawks have, argubably, their greatest team in decades and are poised to make a run beyond the 1st round of the playoffs this postseason.

There is no way they sacrifice that opporunity (plus additional revenue) and make a deal like this. 

The risk of losing Johnson alone is not going to force the Hawks to take a step backwards.  Let's face it, Johnson is ahead of Allen these days and is a vital key to that team.

You would think that.


But isn't this the same franchise that had the best record in the NBA, and traded Wilkins for Manning a decade ago? 


Nothing the Hawks do surprises me.


But I think this is unlikely unless it is a three way trade with Ray going to another team (like Philly or DC) and Johnson going to Boston.

That was 16-17 years ago.  Plus, it was under a totally different regime and ownership group.  Turner still owned the team back then.  

The current ownership has certainly had their fair share of issues but this isn't like the Clippers which have had the same owner and lots of ineptitude of the course of decades.

Same franchise?  Yes.  But the powers that be have changed since then.

[BballTim]

  Not that I think it would ever happen, but in terms of contracts the Hawks are kind of Clipper-like at times.

To be fair, have you watched any of their home games this season?  They are one of the top 5 teams in the league, and the building is still always empty.  They have been putting money into the team lately, but no fans are showing up.  Its pretty pathetic.  So I don't necessarily blame the owners for not wanting to throw more money at it.

  Whether the owners are at fault or not, I'm saying that it's possible (not likely) that they would be looking at signing a cheaper player when they're considering giving Johnsin a max or near max deal.

[Andy Jick]

does the hawks ownership have any ties to the thrashers?  just curious...the thrashers traded their best player (ilya kovalcuk) to new jersey yesterday for a few spare parts.

all those people who attend dressed up as empty seats, it'll interesting to see what this franchise does...

[Chris]

  Not that I think it would ever happen, but in terms of contracts the Hawks are kind of Clipper-like at times.

To be fair, have you watched any of their home games this season?  They are one of the top 5 teams in the league, and the building is still always empty.  They have been putting money into the team lately, but no fans are showing up.  Its pretty pathetic.  So I don't necessarily blame the owners for not wanting to throw more money at it.

  Whether the owners are at fault or not, I'm saying that it's possible (not likely) that they would be looking at signing a cheaper player when they're considering giving Johnsin a max or near max deal.

True.  I just wanted to needle the terrible Atlanta fans a bit.

[Donoghus]

  Not that I think it would ever happen, but in terms of contracts the Hawks are kind of Clipper-like at times.

To be fair, have you watched any of their home games this season?  They are one of the top 5 teams in the league, and the building is still always empty.  They have been putting money into the team lately, but no fans are showing up.  Its pretty pathetic.  So I don't necessarily blame the owners for not wanting to throw more money at it.

  Whether the owners are at fault or not, I'm saying that it's possible (not likely) that they would be looking at signing a cheaper player when they're considering giving Johnsin a max or near max deal.

True.  I just wanted to needle the terrible Atlanta fans a bit.

Atlanta has to be the worst sports city of any city with teams in all four major sports, hands-down.

[Fan from VT]

Here's the deal:

Atlanta is worried Johnson will split, no matter what they offer him. So:

Boston trades Ray, Scal, Davis
Gets Johnson, Dalembert

Pilly trades Iggy, Dalembert
Gets Ray, Baby

ATL trades Johsnon
Gets Iggy, Scal


Obviously we try to get rid of Sheed instead of Baby if Philly is that desperate make a deal or if ATL wants him (just for the purposes of cutting some of Boston's payroll next year).

But this accomplishes:
1. Significant Ray upgrade and youngification (we'd do an extend and trade or have a serious committment from Johnson), replaces all his offense and major defense upgrade.

2. ATL locks up a new 2/3 at sub-Johnson asking price salary amount, stays young and athletic

3. Philly sheds a lot of guaranteed money.

C's go:

Rondo/Eddie
Johnson/TA
Pierce/TA
KG/Sheed
Perk/Dalembert

as the playoff 9-man rotation.

[PLamb]

A trade that sends Joe Johnson to the Celtics for Ray Allen would cause such a stir in Atlanta that all 159 people who regularly go to Hawks games and cheer them on will stop going

That's how much Atlanta fans hate the Celtics

LOL