flava Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Johnson deal hits a snag Hawks' co-owner Belkin hasn't signed off on trade By SEKOU SMITH and TIM TUCKER The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 08/03/05 The Hawks' pending deal for Joe Johnson hit a snag Tuesday because one of the team owners, Steve Belkin, has not signed off on completing it, two people familiar with the situation said. The team's other owners and management are in favor of the deal. Belkin plays a pivotal role as the team's NBA Governor. The NBA requires the governor's endorsement on a deal before it can go through. Calls to Belkin's home and cell phone were not returned Tuesday night. Indications are that Phoenix wants to complete the deal. Team president Bernie Mullin, reached at home Tuesday night, declined comment. Reached in Las Vegas Tuesday afternoon, Hawks general manager Billy Knight admitted there was a procedural "snag," but expressed hope the deal will be completed. "There are some things we have to work out, some things that have to be taken care of," Knight said. "But we'll get it taken care of and move on." Suns president Bryan Colangelo would not comment on the deal "until our business is complete." The Hawks and Suns agreed in principle to the sign-and-trade deal Sunday. The Hawks get Johnson for five years and $70 million, in exchange for Boris Diaw and two future lottery-protected draft picks. The Suns would also receive a trade exception of about $10 million. The 6-foot-8 Johnson, averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists last season for the Suns, who won a league-best 62 games and advanced to the Western Conference finals. The Hawks also extended an offer sheet to Milwaukee center/forward Zaza Pachulia, like Johnson a restricted free agent. The Bucks have seven days to either match the four-year $4 million offer to Pachulia or lose him without compensation. Colangelo told reporters in Phoenix Monday they had every intention of matching any offers to Johnson. But that was before he informed them late last week he wanted to play for the Hawks. "The intention was to match. But we started hearing stuff about Joe not wanting to come back which we didn't want to believe," Colangelo said. "What it really gets down to is this: how can you go ahead and match a contract that's $70 million for someone who tells you point blank that he'd rather be somewhere else? You can't do that. The risk is too high." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flava Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 this multiple ownership group thing is screwing the Hawks. we should have had this deal approved today. also, wasn't billy suppose to have the power to do what he thought was the right thing for the team. reasons like these are why the hawks are the laughing stock of the league.... flava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plainview1981 Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Agreed. A complete joke. I honestly haven't been impressived with this new ownership to be honest with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OGRat Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I read that we had offered but never saw that he had signed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flava Posted August 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 don't think so, otherwise NBA.com would report it. either that, or Belkin didn't sign off on it.... flava Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickJYD Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 What the hell is Belkin doing? You'd think he could be available to sign some paperwork on the biggest day of Hawk buisness during the summer!!! Maybe Belkin has decided that hes a genius, that he doesnt want Joe, and is now trying to find a way to trade for Tariq Abdul Wahad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plainview1981 Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Belkin appears to be a Jack... well you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TnDawg Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I don't think Belkin is a BK fan. He appears to be at odds with the rest of the owners who supports BK plans on how to build a team. I hope in the future the other guys can buy him out, if not we may be headed for trouble. I wished the Gearons had the overall power over the Hawks. They are more committed to the home team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted August 3, 2005 Premium Member Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 What's the purpose of Having BK run the day to day affairs of the Hawks and he not have the power to get the deal done... Or Bernie Mullin not having the power to get the deal done. As I have said before... Belkin won't be with us long... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted August 3, 2005 Premium Member Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Belkin sees the Hawks as an investment and a way to the NBA Board of Governors. He doesn't see us as a team trying to win. So when you talk about spending 70 million on one player, I can imagine that he doesn't see the reason for an investment. He would probably rather continue to draft lottery picks... they're cheaper. As a team, we will never prosper with this Sterling approach to running the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted August 3, 2005 Premium Member Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I would be happier with Washington/Atlanta running the Hawks too. I think that if Belkin is unhappy, then he sell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TnDawg Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Can We say AOL..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inside_Man Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 Belkin's probably asking the obvious question. Why are we doing this sign and trade instead of just having JJ sign the offer sheet and challenge the Suns to match it? Call their friggin bluff. Are we giving up picks because we're cowards? The point of restricted FAs means you have to OVERPAY to get someone. So, okay, we're overpaying, so there's no need to throw in Boris and picks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB21 Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 I think you guys are overreacting. The deal will get done today, and I'm sure there will be a good explanation of where Steve Belkin was on yesterday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted August 3, 2005 Premium Member Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 This is a HUGE Rip... HUGE. I don't know if we can possibly move pass this Rift... BK has done an excellent job of trying to save face on the issue, but if one of our owners is not in favor, it points to the flaws in this multiple owner system. And since Belkin actually sits on the board of Governors, that's a huge problem for us. I think the results may be tragic as to what will happen. We could possibly screw the pooch on this deal... I applaud BK for trying to make something so big seem so small, but in reality, this is a huge problem!! Huge!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member Diesel Posted August 3, 2005 Premium Member Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 AOL was more organized than this... They just didn't know Jack about running a basketball team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheDude Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 i agree... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swolehawk2 Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 if this deal didn't go through because of ownership.....as long time Hawks fans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin chillzatl Posted August 3, 2005 Admin Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 this amounts to a guy needing to sign some papers and not being available to do it. He's not stalling, he's not trying to block the deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KB21 Posted August 3, 2005 Report Share Posted August 3, 2005 That's what I'm thinking. I don't believe that Belkin is sitting in Boston trying to think of a way to screw the deal. Fans have a way of taking something minor and blowing it completely out of proportion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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