So, Joe Johnson said Mike Woodson was one of the main reasons he signed with the Hawks in July 2005.
According to my bookmaker, who never needs a pencil and paper to do the math (how proud his grammar school nuns must be), that brings his total number of reasons $70 million and one.
Johnson also said re-signing (or not) Woodson will factor into his summer decision whether to continue playing for the Hawks.
Granted, I may be confused by the indistinguishable pap being churned out by rising free agents whenever Knicks’ beat writers are within the sound of their chant. Still, isn’t this the same guy who only just proclaimed enduring respect for coach Mike D’Antoni?
This should clinch Johnson’s certification as a “coach’s player.”
Rarely do you see such pervasive non-amateurish support of such a common enemy.
Naturally, Johnson’s flattering remarks about D’Antoni got him everywhere with New York’s repeatedly ripped off reporters.
Conspiracy theories abounded. Supposedly, Knicks president Donnie Walsh and Arn Tellem are so friendly they plan to play footsie to make the 6-foot-7 guard a Knick.
As if an abiding relationship between the Knicks president and the potent L.A.-based agent, no matter how courteous, can offset the outstanding detriments to any such deal.
Last things first: Checking out of Atlanta — a top four team in the East that was a conference also ran until Johnson became its franchise player — to join a grubby outfit like the Knicks at age 29 (July 29) is backward thinking. Been there, done that, and the birth was hardly beautiful; for two seasons (26 and 30 wins) he second guessed his judgment to force a sign-and-trade, and questioned his aversion to hold down Steve Nash and Amare’ Stoudemire on the Suns stage.
Conversely, these last three seasons (37, 47, 49 wins and counting), as the supporting actors kept being upgraded and others improved, Johnson prospered proportionately in his role as leader of the playoff pack.
Other than those easily led astray investigative types, who honestly believes Johnson would leave a team he hoisted toward the top of the standings and whose stands he helped replenish? Why give up a situation that allows him to become All-Star relevant and handle and shoot the ball whenever he wants, as often as he pleases?
So, one way or the other, the Knicks have no chance to hire Johnson, either as their deadliest gunslinger or as deputy dog to LeBron James.
Especially, the latter!
Ain’t no way Johnson is going to modify his style of game and downscale his governance to be LeBron’s understudy.
First thing last: None of the above mentioned grounds will be Johnson’s decisive motive for rejecting the Knicks, should they even proposition him. Except, perhaps, for LeBron and Dwayne Wade, his bottom line is no different than every other player’s bottom line.
(I’m not saying LeBron and Dwyane Wade can be had for less money if circumstances are ideal on other fronts, but certainly they’re in position to afford to accept less because they have so many other opportunities to get even and richer still.)
Johnson’s bottom line with the Hawks, should they offer a 6-year maximum contract, including 10 ½ percent incremental raises, will be $25 million in excess of what the Knicks are allowed to offer him over five years, including 8½ percent bumps.
That’s a conservative number. Next season’s salary cap amount won’t be known until July. So, it could be more.
Even if the Hawks pull back a bit, the disparity between what the Knicks can give still will be $15-to-$20 million in arrears over the life of the deal. Off hand, I can’t recall a single professional player who has ever left that large a paper trail behind, coach’s player, or not.
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If Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov is so hot to trot with apparently disinterested Mike Krzyzewski, he should buy Duke University and move it to Brooklyn. Nets president Rod Thorn doesn’t seem to fit into that equation. His name is too easy to spell and pronounce. . . . Don’t be surprised if one day real soon John Calipari resurfaces as a suitor to run the Nets’ front office and sideline.
Don’t put any stock in Avery Johnson interviewing for the Nets job unless he’s the sole candidate under consideration. At least, that was his haughty stance when the 76ers approached agent Tony Dutt about his client before (now outgoing) Eddie Jordan was hired. Should the Shinn family sell its majority share of the Hornets, a prospect gaining thrust, sources say Johnson is almost guaranteed to be first choice to succeed Jeff Bower, who figures also to be out as general manager.
Clippers GM Neil Olshey is speaking to agents representing coaches, as well as executives from other teams regarding nominees for the impending vacancy when interim Kim Hughes is cut loose April 15. . . . Manu Ginobili and Bill Bradley are the lone players to boast the trifecta — Olympic gold, Euroleague championship and NBA title. Bob McAdoo-inspired teams flaunt the second two. . . . Michigan State has named its newly minted rebounding award after former Knicks forward “Jumpin” Johnny Green.
This just in: Loved the precision, preparation and plan of Butler coach Brad Stevens to foul Michigan State with a couple ticks left on the clock during their Final Four victory rather than give the Spartans a chance to go for a 3-point tie? D’Antoni should only be so smart.