To Joe Johnson, or not to Joe Johnson?
I had been thinking about posting this for a while. Can't sleep so here goes. Many people know that there are a few super star free agents available this off season that we could just plug-and-play into our starting line up that would work. For those who don't know, we have five players signed under contract for next year. The team looks something like this.
pg - bd
sg - ej
sf- n/a
pf - bg
c - ck/dj
In my opinion there are three super star FA that are available this summer that we could plug into the 3 spot that would work.
1. Lebron James
2. Dwyane Wade
3. Joe Johnson
Of course the dream scenario would be to sign LJ and stick him into his natural 3 spot. I think this scenario needs the most cosmic allignment to become a reality. It's plausible but I believe Mr. James needs to lose in these playoffs for it to have a real chance of happening. Not saying that if he loses we have a good chance but that's where it would have to start.
Dwyane wade is another option that could work but he is a sg that is listed at 6-4 220 lbs. If he signed with us we could plug him in at the 3 but we would be small at the 2 and 3 position. Once again, in my opinion this could work but we would need kaman and bg to step up their rebounding game. DW is an amazing player that requires the rock in his hand to be efficient. This could be good and bad. The good, it would allow him to score and facilitate our players like he normally does. Him and baron could take turns controlling the tempo. It would allow baron to shoot his 3point shot at a higher percentage because DW would be demanding double/triple teams. The bad, Baron wouldn't be utilized to his fullest potentional when he doesn't have the rock and of course DW would be under sized. Also, DW isn't really a good 3 point shooter but seems to shoot it REALLY well when it counts. So we would really only have 1 starter that shoots the 3 at a high percentage. A lot of things need to work right for this to pan out.
Last but not least is the JJ scenario. If we signed him, we could plug him into the line up with little problems. He is listed as a SG but he is 6'7 and weighs 240 lbs, which in my opinion is a good size for a SF. The good, the guy can shoot, pass, rebound, and defend. He creates his own shot and can facilitate for others. The bad, he technically would be playing out of position and some have said he would be a little small at the sf position but I don't think that but that's just my opinion. I really don't know the average starting sf size so I can't verify with facts.
Here are his numbers.
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Basically, beside lebron, JJ would fit into our line up with the least problems. Of course Lebron would be the better fit but JJ is just another option.
HOW MUCH:
This is the big question. JJ is unrestricted and can go where ever he feels like going. He has stated that he wants to leave Atlanta previously and he is from LA. He is currently making $14,976,754 this season.
<!-- m -->http://hoopshype.com/salaries/atlanta.htm<!-- m -->
He is turning 29 years old next month so basically he would be 29 starting next season. He isn't playing really good in the playoffs right now which might hurt his values for his up coming pay day. But, his career playoff #'s are pretty much the same as his career #'s during the regular season. So the big question is how much are we willing to pay this guy to get him here and would he except it. The max that we could offer someone is somewhere around 16.25 million dollars a year. Is he worth that much? No. Can we get him for less than that? Probably. I think he is worth about 5 year 60 million which is about 12 million a season. Can we get him for that much? It all really depends on what he wants to do. Does he want to leave Atlanta and come back home? If thats the case I think he jumps on a number close to 60 million for 5 years. I think if we offer him the max 16.25 mil he would be REALLY interested and probably signs considering no one else offers him that much. Even if someone else does no one can give him more than that except Atlanta. Do they want to give him that much? Does he really want to stay there? I have a few question for topbuzz.
1. What is the maximum amount of money you would offer JJ? What is the minimum amount you think he would sign for?
2. Do you think he would plug into the sf spot with little problems?
3. Do you think he want to stay in Atlanta and do you think they want to offer him a max 6 year contract?
4. How much better(if at all) does JJ make the clippers?(Considering everyone is healthy starting next season)
5. Can we make the playoffs with bd,ej,jj,bg,ck as our starters?(keeping in mind we would have dj on the bench and probably enough money to sign a small nice piece to our bench but it would really depend on how much was left over if we signed him)
Of course there are other variables that would influence any signing like who is going to be our coach and what position we draft at. Lets just say we land 1 of the top 5 coaches that are available and we draft at #8. What is your opinion?
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I though this was
going to be another lame poem from the post title.
We have to compete with New York..
and if New York strikes out with Lebron, I’m sure they’ll offer the max to JJ.
"look, you can find any coach you want, bring him in here and run the situation. But I don't think they are going to do as good a job as I do." -Mike Dunleavy Sr.
IMO
If we were to sign JJ or DWayde, EJ should come off the bench as a sixth man roll. This way Wayde could slide to the 1 perhaps, or JJ could slide to the 3 (i think he does this for atlanta when Jamal Crawford comes in). I also think we should sign an defensive minded 3 for situational purposes. Its possible that signing one of said free agents may involve a sign and trade w/ EJ
I want him to be a Clipper, but...
He’s not worth max money and that is probably going to be the asking price to pry him away. Hopefully he could play the 3, which he’s done before, but offering that much money for a hopeful to work out is a big risk.
