for what it's worth, JJ and his agent still feel >

[chillzatl]

that the deal IS going to happen. He's coming into town this week, or maybe it was today, to look for houses. So those of you that are worried that JJ is going to want to go elsewhere because of this, you can stop worrying. At least on that issue.

[Plainview1981]

Link?

[chillzatl]

no link, direct from my source.

[Plainview1981]

Ok then.... source?

[emorystar]

wow, great news to hear.

[chillzatl]

"my source", same one I always get info like this from. It's more reliable than anything you will read on espn.

[Plainview1981]

I was just joking around

[Admin]

assembling shoes in a 3rd world country by the end of the week making pennies an hour so he can earn a profit, then this is good news. Thanks!

[WraithSentinel]

That is good to hear. I still think the deal will go down regardless of what the judge rules.

[Seano]

Yeah that's great news. I was worried he might get tired of waiting around or upset about it, but am very happy to hear that at least he and his agent believe the deal's still going to happen.

[DominiqueWilkins]

You don't your own personal soruces out, but you just throw the news out there.

I'm not at all worried about JJ not becoming a Hawks.

[NickJYD]

I wish I was as confident as JJ and his agent. This situation still seems beyond screwed up as far as I am concerned. I have never heard about any situation like this, so its hard to figure out what is going to happen in court tomorrow.

[KB21]

.....Joe Johnson's agent, Arn Tellum. He's probably the most powerful agent in basketball. He's the basketball equivalent of a Drew Rosenhaus or a Leigh Steinberg. Arn typically gets what he wants.

[NickJYD]

Maybe your boy Arn would like to buy out Belkin? Cause at this point, that might be the way out of this mess.

[delanceyj]

Quote:

---

Maybe your boy Arn would like to buy out Belkin? Cause at this point, that might be the way out of this mess.

---

Somebody give P Diddy a call... or maybe J- Dupree

[warcore]

p diddy?...dupree?...dude! Otis Nixon is where its at!!

not really. but seriously, that would be sweet if Arn would buy out his contract.

[cyman3]

I dont think sports agents (even the RICHEST ONES) have that kind of money to buyout a owner.

dont sports agents make like, 10% of a player's salary?

suppose Arn had like 15 Joe Johnsons as clients. then what, he makes $15-20 million?

owners are richer than that.

[chillzatl]

I've been privy to some of the checks that are sent to agents on behalf of players from contracts and signing bonuses. His agent will make about 7-10mil off Joe's contract and signing bonus. Consider that even at 70mil, Joe is a small fish compared to a lot of his clients. He also has 10+ agents that work under him, taking care of about 250 or so athletes.

Belkins stake in the LLC is probably 60mil. Tellem could buy him out. But why would he want to? He'd lose all his other, easy, revenue.

[Weez]

wouldn't matter. the NBA would never approve him as an owner, given the obvious conflict of interests that he would pose.

he'd have to quit his job as an agent first...and do you really think that's going to happne?

[Admin]

took over as GM of the Arizona Diamondbacks this past offseason. He was one of the best in the business in baseball and gave it up to be a GM where he I doubt he will make even close to the same amount of money. I would bet that if an ownership opportunity came about for an agent where they could buy in as part of a large group they wouldnt hesitate to do it, but yeah they would probably have to give up their job as an agent first.