Joe Johnson was a polarizing figure when he played for the Hawks. So it's not surprising the news that they are among the teams interested in his services -- and one of the favorites to land him now that he's a free agent -- has sent fans in different directions.
I haven't read every response on all forms of social media and email but I'd say the masses have been pretty close to split, if not slightly leading against the signing. To be honest, I expected worse.
If you want to get caught up on all-things Johnson, you can read my thoughts on the potential deal (linked here).
Here's a column I wrote with the recent Brooklyn guard last season (linked here), in which he had some interesting things about the trade out of Atlanta (the first step in the Hawks' rebuild).
Also, here's a link to Chris Vivlamore's story.
So now it's your turn. Should the Hawks re-sign him?
I understand online fan polls are anything but scientific. But they can be fun to look at and it gives you a chance to sound off. My view on Johnson: Since the Hawks are sinking like a stone in the Eastern Conference and Johnson would be signed for something close to the NBA minimum, I see minimal risk involved. The part of this scenario that I'm having difficulty getting my head around is the assumed Hawks' premise that Johnson would be willing to accept a reduced a role in the Hawks' share-the-ball offense.
Most seem to make Cleveland the favorite to land Johnson for obvious reasons: The Cavaliers present a better chance to go deep in the playoffs and possibly win the title than any other likely bidder. (Oklahoma City would have to go through Golden State and/or San Antonio in the West just to get to the finals.) But Johnson has family and friends in Atlanta and enjoys this part of the country, which also explains why Miami is considered a legitimate contender.
UPDATE: There are multiple reports that Miami might be in the lead now, from ESPN's Chris Broussard and the Miami Herald's Ethan Skolnick:
Johnson became a free agent when he and Brooklyn negotiated a buyout of his $24.9 million salary this season. He left $3 million on the table to get out of the deal, prompting Nets general manager Sean Marks to say on a New York sports talk show, "It shows Joe's serious about going to a contender."
So sound off: yea or nay on Johnson. Vote in the poll and comment below.
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