I like 5 years $60, or Baron’s contract basically. He is like a year younger than Baron so in a few years we are going to have a not so young team to go with our hopeful young superstars so it’s a risk. I think it all depends on where we land in the draft and who we get. If we can get a SF like Wesley or Aminu in the draft or land an even higher pick then we don’t need to give that much money to a quick fix and we can go for the longterm goal.
With JJ we could probably make the playoffs for a few seasons but we won’t be getting out of the first round. Not good enough to waste that much money but I do want to win now. Dilemma.
I still like bringing him in for the right price. The guy just made the all nba 3rd team with roy,gasol,duncan, and bogut. We could stack the contract front heavy like 14 13 12 11 10. I still think it’s the right move at at the right price. Plus we could sign our #8 pick plus one of our main reserve players. I like signing steve blake with the extra money.
I would do it but not for the max
I would do 5 for 60mil that way we have money to sign butler & blake.
Why would you rather have Outlaw?
Butler makes his shots and actually plays defense.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
Outlaw has alot of room to grow
Maybe its because I caught him during the early games of Outlaw in a Clipper jersey, but when he was playing, he was doing pretty well. Part of it could be a personal preference as one is younger and has almost as much range as the other, but Outlaw could also play some defense also. Plus, I like watching Outlaw dunk. He adds some power into it.
I'd rather have Rhino over both of them
If we can get JJ at 5yrs for 60mil, we wouldn’t need either Butler or Outlaw especially if we could get Aminu or Wesley at #8. Rhino and Blake back and this is my dream:
PG Baron/Blake
SG Gordon/Blake or Johnson or
SF JJ/#8 pick (Aminu or Wesley)
PF Griffin/Rhino
C Kaman/DJ
awesome 9 man rotation right there. Throw in minimum contract players Novak for his 3, Collins to back up the 1/2/3 and the 2nd round draft pick and there you go. Also, if no Rhino then time to bring over Sofo
There's no way we get JJ for 12 million per year though
He’ll get a max deal from the Knicks at the very least.
FA in 2010.
Outlaw is a bum
This guy’s basketball I.Q. is horrible. I’d rather go after Anthony Morrow rather than choosing to bring back Outlaw or Butler. The Clippers need to start assembling this roster with players who are fundamentally sound. Outlaw does not fit with that category. And if the choice is between Butler or Morrow, give me Morrow 9 times out of 10.
morrow isnt a SF
but yes, morrow is everything outlaw isnt. i’ve watched him play up in the bay for a few years now, and he might not be as athletic as outlaw, but he is fundmanetally better and smarter at the actua game of basketball.
outlaw is an athelete. he’s like a darius miles. morrow wasnt drafted because he wasnt an athlete , but the guy knows how to get open, can shoot the lights out and even has started driving to the basket the last year. he is a smart player.
if morrow were 6’8 he’d be a good SF for us
If we sign Morrow..
Then we would have to convince the opposing team to switch jerseys with us so he would have lights out 40pt game.
by Peter B. Lap on May 12, 2010 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions
No Joe Cool please.
Rather just sign the FA’s we have now back for another stint.
Everything starts out New, Gets Old and Dies or is Destroyed.
Amazing
JJ and Atlanta gets planted by Orlando and he’s suddenly a jerk and Atlanta who won 53 games has to reload. Look for Orlando to be the East rep again in the Finals and to beat the Lakers. Anybody up for a JJ and Mike Woodson combo deal? In the name of full disclosure, I’m NOT endorsing this deal.
This sucks
word is now that the Hawks will look to bring back Childress now that they will apparently cut ties with Johnson.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on May 11, 2010 1:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Source? It seems a little early (and too reactive) to so abruptly cut ties
Although I have to say, it’s hard to imagine offering him a max contract now. I wonder if he was at least slowed by some nagging pain.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Here you go
The Hawks are looking at Johnson’s situation in tandem with that of coach Mike Woodson. He just completed his sixth season and the Hawks have improved their record in the past five. But the past two postseasons have shown, it seems, the limitations of his isolation-heavy offensive approach, and his team’s collective basketball IQ has always been a sticking point. Under a different general with a Johnson-less roster, Atlanta might decide to start Jamal Crawford at the 2, bring back Josh Childress, acquire a speedy point guard and play a much more up-tempo game.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on May 11, 2010 2:19 PM PDT up reply actions
OK... so if true, then we're missing a solid plan B
I’ve been thinking we should beef up on young talent, whether we purchase another draft pick (or two) or sign a Sessions-like talent. We’d then have to think of next year as a building year.
In just about any reality, next year is a building year anyways. I’d be quite happy with wins in the upper 40s and an 8th seed.
I really don’t want us to go for Gay. That seems the epitome of a fancy quick fix that may sell some tickets but ultimately prevents us from going far.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
Another article, this time from the local paper
by ClipperChuck on May 11, 2010 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Whoops
Haha didn’t read it before I posted it. Was referring to keeping Josh Smith.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on May 11, 2010 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Lol
Good one.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT

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