Shaq blames lockout (in part) on Joe Johnson

[SpecialQue]

Pretty convenient for him to talk about over-payed players after retiring. Someone needs to post a gif of zombie Shaq shambling across the court from last season.

[Droid101]

Not JJ's fault at all. In fact, if he made less, the owners would just have had to pay out more at the end of the season to get the players up to 57% BRI.

That number is the problem.

[Big#50]

Despite the stats Shaq is worth his contract. He is still Shaq. He still makes the news, sells jerseys, ratings etc. Who the fukk is Joe Johnson? Dude is a top 20 player. I dont even think he's the best player on his team. He scores, nothing else.

[ihatetimthomas]

And Shaq was worth the $20mil he made the last 2-3 seasons?

Same Shaq who said "I'm not KG, I dont take paycuts." in regards to the whole drama about who L.A should keep and Shaq contract extension was too much. And how Shaq wasnt going to work with L.A on taking less.

But Joe Johnson gets offered a max deal and its his fault we're in the lockout? No. You can make a good argument to why you feel the wreckless nature of contracts being given out if you want to Shaq. But to single out one player is wrong. What a jackass.

When Shaq was given his contract, he was certainly worth it. You cant even say JJ is worth that contract in year one of the deal.

Reading, Shaq's quotes, he is using JJ's deal as an example to why the NBA is in the place it is. His argument holds truth. Owners shelling out that kind of dough to players who dont deserve it and when they can't afford it. Dont really see how Shaq is being a jackass here. What he says is true. Its not only JJ, but its those types of deals that are making owners lose money. There does need to be some kind of system protecting the owners.

[MiseryCityTexas]

I can agree to that.

But so was Drew Gooden, Hakeem Warrick, Jared Dudley, David Lee... on it goes. Shaq singling out Joe is just wrong.

warrick been overrated since his college career. mello made him look better than what he actually was in college.

[Smoke117]

Joe Johnson is a franchise player? LMFAO. The overrating of Joe Johnson in this thread is hilarious. He should have NEVER got that contract or even close to it. There should be no blame on him though...what player or human being for that matter isn't going to take the money when its offered? The blame completely lies on the owners and franchises who were idiotic enough to pay him this kind of money.

[hawkfan]

Joe Johnson got overpaid - 4 years, 20 million would be accurate, given his talent, production and the fact he hasn't gotten his team to a conference finals.

Even so, his current deal for 4 years is ok. It's the last two years when he is old and broken down that he won't be worth it.

Guys who don't produce on their 5th and 6th years of their contract is far and away the biggest problem for the NBA in terms of salaries.

4 years max length for regular contracts, 3 years max length for MLEs.

[Ikill]

Despite the stats Shaq is worth his contract. He is still Shaq. He still makes the news, sells jerseys, ratings etc. Who the fukk is Joe Johnson? Dude is a top 20 player. I dont even think he's the best player on his team. He scores, nothing else.

He had a down year because of an injury but he's still the best player on the Hawks. JJ does a lot more than just score he pretty mcuh does everything

[longtime lurker]

Joe Johnson is a franchise player? LMFAO. The overrating of Joe Johnson in this thread is hilarious. He should have NEVER got that contract or even close to it. There should be no blame on him though...what player or human being for that matter isn't going to take the money when its offered? The blame completely lies on the owners and franchises who were idiotic enough to pay him this kind of money.

100% correct. The owners have themselves to blame. Atlanta has trouble putting fans in the seat, so what do they do? Overpay Joe John only to still struggle to put fans in the seats. Really can't blame the player for accepting, I'm sure the owners wouldn't stop Joe Johnson if he was willing to accept way less than market value

[ShaqAttack3234]

Did anyone actually read the link? Shaq didn't blame Joe for taking it, he just said that Joe isn't worth the money.

JJ is a franchise player and the third best SG in the league.

