RhymesayersDU
07-30-2005, 02:26 PM
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0730sunsnb0730.html
Johnson tells Suns owner not to match Hawks' offer
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 30, 2005 12:00 AM
Joe Johnson told ESPN.com Friday that he wants Phoenix to let him go to Atlanta.
ESPN.com reported that Johnson told Suns managing owner Robert Sarver this week that he would rather Phoenix not match the Hawks' five-year, $70 million offer sheet. He can sign the offer Tuesday, leaving the Suns a week to match and retain him.
Johnson told ESPN.com that the Suns still plan to match the offer, although a sign and trade could develop and would not have to match in salaries because Atlanta has cap room.
Johnson spoke out while in Toronto for Steve Nash's charity game.
"It's a lot of things," Johnson told ESPN.com. "How things were handled last summer (Sarver declined to give him $50 million for six years), how things have been handled this summer (Phoenix offered $60 million for six years). There's been some things going on that aren't great."
Johnson has not returned calls and canceled an early July meeting. His distaste for Phoenix is well known, according to other teams' officials. Talks turned nastier last week.
Johnson, 24, was wooed favorably by Atlanta, which told him he could be an All-Star and franchise face as a point guard. The Little Rock native prefers the South. Those close to him said he felt overlooked in the Suns' star pecking order.
Nash told ESPN.com that he tried to persuade him to stay.
"I would come back and work as hard as I ever have," Johnson told ESPN.com. "If they match, all this stuff is behind me from that minute on. I hope everybody puts everything behind them, too."
Johnson tells Suns owner not to match Hawks' offer
Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 30, 2005 12:00 AM
Joe Johnson told ESPN.com Friday that he wants Phoenix to let him go to Atlanta.
ESPN.com reported that Johnson told Suns managing owner Robert Sarver this week that he would rather Phoenix not match the Hawks' five-year, $70 million offer sheet. He can sign the offer Tuesday, leaving the Suns a week to match and retain him.
Johnson told ESPN.com that the Suns still plan to match the offer, although a sign and trade could develop and would not have to match in salaries because Atlanta has cap room.
Johnson spoke out while in Toronto for Steve Nash's charity game.
"It's a lot of things," Johnson told ESPN.com. "How things were handled last summer (Sarver declined to give him $50 million for six years), how things have been handled this summer (Phoenix offered $60 million for six years). There's been some things going on that aren't great."
Johnson has not returned calls and canceled an early July meeting. His distaste for Phoenix is well known, according to other teams' officials. Talks turned nastier last week.
Johnson, 24, was wooed favorably by Atlanta, which told him he could be an All-Star and franchise face as a point guard. The Little Rock native prefers the South. Those close to him said he felt overlooked in the Suns' star pecking order.
Nash told ESPN.com that he tried to persuade him to stay.
"I would come back and work as hard as I ever have," Johnson told ESPN.com. "If they match, all this stuff is behind me from that minute on. I hope everybody puts everything behind them, too."