Well, here I sit, typing away again, hoping that Dominique Wilkins gets better and appreciative that Mike Glenn filled in so well on last night’s telecast.
During the game against Phoenix, “The Stinger” and I were comparing notes and both agreed that by any measure, the trade that brought Joe Johnson from Phoenix to Atlanta has to go down as one of the greatest trades in Hawks history.
Remember?
August 19, 2005 proved to be one of the most important days in Atlanta’s basketball history.
That was the day the Hawks acquired Joe from the Suns in a sign and trade. The Hawks sent Boris Diaw and two draft picks to the Suns to obtain a player who would turn the franchises’ fortunes around. (One pick, the Suns used to draft Robin Lopez; the other was traded to Boston). Joe left a great team in Phoenix to join a Hawks team that had just finished a 13-win season.
To say that Joe has been a great player for the Hawks would be an understatement.
First, the trade proved to be one of the best in Hawks history. Atlanta acquired an all-NBA player, and a perennial Eastern Conference all-star. Joe has represented the Hawks in five straight All-Star games. And the way he has played this season since Al Horford’s season-ending injury, a sixth straight berth is well within reach.
The pride of Little Rock, Arkansas, Johnson has been the consummate professional during his stay in Atlanta. Non-demonstrative, all Joe does is go out and do whatever coach Larry Drew asks: play the two-guard position, sometimes the ‘three’ (small forward), guard the opposition’s best perimeter shooter, rebound, assist, and never come off the floor.
Did you know that Joe has led the Hawks in assists in every season he has played for the Hawks? (Only this season, Jeff Teague has taken the assist lead away from Joe).
Since Al went down with his torn pectoral muscle, Joe has been outstanding. In the first 10 post-Horford injury games, Joe has averaged 20.7 PPG. He was the driving force behind at least five wins of the eight in those 10 games recently. Joe scored 26 in the second half to push the Hawks to a January 23rd win in Milwaukee, and last Friday night in Detroit, stole a pass late and drained an unbelievable three-pointer with 1.9 seconds left to send the game in overtime, a game the Hawks would win, 107-101.
Since the day he arrived, Joe Johnson has been the best player on the floor for the Hawks. That has been the case since August of 2005 when the Suns sent him to the Hawks and a new day dawned in the ATL.
Sometimes its hard to look past the days’ news and current three-game losing streak, but Joe’s has proved himself as one of the league’s best.
A great trade, no doubt.
