Jalen Johnson may be better than De'Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish

[RedDawg#8]

On 4/12/2024 at 9:44 PM, kg01 said:

Doo dah doot doot, doo dah doot doot ... JJMaxx

Knowing us, yes, and then we will be trying to trade him in 2-3 years like we do everyone we extend.

[AHF]

I think he shouldn’t get a max given his injury history.  Hoping it will be like Steph Curry where his RFA and injury history lead to a good deal and he continues to progress along with growing past the health issues.

[JayBirdHawk]

What does this mean for JJ?

Quote

Jonathan Kuminga could fetch more than $30 million per year in free agency

The most important was Jonathan Kuminga, who just wrapped up a career year and is eligible for an extension this summer. Kuminga’s potential to build on his breakout 2023-24 campaign—in which he averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 74 games—is one of the Warriors’ most realistic avenues toward raising their ceiling as a team. But for as much as Kuminga’s athleticism provides a necessary jolt to the Warriors’ beautiful game, his decision-making occasionally leaves the coaching staff scratching their heads or opting to turn to Wiggins in crucial moments. The Warriors brass has valued Kuminga highly in recent years, but extension negotiations will be telling, as his public complaints about his playing time earlier this season suggest that he and the Warriors may not see eye to eye about his role. Some analysts believe Kuminga could fetch more than $30 million per year on the open market, a figure that would make him the second-highest-paid player on Golden State’s roster.

 

– via The Ringer

JJ averaged 16 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists.

[bird_dirt]

On 4/18/2024 at 6:33 PM, JayBirdHawk said:

What does this mean for JJ?

JJ averaged 16 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists.

JJ reading that headline

Edited April 23 by bird_dirt

[KB21]

If you have been listening to ATL and 29 with KL, Tyler, and Glenn, and Locked on Hawks with Brad and Tyler, you will have heard them talk about this.  
 

Jalen doesn’t have anything else from a skill standpoint he needs to work on.  His next leap is going to come when he learns just how hard he has to work to be in the right physical condition to be a superstar level player.  He’s got the athleticism and skill level to push being a 25 PPG/10 RPG/5 APG player that can play big time defense.  

[hylndr11]

exactly - the thing with JJ is going to be staying on the court.

[AHF]

1 minute ago, hylndr11 said:

exactly - the thing with JJ is going to be staying on the court.

That describes half our team. (Kudos to Bogi this year).

[JayBirdHawk]

The Best of the NBA’s Next Generation Rankings

The 25 best players in the NBA age 25 and under

 

21. Jalen Johnson

Age: 22 | Top 100 ranking: 71 | Overall score: 30.3
16.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 0.8 blocks, 56.2 eFG%, 56 GP

Reason for hope: Top 1 percent in terms of athleticism and feel for the power forward position. A plus motor. Human highlight reel. Flashed competence from distance this season, albeit at a pretty low volume. The former 20th pick looks more like the premier prospect he was coming out of high school, and a potential building block for the next phase in Atlanta.

Reason for doubt: Johnson struggled to stay on the floor this season, missing 26 games due to injury. And he’s ultimately the kind of guy who needs to be set up by plus playmaking, as he lacks a true “bag” on offense: a problem, of course, that may be exacerbated if he’s minus one of the league’s truly best setup guys next season in Trae Young.

Bold prediction: Johnson will lead the Hawks in scoring next season. Young’s ball dominance will likely be out the door, and even if Dejounte Murray stays, Quin Snyder will craft an attack centered around the franchise’s true centerpiece. —Wosny Lambre

 

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2024/5/22/24162049/best-nba-players-25-and-under-rankings

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

Just came across a Twitter fight  between Hawks fans/Peachtreehoops regarding playing Jalen Johnson at SG. 

Lots of insults and name calling. 

which ones of you are Squawkers ? 

 

 

 

Started with these I guess:

Trae Jalen Johnson Hunter Sochan Okongwu

Trae Young Jalen Johnson Herb Jones Onyeka Okongwu Donovan Clingan

[Threezus]

7 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

Just came across a Twitter fight  between Hawks fans/Peachtreehoops regarding playing Jalen Johnson at SG. 

Lots of insults and name calling. 

which ones of you are Squawkers ? 

 

 

 

 

lol thats crazy to put him at the SG position although i still think he can play SF quite easily.  I prefer him at SF if we can get Sarr at PF and Onyeka or Edey at C. 