People criticizing his contract when Bosh got a 110 million is just ridiculous. He was worth more to the Hawks than people realize. Without him they win 35 games max. go back to losing and even worse attendance numbers, no playoff revenue.

the hawks were a dleague team before his arrival, he's earned this deal.

Definitely not a franchise player, and 3rd best SG? Don't know about that. I'd take Manu over him, and quite a few other players are debatable, particularly based on last season.

And how good would the Hawks be without Smith or Hoford? Joe hasn't even been Atlanta's best player the last 2 seasons, and there are other players who played a huge part in their turnaround.

It certainly wasn't just Joe, especially when you consider that they were 26-56 his first year there and 30-52 his second year there(he missed 25 games, but they were still just 21-36 with him). Third year, they made the playoffs, but were just 37-45. And it's not like Joe has gotten better since then, but his team has.

Bosh is also a much player than Joe, and with guys like Arenas, Lewis and a variety of others, Bosh's contract is far from noteworthy.

[hawkfan]

Joe Johnson isn't the problem.

The real problem are guys like Antoine Walker, Eddy Curry, Larry Hughes, Baron Davis, Steve Francis, Jerome James - guys who either got fat or lazy (or both) and who didn't produce anything at all.

Really a lockout and canceling the whole season would be good for the owners because it would shed one year of bad contracts, making cap space much more manageable across the board next year.

[RoseCity07]

I think Joe Johnson contract was given because the hawks would spend the extra money they paid him in trying to find a replacement of equal value. The thinking behind Shaq's last 20 million dollar seasons. I don't know how you explain that.

[Walker]

"I think we need a system that protect the owners from each other.

[GOBB]

When Shaq was given his contract, he was certainly worth it. You cant even say JJ is worth that contract in year one of the deal.

Reading, Shaq's quotes, he is using JJ's deal as an example to why the NBA is in the place it is. His argument holds truth. Owners shelling out that kind of dough to players who dont deserve it and when they can't afford it. Dont really see how Shaq is being a jackass here. What he says is true. Its not only JJ, but its those types of deals that are making owners lose money. There does need to be some kind of system protecting the owners.

Shaq was given a 5yr $20mil deal. Thats $100mil, you're telling me he was worth it? Shaq was given that for a quick win situation which Miami got and then shipped that contract out to other teams who didnt benefit from the big fella who made $20mil a year. What owners made money in those 5 years he broke the bank?

JJ isnt worth his contract and neither was Shaq. But teams both Atlanta and Miami made the decisions to shell out fat contracts and deal with it later on.

You're saying there should be a system to protect the owners? Protect them from what? Themselves?

Gms override owners now? Atlanta didnt have to give Joe Johnson the contract. They could have offered him a reasonable deal, perhaps a lil more than the highest offer he recieved and let the chips fall where they may. They didnt. They overpaid. And you want a system to stop them from doing it when they made the choice too? I'm not understanding that logic one bit.

[Walker]

Shaq was given a 5yr $20mil deal. Thats $100mil, you're telling me he was worth it? Shaq was given that for a quick win situation which Miami got and then shipped that contract out to other teams who didnt benefit from the big fella who made $20mil a year. What owners made money in those 5 years he broke the bank?

JJ isnt worth his contract and neither was Shaq. But teams both Atlanta and Miami made the decisions to shell out fat contracts and deal with it later on.

You're saying there should be a system to protect the owners? Protect them from what? Themselves?

Gms override owners now? Atlanta didnt have to give Joe Johnson the contract. They could have offered him a reasonable deal, perhaps a lil more than the highest offer he recieved and let the chips fall where they may. They didnt. They overpaid. And you want a system to stop them from doing it when they made the choice too? I'm not understanding that logic one bit.

Do you really believe for one second New Jersey and probably Chicago too didn't offer JJ a max deal? Come on dude.
Atlanta had two choices, give him a max deal or don't and watch another team give it to him.
It's a catch 22 for owners in the current climate. Pay the huge dollars and lose money or let the stars walk and have the fans revolt...