Joe Johnson to the Hawks
ESPN.com is reporting that Phoenix will do a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Joe Johnson. The trade will give Johnson a $70 million, five-year contract, which is great for Joe, I guess, but it appears that his agent forgot to tell him that it would mean having to play for Atlanta. Johnson apparently asked Phoenix management not to match Atlanta's offer, saying: "It's a lot of things. How things were handled [with Johnson's contract] last summer, how things have been handled this summer. There's been some things going on that aren't great."
While it sucks not being given the respect one thinks he deserves, it's hard to imagine that such respect can't be bought for $70+ million dollars and playing for a team with a great fanbase and realistic chance at winning it all next year. No, instead Joe is taking his ego to Atlanta, where, I'm sure, the seven fans that show up each night will cheer him on with all their hearts and, with Joe's shooting and ball handling skills, might push this Hawks team to to win more than 13 games.
So, for Joe, it appears that winning isn't priority #1; money ain't there either, because Phoenix could have matched Atlanta's offer (perhaps). Instead, it's all about R-E-S-P-E-C-T, and Joe thinks that can be found in Georgia. I don't get it - if it isn't all about the money why not take a lighter payday for a team as strong/well-known as Phoenix was last year?
Good luck, Joe, 'cause I'm afraid that after next season 95% of the NBA fans will be saying, “Joe who?” Crazy.