Joe Johnson only a yr older than Amare...

SunCardfan · February 8th, 2005, 07:38 AM

We always talk about how young Amare is... I think it's amazing JJ is only a little older. I think he lets the game come to him so it takes a little longer for JJ to develop, he could still be improving which is pretty scary initself... I really wish we had signed him at the beginning of the year!

I like Q ok but just shooting a lot of three doesn't impress me that much because he really doesn't hit that much.. I just hope we don't lose JJ because of Q. I think we could have signed JJ to the same deal. For my money JJ is more valuable.

George O'Brien · February 8th, 2005, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunCardfan

We always talk about how young Amare is... I think it's amazing JJ is only a little older. I think he lets the game come to him so it takes a little longer for JJ to develop, he could still be improving which is pretty scary initself... I really wish we had signed him at the beginning of the year!

I like Q ok but just shooting a lot of three doesn't impress me that much because he really doesn't hit that much.. I just hope we don't lose JJ because of Q. I think we could have signed JJ to the same deal. For my money JJ is more valuable.

JJ was taken after his sophomore year. Amare was a 19 year old HS senior who had only one full season of play in high school (he went to several high schools). It was this limited preparation that worried so many NBA scouts.

In terms of skills, JJ was vastly more polished than Amare when he entered the NBA. The problem was that he was not psychologically ready. Amare came into the NBA with a swagger that he never lost. It too JJ much longer to develop his confidence and it has made a world of difference.

Should the Suns have signed him last summer? We don't know exactly what his agent was asking for, but supposedly the Suns and JJ's agent were not terribly far apart. I'm not sure the amount JJ will get this summer will be vastly different than what he might have received last summer, but the Suns will be more assured that JJ deserves it.

cheesebeef · February 8th, 2005, 08:51 AM

I had this horrible dream last night we traded JJ for Darko on Detriot!

thegrahamcrackr · February 8th, 2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunCardfan

We always talk about how young Amare is... I think it's amazing JJ is only a little older. I think he lets the game come to him so it takes a little longer for JJ to develop, he could still be improving which is pretty scary initself... I really wish we had signed him at the beginning of the year!

.

This was my favorite line all of last season when people would bash him before the trade.

I also agree (and have said) many times the suns will be forced to pay a lot more to JJ this summer than they would have last summer. With that said, I can understand why management did it.

SunCardfan · February 8th, 2005, 10:49 AM

Why wouldn't they? They were willing to pay Q about what JJ wanted and I think JJ's numbers have always looked better and he can do more things like play point guard...

thegrahamcrackr · February 8th, 2005, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunCardfan

Why wouldn't they? They were willing to pay Q about what JJ wanted and I think JJ's numbers have always looked better and he can do more things like play point guard...

Because they had just committed 100 million in salaries. It would be a very bad business decision to committ another 50+ million when you have a completely redesigned team and have absolutely no idea how they will perform.

Factor in that JJ hadn't been the model of consistancy, so you could also be locking yourself into a bad long term deal. I mean most of us had faith in JJ, but it was far from certain that he would continue to perform this well.

Will the Suns pay for it this summer? Probably, especially if Cleveland looses out on Michael Redd. They knew there was a good chance of this happening though. Sarver even told JJ before the season, "Just go out and have a good year and you will be a very rich man."

Lets just hope the suns pay for it in dollars and not by loosing him though.

Note - I am definitely not in the group that maintains it is worth letting him leave if the price gets to 8-9 million. I do not think he would be replaceable. Perhaps someone could take his role, but they would not have nearly the impact that JJ has.

George O'Brien · February 8th, 2005, 12:57 PM

I am unclear as to how much they think JJ's agent was asking and how much he is likely to get this summer.

Let's go back over the cap situation. There are only four or five teams likely to have much cap space next summer unless they fail to sign their own guys. Here is what HoopsHype has listed as their projected salaries:

Atlanta - $20.2 million
Charlotte - $10.6 million
Chicago - $30.8 million but have Curry, Chandler, and Duhon as free agents
Cleveland - $23.9 million but have Illgauskus and McInness as free agents
Denver - $28.8 million but have Miller, Boykins, and Elson to re-sign
Golden State - $26.6 million but have Murphy to re-sign
Clippers - $$28.7 million but have Jaric, Simmons, Chalmers, Ross, and Moore as free agents
Milwaukee - $36.3 million but have Redd, Mike James, and Gadzuic to re-sign
Seattle - $22.3 million but have Ray Allen, Reggie Evens, and Ron Murry to re-sign

The number of playoff level teams which actually can offer more than $6 million a year to start is just not that high.

elindholm · February 8th, 2005, 01:01 PM

The number of playoff level teams which actually can offer more than $6 million a year to start is just not that high.

Don't forget that, at least in theory, Johnson and his agent could attempt to hold out and force a sign-and-trade.

thegrahamcrackr · February 8th, 2005, 01:01 PM

Supposedly JJ was asking for around 50/6years.

Cleveland will go after JJ if they miss on Redd. They will have near max money left to get him too. I think he will be higher up on the list compared to Allen (who may not even be available).

I would also look for Charlotte to go after him strong. He is the exact type of player they like, and would easily step in with Okafor as the foundation.

How can Miller/Boykins deals be up already? Also, Murphy was already resigned. Sounds like Hoopshype needs an update.

thegrahamcrackr · February 8th, 2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elindholm

The number of playoff level teams which actually can offer more than $6 million a year to start is just not that high.

Don't forget that, at least in theory, Johnson and his agent could attempt to hold out and force a sign-and-trade.

Not really. The Suns would need to take back near the same salary that Johnson would make, so it wouldn't make any sense for us to do it.

What they could do is nothing and take a 1 year tender I guess. I just really don't see that happening. Those kind of moves are made by punks like Randolph.

hcsilla · February 8th, 2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thegrahamcrackr

How can Miller/Boykins deals be up already?

No, they are not.

A more accurate summary of NBA teams' pay-rolls:

http://www.nba1.hu/fizetesek.php?csapat=DEN

George O'Brien · February 8th, 2005, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hcsilla

No, they are not.

A more accurate summary of NBA teams' pay-rolls:

http://www.nba1.hu/fizetesek.php?csapat=DEN

I'm not sure NBA1.HU is much better. They are totally screwed up on Eisley's contract for Phoenix.

hcsilla · February 8th, 2005, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George O'Brien

I'm not sure NBA1.HU is much better. They are totally screwed up on Eisley's contract for Phoenix.

Ugh, Eisley's contract was just taken from UTA's pay-roll, it will be fixed soon.