Marc Stein is reporting that the Phoenix Suns and Atlanta Hawks are on the verge of completing a sign and trade with restricted free agent, Joe Johnson.
The proposed deal, according to sources, would bring guard Boris Diaw and two lottery-protected future first-round picks to Phoenix -- along with a trade exception in the $5 million range -- after Johnson signs a contract under terms established by Atlanta: $70 million over five years with an estimated balloon payment of $20 million up front.
Johnson has agreed to sign a five-year/seventy million dollar contract with the Hawks.
After maintaining for weeks that it would match any offer sheet Johnson signs, Phoenix chose a new course this weekend, ultimately deciding it was better for team chemistry to pursue a sign-and-trade with Atlanta instead of investing huge sums in a player who wants to leave.
Via ESPN
Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns
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A report on Friday indicated that Joe Johnson told the Suns that he doesn't want them to match the offer sheet he signs with the Hawks.
But Johnson also said Friday to Toronto's "The Fan" radio station when asked whether Phoenix was the best scenario for him.
"Probably so, more than likely so," Johnson said before a long, deep breath. "It's going to be tough. It's going to be real tough. Hopefully, everything will work out like we want it."
His posturing may have more to do with ensuring that a five-year offer that may be worth almost $72 million (with $18 million up front) is still on the table Tuesday.
Those close to him said he was upset when Phoenix would not go up $5 million to meet his request for $50 million for six years last summer, when the Suns gave Quentin Richardson a six-year, $43.5 million deal.
He was further unsettled this month when Phoenix offered $60 million for six years and asked him to choose between it and the Atlanta offer at one point. That prompted his request to Sarver, who intends to match the Hawks' offer. He has a week to do so once Johnson signs Atlanta's offer.
"It's a lot of things," Johnson told ESPN.com when asked why he would want to leave Phoenix. "It's the way things were handled last summer, how things have been handled this summer. There's been some things going on that aren't great."
Via AzCentral.com
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Steven Hunter, who showed much promise in his one year in Phoenix, is a free agent who is expected to make a decision this weekend about where he will play next year. He has narrowed his choices down to four teams - Dallas, New Jersey, Atlanta and Phoenix.
Hunter hopes to stay in Phoenix but could not get more than a one-year commitment for the minimum exception ($1.7 million) plus an option year from the team.
The 7-foot center is looking for a four or five-year deal and could end up with the Mavericks.
Via Arizona Republic
Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets
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Hawks Jul 2005 Archive
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Arizona Republic | Jul 30, 2005
Joe Johnson told ESPN.
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RealGM | Jul 29, 2005
Reports are beginning to come in that Joe Johnson intends to sign an offer sheet with the Atlanta Hawks. Johnson is a restricted free agent and the Suns will have seven days to match.
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B92 Sport | Jul 26, 2005
A veteran of 4 years in the NBA, Predrag Drobnjak decided to continue his career in Spain, agreeing to a 3 year deal with Tau Ceramica, which recently also signed Raptors' 2005 2nd round pick, Roko Leni Ukic.
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NY Daily News | Jul 26, 2005
The NY Daily News is reporting that one week after Larry Brown and the Pistons parted ways, Brown's former club offered Darko Milicic to the Atlanta Hawks for Al Harrington.
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Sports Illustrated | Jul 24, 2005
The 76ers have retained Samuel Dalembert, making good on their promise to re-sign all three of their free agents. Dalembert had attracted interest from other teams and had been scheduled to visit Atlanta on Monday
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Draft Express | Jul 22, 2005
Late 2nd round Atlanta Hawk draftee Cenk Akyol is putting on an absolute show for the NBA scouts and executives in attendance (amongst others) in the European Junior Championships in Belgrade, while the 12th pick of the Los Angeles Clippers, Yaroslav Korolev, is having trouble living up to the expectations of being a lottery pick.
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Chicago Tribune | Jul 20, 2005
Whereas the medical news Eddy Curry has received lately has been positive, there has been no encouraging news for the Bulls center when it comes to a long-term contract.
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ESPN | Jul 18, 2005
It looks like negotiations between the Philadelphia 76ers and restricted free agent Samuel Dalembert took a turn for the worse on Monday according to ESPN correspondant Chad Ford.
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NY Post | Jul 15, 2005
The NY Post is reporting that contrary to previous sentiments, the Suns have made no commitment to matching Joe Johnson's pending Hawks' $70M, 5-year offer sheet.
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ESPN | Jul 14, 2005
Eddy Curry visited the Hawks' facility on Thursday.
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Hawks Press Release | Jul 12, 2005
The Atlanta Hawks today signed rookie forward Marvin Williams to a contract, according to Executive Vice President/General Manager Billy Knight.
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Sports Illustrated | Jul 12, 2005
Randolph Morris was a no-show at the Atlanta Hawks' rookie camp Monday as the Atlanta native instead pursued the possibility of returning for his sophomore season at the University of Kentucky.
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Chicago Tribune | Jul 12, 2005
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Eddy Curry has agreed to undergo a physical examination by Atlanta Hawks doctors Thursday during his first free-agent stop.
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Chicago Tribune | Jul 10, 2005
According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune Eddy Curry has scheduled a visit to Atlanta for Monday-Tuesday, making his first official move in the free-agent market.
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ESPN | Jul 10, 2005
Joe Johnson's camp was informed Saturday that the Phoenix Suns intend to match Atlanta's expected five-year, $70 million offer to the restricted free agent, according to NBA front-office sources that spoke with ESPN's Marc Stein.
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Chicago Tribune | Jul 9, 2005
Bulls GM John Paxson is urging Eddy Curry to be patient with proceedings and things will get done, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.
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Arizona Republic | Jul 8, 2005
The Hawks are expected to offer restricted free agent, Joe Johnson, a maximum contract on July 22nd.
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Patrick Austin/RealGM | Jul 6, 2005
Chad Ford of ESPN is reporting that the Knicks and Hawks are in discussions about a blockbuster trade involving Stephon Marbury and Al Harrington.
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Chicago Tribune | Jul 6, 2005
David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune reports that on Tuesday restricted free agent center Eddy Curry made it through his second workout this week, his first physical activity since a heart condition sidelined him March 30.
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Hawks Press Release | Jul 5, 2005
Atlanta Hawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Billy Knight today announced that the organization has waived center Obinna Ekezie and forward James Thomas from the active roster.
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Chicago Tribune | Jul 3, 2005
According to John Paxson rival teams are free to wine and dine Bulls' free agents Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler and Chris Duhon as much as they like because in the end it will not matter.
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Patrick Austin/RealGM | Jul 2, 2005
This offseason is going to feature a plethora of extremely talented free agent centers.
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Atlanta Hawks PR | Jul 1, 2005
Atlanta Hawks Executive Vice President and General Manager Billy Knight today announced that the club has declined to pick up the option on the contract of center Predrag “Peja” Drobnjak, making the 6-11 center an unrestricted free agent.
