AJC report that Hawks preparing 6-year Bird Rights deal is devastating news to potential Joe Johnson suitors. He wants to stay in Atlanta.

Source: http://twitter.com/wojyahoonba

I dont think Atlanta will offer the max but they will offer that 6th year for an extra 10-15 million more than a max 5 year deal.

AnubisADL wrote:

BigSm00th wrote:Hawks are pathetic. Awful contract for a guy who is clearly not a max player. Were they watching their own games when they flamed out to Orlando? Whatever, it makes the Knicks less likely to get him I'm happy.

They dont have to offer him a MAX deal. Bird rights allow them the 6th yr. If Atlanta loses Joe Johnson they go back to lottery status. With Joe Johnson they are at least a lock to make the playoffs.

right. it depends on how much the offer is per year.

if the knicks come with a weak 5yr starting at $11.5M like sports illustrated suggested, there's no way.

if the knicks come with a 5yr max, it may be a different story.

gay will max out at 12 this upcoming year, leaving 24million to still spend. maybe you offer amar'e a max deal at 16, leaving you 8million and you can sign someone else. lee/felton/randy foye/josh howard are all options.

with the possibility of getting tony parker for curry/chandler, that's not a bad core... parker/gay/gallo/amar'e

crzymdups wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:this is good because i'd much rather end up with rudy gay.

gay will max out at 12 this upcoming year, leaving 24million to still spend. maybe you offer amar'e a max deal at 16, leaving you 8million and you can sign someone else. lee/felton/randy foye/josh howard are all options.

i actually agree with this.

but will amar'e really come to be the only veteran? i don't know...

i've always thought amar'e is a dog and im not all too enthralled with signing him, but fact is, he's a good player. he'll never live upto his potential, but he's still a good player. with all that said, i don't think he gets a max offer from anyone........ but the knicks.

crzymdups wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:this is good because i'd much rather end up with rudy gay.

gay will max out at 12 this upcoming year, leaving 24million to still spend. maybe you offer amar'e a max deal at 16, leaving you 8million and you can sign someone else. lee/felton/randy foye/josh howard are all options.

i actually agree with this.

but will amar'e really come to be the only veteran? i don't know...

i've always thought amar'e is a dog and im not all too enthralled with signing him, but fact is, he's a good player. he'll never live upto his potential, but he's still a good player. with all that said, i don't think he gets a max offer from anyone........ but the knicks.

if it comes to being shut down by all the big guys, i'd honestly prefer to retain David Lee and sign Rudy Gay and then pursue a trade with New Orleans for Emeka and Collison.

still have about $8M left over to fill out the roster - sign a good SG like Raja Bell or Anthony Morrow. maybe even Ray Felton (if we can't get Collison).

it's not the superstar haul we were thinking and dreaming of, but it'd be a solid fun team that can grow from within and should challenge for the playoffs immediately.

i absolutely agree.. i would much rather keep lee, im just not sure if this team is going too. let's say for a minute they do...

To Spend: 36 million
gay - 12 (starting)
lee - 10 (starting)
total = 22
amount leftover 14million

with that 14million, we could do ALOT of things. I would definitely be intrigued in splitting that 14million between Felton and Ray Allen.

Felton
RayRay
Gay
Gallo
Lee

this is just one option, but in anycase, going for the gay/lee combo gives us a TON more options.

nyk4ever wrote:this is good because i'd much rather end up with rudy gay.

gay will max out at 12 this upcoming year, leaving 24million to still spend. maybe you offer amar'e a max deal at 16, leaving you 8million and you can sign someone else. lee/felton/randy foye/josh howard are all options.

with the possibility of getting tony parker for curry/chandler, that's not a bad core... parker/gay/gallo/amar'e

i thought Gay maxed out at $12M but now I think the number is actually $14M.

nyk4ever wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:this is good because i'd much rather end up with rudy gay.

gay will max out at 12 this upcoming year, leaving 24million to still spend. maybe you offer amar'e a max deal at 16, leaving you 8million and you can sign someone else. lee/felton/randy foye/josh howard are all options.

i actually agree with this.

but will amar'e really come to be the only veteran? i don't know...

i've always thought amar'e is a dog and im not all too enthralled with signing him, but fact is, he's a good player. he'll never live upto his potential, but he's still a good player. with all that said, i don't think he gets a max offer from anyone........ but the knicks.

if it comes to being shut down by all the big guys, i'd honestly prefer to retain David Lee and sign Rudy Gay and then pursue a trade with New Orleans for Emeka and Collison.

still have about $8M left over to fill out the roster - sign a good SG like Raja Bell or Anthony Morrow. maybe even Ray Felton (if we can't get Collison).

it's not the superstar haul we were thinking and dreaming of, but it'd be a solid fun team that can grow from within and should challenge for the playoffs immediately.

i absolutely agree.. i would much rather keep lee, im just not sure if this team is going too. let's say for a minute they do...

To Spend: 36 million
gay - 12 (starting)
lee - 10 (starting)
total = 22
amount leftover 14million

with that 14million, we could do ALOT of things. I would definitely be intrigued in splitting that 14million between Felton and Ray Allen.

Felton
RayRay
Gay
Gallo
Lee

this is just one option, but in anycase, going for the gay/lee combo gives us a TON more options.

It would seem the 'smarter' option to me at least.

Max out your starters and you have no bench. 5 is not enough to play the game anymore. and you are one injury away from no longer being a great club. The best play would be to get as much young underpaid talent as possible. Not going to happen unless forced to though.

3 MC's would be in the $50 million neighborhood. Leaving only say 6 mill for the other 9 players on your team. Insane and unrealistic.

they just let ronnie brewer walk away saving some more coin...

if joe stays, rudy's matched and lebron stays in cleveland...chicago and/or ny are gonna get burned...

djsunyc wrote:all signs are pointing to memphis matching all offers for rudy gay.

they just let ronnie brewer walk away saving some more coin...

if joe stays, rudy's matched and lebron stays in cleveland...chicago and/or ny are gonna get burned...

Well I think in a worst case scenario we end up with JJ3/Lee. That's not much of an improvement, but it doesn't break the bank and allows for some additional FA help. I'm telling you tho that since DW did Tellem favors just last year, they've already got a plan to get JJ3 out of ATL and most likely viz S&T, so that the Knicks can add 3 Max players. I think DW and Tellem are just too tuned in to let this chance slip by. Tellem is gonna want his client in NY with Lebron, winning big and going to the finals every year. He doesn't want his man stuck in ATL where the fans aren't really that rabid for their team. He wants the big market with the huge fanbase and off court opportunities. BOOK IT!