thefloydian

I don't think LA is even in at this point. Would they really want Howard over Bynum? And would Bynum even be willing to sign with Orlando? Maybe I'm missing something.

I would. Even if we did that, there's a trade at the deadline for the discontented. I wouldn't mind getting back: a signed Brooks, Lopez, Humphries, and three #1 picks over 6 yrs. That's like the gift that keeps on giving. Think: Lopez, Smoove, Morrow, Brooks, and Harris. That team sucks.. (NJ 2010) but those first rounders and ending contracts.... It gives us plenty of places to start over. Not to mention the subsequent trade of Smoove. Whereas Horf is limited, Lopez is an offensive machine. If we keep Smoove, he's the rebounder.. if not, i would overpay for Ibaka. Then i would look at a future with Brooks, Teague, Lopez, and Ibaka and whoever else I can get to come here... FROM THE DRAFT. And if it's possible not to take him, i wouldn't take Humphries... give me Wallace, Marshon, and Lopez with 3 first rounders.

That team you just listed as the end result isn't any better than the current one, and you'd be drafting at around the 20 spot. It is painfully obvious that the only way to become a contender in a market like Atlanta is to either trick some elite players into signing with you (unlikely) or to suck really badly for a few years and luck into an MVP talent in the lottery. Everything else is just going to end in 1st/2nd round playoff exits.

Most likely what will happen is that Ferry will basically roll with this team next year, it will not be bad enough to get a top draft pick and the Hawks land no franchise changing FA's. I'm in the camp that thinks Teague, Harris, Al, Josh, ZaZa and Morrow is enough to get this team back as a lower seed team next year.. Making the draft next year mostly worthless for what this franchise needs. I mean, a mid first rounder next year is not going to cut it.

Agreed. If they aren't going to sign Howard and Paul, the only option that won't be a complete failure is to blow the whole thing up and try to rebuild through the draft.

You are picking one game to define Joe?...smh

I'm picking one of his most recent games that I remember. There are plenty of pathetic playoff games to pick from in Joe's Atlanta tenure. Anyone who thinks Joe Johnson is good enough to be the second best player on a championship team is lying to themselves. He's a really good third option who makes more than just about anyone else in the NBA.

It's Ok to land D12 but what's the point in landing him if we can't keep him and to compound it we've given up Teague and Al, then Josh decides that since D12 is leaving he won't resign as well. Also bear in mind Orlando is attaching Hedo or JRich's contract with D12.

Well I think all of this is obviously conditional on D12 signing with the Hawks. I think the only team crazy enough to trade for him without any guarantee is Houston.

The best move if the Hawks can't sign Paul and Howard is to be patient and rebuild. Too often in the NBA teams just throw money at whatever marginal all stars are available in free agency. I would much rather see the Hawks suck for a few years and rebuild through the draft than sign some Joe Johnson lookalike and continue their run of first/second round playoff exits and middling draft picks.

I'm shocked NJ would want to take on Turk's contract even if it meant getting Dwight. Part of me thinks.... Deron Joe Wallace Humphries Lopez with MarShon Brooks as the 6th man and Mirza Teletovic and Reggie Evans coming off the bench is a better squad than. DeRon Joe Turk Teletovic (unproven in NBA) Howard with Reggie Evans and a cast of scrubs off the bench. I may be completely wrong, but if, and it's a big if Lopez is healthy, I think that first squad is still a championship contender, especially coming out of the East.

Nets fans are happy you aren't their GM.

Joe scored 5 points in 30 something minutes in one of the Boston games didn't he?

This forum is just as insane as the last time I was here. You do whatever you have to if you can land CP3 and Dwight. This isn't rocket science.

In their defense they got one of the top shooting guards, they didn't give up Brooks or their draft pick and they are still very much in the hunt for Williams and Howard.

I don't know if he's even one of the top shooting guards in a vacuum, but I know for a fact he isn't when you consider how much he makes.

I don't see him landing in LA. I'm not sure the Lakers would want him over Bynum, but even if they did, do you guys really think Bynum would agree to sign a new contract with the Magic?

I hope so. Hopefully, I wake in the morning to talks of Smith traded for some legit starting SF or Center talent. I am not a dreamer and don't even want to spend a full basketball season reading threads and post about Dwight Howard and or Chris Paul.

I guess I spoke too soon.

I'm probably the only one who feels this way, but I honestly don't want Dwight on this team.

This might be the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen posted on a sports forum.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5380672

PHOENIX -- Tense negotiations with the Atlanta Hawks sent Josh Childress to Greece two years ago and kept him there last season.

The lanky swingman was all set to play a third season for Olympiakos when he received a call from his agent: We have a deal with the Phoenix Suns.

Deal Breakdown: Turkoglu to Suns

Raptors team president Bryan Colangelo officially hit "undo" on one of his worst mistakes and improved his team's cap situation, John Hollinger writes. Story Insider

Back to the NBA, on the West Coast no less?

There wasn't much of a discussion.

Childress returned to the NBA with a five-year contract on Wednesday when the revamping Suns acquired him in a sign-and-trade deal that sent a 2012 second-round draft pick to Atlanta.

