Johnson’s Future: ESPN Insider

Ric Bucher at the All-Star Game

Johnson has relationship with D’Antoni

“Joe Johnson’s quiet nature has extended to his place in the 2010 free-agent class: most talent experts around the league consider him one of the three best shooting guards in the league, but his name generally hasn’t been grouped with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh and the other superstars expected to be available this summer. Some of that could be because the belief around the league is Johnson will elect to re-up with the Hawks or go to the Knicks, where he has a chance to be the mega-star he — again, quietly — believes himself to be. It’s a matter of comfort for Johnson, said one GM. Johnson would go to New York because he has a good relationship with Mike D’Antoni from when they were in Phoenix together and he knows he could thrive in D’Antoni’s system. But he also supposedly likes everything about his situation in Atlanta as well. Don’t put him in the mix to join Derrick Rose in Chicago, the GM said: too many unknowns, including the prospect of being second banana to Rose.”

joe johnson is still a great player. but he has gotten worse each of the last 3 seasons. He is on the downside, but still very good.

i doubt he leaves atlanta.. he has a great situation there in atl..much better then going to ny or the nets. and there young and getting better every year. i think the knicks have a better chance at getting lebron then joe and that is a small chance as well

I don’t know if Joe Joe has gotten worse but his stats have gone down, maybe just the development of other players on his team. Atlanta has come from a ok team to being a very good team, not real contenders yet but on the right track. They just need one more thing to go right for them to be contenders ala great draft, trade, free agent signing.

yeah i think its the other players getting better. ithey just need toget older and better. maybe add another bench player or 2 and let the young guys get older and more experienced. hell they might not even need to add another player with the way they have been getting better every year

Why do you doubt Johnson leaves Atlanta? They offered him a huge contract this summer and he turned it down… That should tell you something.

I wouldn’t say he’s gotten worse… He just hasn’t jumped to that elite, Kobe and Wade, level like everyone was expecting him to. He doesn’t deliver in the clutch, which has held him back. I think it’s the reason majority of people consider Roy to be better than him and that 3rd best two guard behind Kobe and Wade.

anything is possible but people doubt for many reasons

1. most big free agents dont leave
2. most turn down offers and wait till the summer to see if they can get more
3. because atlanta is on the rise and has a very good team
4. at a certain age players like to win now instead of rebuild again

these are the reason people think he wont leave. like i said anythign is possible but its more likely that he stays then go to a rebuilding team where there future rest upon this summer