The Joe Johnson deal revisited

[ziggy]

This was the deal
August 19, 2005: Joe Johnson traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Atlanta Hawks for Boris Diaw, a 2006 1st round draft pick (Rajon Rondo) and a 2008 1st round draft pick (Robin Lopez).

At the time Atlanta was pilloried by pretty much everybody.  As I recall the owner that did the deal was pushed out.

Phoenix swapped Diaw for Jason Richardson, and Rondo was traded with Brian Grant to Boston for the pick the used to draft Rudy Fernandez, who they sold to Portland.  So for Phoenix it was basically Joe Johnson, Brian Grant & Raja Bell for Jason Richardson, Robin Lopez, and cash.

Looking back on it Atlanta was the clear winner.  What do the rest of you think?

[Derek Bodner]

I can't believe Phoenix virtually gave away Iguodala (they had the #7 pick in that draft) and Rondo to save money.

[ziggy]

I can't believe Phoenix virtually gave away Iguodala (they had the #7 pick in that draft) and Rondo to save money.

The took Luol Deng with the 7th pick, and swapped him to Chicago for Jackson Vroman and a #1 Pick, which they used to draft Nate Robinson who they traded with Q Rich to get Kurt Thomas & Dijon Thompson.  They then trade Kurt Thomas, & a 2008 1st round draft pick (Serge Ibaka) and a 2010 1st round draft pick to the Seattle Supersonics for and a 2009 2nd round draft pick (Emir Preldzic).

So in the end they traded
Joe Johnson,
Brian Grant,
Raja Bell,
Luol Deng,
Q Rich,
Sergio Ibaka,
and a #1 pick this year
for
Emir Preldzic,
Jackson Vroman,
Dijon Thompson
Jason Richardson,
Robin Lopez,
and cash.

[Lurker]

Good summary, ziggy.  The Suns felt they had a championship caliber team with D'Antoni coaching.  Sarver felt that he had the core and made most of these moves just to avoid the luxury tax.  Imagine if one of the big media market teams had been in this position...would they have given away so much or just paid the tax to keep the talent.

So in the end they traded
 
and a #1 pick this year (edit: could be lottery if Suns miss playoffs)

To a team that is on the rise in the west and has a solid young GM: OKC.

[westkoast]

I can't believe Phoenix virtually gave away Iguodala (they had the #7 pick in that draft) and Rondo to save money.

The took Luol Deng with the 7th pick, and swapped him to Chicago for Jackson Vroman and a #1 Pick, which they used to draft Nate Robinson who they traded with Q Rich to get Kurt Thomas & Dijon Thompson.  They then trade Kurt Thomas, & a 2008 1st round draft pick (Serge Ibaka) and a 2010 1st round draft pick to the Seattle Supersonics for and a 2009 2nd round draft pick (Emir Preldzic).

So in the end they traded
Joe Johnson,
Brian Grant,
Raja Bell,
Luol Deng,
Q Rich,
Sergio Ibaka,
and a #1 pick this year
for
Emir Preldzic,
Jackson Vroman,
Dijon Thompson
Jason Richardson,
Robin Lopez,
and cash.

Though in all fairness would Joe Johnson really be the JJ we know now had he stayed in Arizona under that system?  He wouldn't have been the man on that team like he is in Atlanta and wouldn't have expanded his game so much.

[Joe Vancil]

Phoenix won the trade - not Atlanta.

The fact is that Phoenix destroyed their franchise with moves that took place AFTER the trade.  The fact that Sarver turned out to be a cheapskate is the problem - not that Johnson flourished.

[ziggy]

Phoenix won the trade - not Atlanta.

The fact is that Phoenix destroyed their franchise with moves that took place AFTER the trade.  The fact that Sarver turned out to be a cheapskate is the problem - not that Johnson flourished.

Atlanta finished 3rd in the East, after missing the playoffs forever.  Joe J made Atlanta, and Boris Diaw and to middling 1st round picks was nothing in comparison.  Atlanta easily won the trade.

[westkoast]

Phoenix won the trade - not Atlanta.

The fact is that Phoenix destroyed their franchise with moves that took place AFTER the trade.  The fact that Sarver turned out to be a cheapskate is the problem - not that Johnson flourished.

Atlanta finished 3rd in the East, after missing the playoffs forever.  Joe J made Atlanta, and Boris Diaw and to middling 1st round picks was nothing in comparison.  Atlanta easily won the trade.

The question is would Joe Johnson have developed into the player he is now if he stayed on the Suns?  I don't think the Joe Johnson you see now would have been the Joe Johnson you would see had he stayed on the suns.  When he was in AZ he was strictly a long range threat with little to know middle range game.  He certainly wasn't getting into the lane over there like he does now.  I think the star power and the system the Suns had at the time would never have let Joe Johnson develop like he did being on a team with a fraction of the talent.

[ziggy]

The question is would Joe Johnson have developed into the player he is now if he stayed on the Suns? 

No, the question is did Atlanta or Phoenix win the trade?  Atlanta did.  They gave up Boris Diaw and a couple of first round picks for what we all thought was an over-rated wing.  We were wrong and Atlanta was right.  Joe Johnson is a high quality player, and he was able to thrive in Atlanta.

[westkoast]

The question is would Joe Johnson have developed into the player he is now if he stayed on the Suns? 

No, the question is did Atlanta or Phoenix win the trade?  Atlanta did.  They gave up Boris Diaw and a couple of first round picks for what we all thought was an over-rated wing.  We were wrong and Atlanta was right.  Joe Johnson is a high quality player, and he was able to thrive in Atlanta.

Your basis for saying they won the trade is based on what Joe Johnson was able to become when he was no longer the 4th option on a squad.   Boris Diaw worked out well for the Suns and filled a role off the bench they needed.  He was a bigger body who could shoot and caused a mismatch for a number of teams.  They were one hip check away from going to the finals with him coming up big in a number of series.  Boris Diaw got lost in the shuffle when Steve Kerr decided to go the wrong direction with the team.

It wasn't that he was an overrated wing in everyones mind, it was that he wanted too much money.  That is why he got moved.  He was going to bolt and it was clear to everyone.