"Deciding to leave the NBA was tough. Moving to another country, a different culture, a different language, different food, pretty much everything was completely different," Childress said. "I didn't know what to expect, but I'm happy with my decision and I'm happy with the way things ended."

The Suns weren't done in their quest to replace Amare Stoudemire, either.

Completing a deal that had been in the works for several days, Phoenix acquired forward Hedo Turkoglu in a trade that sent super-sub Leandro Barbosa and little-used forward/center Dwayne Jones to the Toronto Raptors. The Suns also got forward Hakim Warrick in a sign-and-trade deal with Chicago last week, giving them three players expected to fill the hole left by Stoudemire, a five-time All-Star who signed with the Knicks.

Turkoglu

Turkoglu

Childress

Childress

Turkoglu could be the most intriguing addition.

The 6-foot-10 forward from Turkey is a multidimensional playmaker and shooter who's been to the playoffs seven times in 10 career seasons, including a trip to the 2009 NBA Finals after being named the NBA's most improved player.

Turkoglu left Orlando for Toronto after the Finals run, but ended up having a mostly forgettable season with the Raptors. His scoring average dipped to 11.3 points and he was benched for a game late in the season after being seen out on the town the day after sitting out due to a stomach virus.

The Suns are hoping the 31-year-old will return to his form of two years ago, giving them a nice share-the-ball combination with two-time league MVP Steve Nash.

"Hedo is a versatile player and somebody who we always thought would fit into our system," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "He is a good ball handler who can create plays for other people and who can play three different positions. He'll fit well into what we're trying to do here."

Childress, the sixth overall pick out of Stanford in the 2004 NBA draft, had four solid seasons as the sixth man for the Hawks. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound slasher/shooter averaged 11.1 points and 5.6 rebounds, helping Atlanta end an eight-year playoff drought with a trip to the postseason in 2007-08.

After that season, though, Childress felt the Hawks were hardballing him in contract negotiations, so he took the surprising step of leaving the NBA to play overseas. He looked to return to the NBA after a first season with Olympiakos, but again was underwhelmed by Atlanta's offer and decided to stay.

Now that he's back in the NBA, the 27-year-old gives the Suns a good perimeter shooter -- 36 percent from 3-point range, 52 percent overall -- who can play and defend all over the court.

"Josh is a tremendous athlete who can play multiple positions," Gentry said. "We think he is going to be a great perimeter defender who can bring a lot on the offensive end as well with his ability to slash. Josh will add a lot to our team because he is so multitalented."

The Turkoglu deal does come at a cost.

Barbosa developed into one of the league's best sixth men in seven seasons with Phoenix, his scoring and 3-point shooting ability providing a huge lift off the bench for the always-charging Suns.

Barbosa, a close friend of Nash's, has a 12.6-point career scoring average and is a 39 percent 3-point shooter with an uncanny ability to hit big shots late in games. He's appeared in 64 playoff games and was named the league's best sixth man in 2006-07.

Barbosa will be a tough loss for the Suns, but a nice addition for the Raptors after they lost free agent Chris Bosh to the mega-team in Miami.

"Leandro Barbosa is a player I'm quite familiar with and I'm very pleased that he is coming to Toronto," said Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, who as the Suns' GM in 2003 arranged a draft-day deal that brought Barbosa to Phoenix. "His speed, quickness and scoring ability will mesh well with our desired playing style and talented young athletes."

You honestly think this guy makes the kind of impact that a max-player should make on nightly basis?

I will never get behind a 6 year $120 million contract. JJ disappears too much in the playoffs for that...

I guess ASG decided to pay up for him. But good grief!

The playoffs? He's hardly visible during the regular season for long stretches as well. The Cult of Joe Johnson is an amazing media creation.

The idea that players like Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire are about to get the kind of money that's being reported is unbelievable -- especially when you consider the current capitalist turbulence.

i can concur on that JJ in a couple years will give up and settle with the money to make his life not championships

I'd contend that he started early and was already doing that in this year's final playoff series.

Actually, it's a horrible idea for other reasons too (like he's not worth anything close to the max. Did you guys forget his playoff performance already?), but the original poster is correct with what he says. People talking about trades are delusional. People don't just trade you quality players for nothing. What are the Hawks going to trade for any player worthy of NBA minutes?

There is no way in hell Joe should be making anywhere near that money after the Orlando series.

MAX DEAL!

I don't even want him back if they beat the Magic.

Short answer: no.

It cracks me up that the media is just realizing this now. Any honest Hawks fan has known this since, at a minimum, last year.

I honestly believe Woody has planted a few relatives on this board to drum up support for his coaching. I can't understand how an unbiased Hawks fan could have watched him for the last 3 or 4 years and still back him to the death like northcyde.

If Woody puts up a hell of a series against Orlando (if we even make that) or goes to the ECF, then I will give Woody props. We're suppose to come this far! Not play all 7 games in the first round against a team who don't have their stars. Come on now.. This is our 3rd year straight in the playoffs. We're suppose to be better than this.

Exactly.