datruth

I don't see anything happening. Sund has said time and time again; he likes "the sum of our parts" and our "core." The ASG's bank statments will trump the outrage caused by the embarrassing loss suffered at the hands of Orlando. Thus, we'll stand pat and pray JJ signs back.

^^^ On this point, I agree. Obtaining Joe cost us millions. It splintered the ownership group. It cost us two 1st rounders AND Boris Diaw. It hampered our ability for a year to get other players. Remember the anti-Belkin owners told the Maryland judge that he could have a Larry Bird type impact to the Hawks? LOL! In all seriousness, we went back to the playoffs with him. In addition, losing him would cost us 20 points a game. Regardless of the things he said towards the fans during the playoffs, this team invested too much in him to walk away empty handed. The truth is, we could leave empty handed; Joe is in control. That's why I advocated the possiblity trading him last offseason. It was just good business to do so. Joe said he wanted to wait to explore his options. At that point, the ball was in his court. As an organization, I would allow that to happen to me unless the player was Lebron James or Dwayne Wade: a transformational player. So to me, what ever comes out of this Joe situation is bigger than "oh, I don't like him as a player" "he doesn't have a killer instinct" "he's not a real star" "Jamal can take his place." So much of what has happen to this team, good or bad, revolved around the acquistion of Joe. I understand the Spirit is losing tons of money. That said, with everything they invested in Joe, to lose him for nothing isn't in the best interest of this team.

^^^I can go with you on the ownership piece. That means a ton. In terms of the fan part, truthfully...I think that doesn't hold as much weight as some of the other pieces. Money. Championship capability. Length of contract. Supporting pieces. As currently constructed, Chicago wins the fanbase and ownership categories. However, the Hawks win in the championship capability (regardless of how we got thumped in the 2nd round, we were still the 3rd seed), length of contract (we can give more) and money (we can offer more) categories. I'm not convinced that they have better pieces. Yes Rose is better than ANYTHING we have a pg. But Noah isn't better than Horford. Josh is better than what they have at PF. Crawford is better than Hinrich (although Hinrich is a better defender). My point is, going to Chicago, as currently constructed, isn't a slam dunk better situation than the Hawks, unless Joe knows something we don't and Lebron, Wade, Bosh, or Amare is going there or he has info in terms of what Chicago will do.

Unless Joe knows something we don't (and the chances are he does...he's the free agent player after all and friends with the other big names), what makes Chicago (a team that barely made the playoffs) a better destination than Atlanta IF you don't know for certain that Lebron, Bosh, Wade, or Amare is going there? I know Rose is a superstar point guard and Noah is a high energy big, but what makes them a better cast than Horford, Josh, Bibby, and Crawford? Again, the caveat is he doesn't know for sure that the other big name FA's aren't coming to Chicago. The Chicago newspapers are reporting he wants to "commit" to the Bulls soon? Was his stay in Atlanta that bad? As currently constructed the Bulls aren't any closer to a championship than the Hawks. In fact, I'd submit Deng and company are further behind us. And unless the Bulls are tampering and telling Johnson what they are planning on doing in the offseason or Joe and one of his buddies have made an under the table pact to go to Chicago, I can't see how Chicago is a better destination. Why? 1) Atlanta can pay him more money and give him a longer contract 2) Joe has claimed he likes Atlanta 3) Is Chicago that much closer to a championship than ATL? Given those variables, if things are on the up and up, for these Chicago sources to say he's moving towards leaving for the Bulls is a foregone conclusion seems absurd. That leads to my next questions; are things on the up and up? This postseason more than any has a scent attached to it that doesn't smell so good. Joe leaving could be huge because 1) if he goes to a team and we can't sign and trade him, we get nothing back in return and 2) we have no cap space to replace Joe with another 20 ppg scorer. If things aren't on the up and up, we have more to lose than just about anybody other than the Cavs or Heat if their star player leaves.