[JayBirdHawk]

50 minutes ago, Threezus said:

lol thats crazy to put him at the SG position although i still think he can play SF quite easily.  I prefer him at SF if we can get Sarr at PF and Onyeka or Edey at C. 

I see JJ in a Pippen-esqe (I'm sure a squawker referenced it b4) role as the point Small forward. He has some things to work on defensively, like lowering his stance on the perimeter. Wish he could learn Pips bank shot, that thing was money. 

Biggest thing he's gotta do is ditch the LeBron's and invest in some Trae ankle braces. 

[Threezus]

9 minutes ago, JayBirdHawk said:

I see JJ in a Pippen-esqe roll as the point Small forward. He has some things to work on defensively, like lowering his stance on the perimeter. Wish he could learn Pips bank shot, that thing was money. 

Biggest thing he's gotta do is ditch the LeBron's and invest in some Trae ankle braces. 

Me and you see him exactly the same then actually.  I 100% believe he can be a 25/10/5 player with above avg defense at his peak. I know this might be blasphemy but to me he is the one guy i refuse to put in any trades on this team.  I would trade trae and murray both before him.     Now i wouldn't expect those numbers every year ofcourse but something like 20 to 23 8 to 10 and 4 to 5 on an avg i could for sure see.    Maybe like what Tatum gives you at the SF position. 

[JayBirdHawk]

8 minutes ago, Threezus said:

Me and you see him exactly the same then actually.  I 100% believe he can be a 25/10/5 player with above avg defense at his peak. I know this might be blasphemy but to me he is the one guy i refuse to put in any trades on this team.  I would trade trae and murray both before him.     Now i wouldn't expect those numbers every year ofcourse but something like 20 to 23 8 to 10 and 4 to 5 on an avg i could for sure see.    Maybe like what Tatum gives you at the SF position. 

I have high hopes and really excited about him for him, but he still needs work.  When teams game plan to stop him, how does he handle that as a focal point of a defense. It's easier for him to flourish currently since he has Trae/Murray to take the bulk of the defensive attention. It's a different animal when you are 'The Guy'.

I think it was SVG who said that in order to maximize your bigs you need a PG. See how the Magic and NOP struggled without a decent one.

[Threezus]

1 hour ago, JayBirdHawk said:

I have high hopes and really excited about him for him, but he still needs work.  When teams game plan to stop him, how does he handle that as a focal point of a defense. It's easier for him to flourish currently since he has Trae/Murray to take the bulk of the defensive attention. It's a different animal when you are 'The Guy'.

I think it was SVG who said that in order to maximize your bigs you need a PG. See how the Magic and NOP struggled without a decent one.

Agreed a good PG is always needed on a team even if it's not the #1 option like in Boston.   You still need a talented one to make the rest of the team work seamless and at it's absolute best.    Luckily we got 2 of them and possibly a 3rd in Bufkin so when we lose one of them this offseason be it Murray or Trae we are still in very good shape at that spot to help take the pressure off guys like Jalen until he can hopefully flourish to his best abilities and Saar if we get him.

[JayBirdHawk]

 

 

[JayBirdHawk]

2021 Draft Class Rookie Scale Extension Updates and Projections

 

#20 JALEN JOHNSON – ATLANTA HAWKS

The Hawks have been aggressive about signing their players to extensions over the years. Johnson should be no different. Despite suffering some injuries, Johnson blossomed in Year 3. Atlanta is facing some long-term salary crunch, but that should be relieved via trades this summer. That should free up flexibility to get Johnson signed to a long-term deal.

Projection: Five years, $125 million, no options

 

Thoughts? Should the Hawks extend him early or wait until next year?  That way his cap hold next offseason is lower that if he is extended.

 

 

[macdaddy]

Concerns over Jalen being able to stay on the court?  Keep him away from hacks like Kuzma and he'll be fine.  Not like he's having recurring knee problems or something. 

[JeffS17]

On 6/20/2024 at 4:01 PM, JayBirdHawk said:

2021 Draft Class Rookie Scale Extension Updates and Projections

 

#20 JALEN JOHNSON – ATLANTA HAWKS

The Hawks have been aggressive about signing their players to extensions over the years. Johnson should be no different. Despite suffering some injuries, Johnson blossomed in Year 3. Atlanta is facing some long-term salary crunch, but that should be relieved via trades this summer. That should free up flexibility to get Johnson signed to a long-term deal.

Projection: Five years, $125 million, no options

 

Thoughts? Should the Hawks extend him early or wait until next year?  That way his cap hold next offseason is lower that if he is extended.

 

 

5/25 with no options could easily be one of the best value contracts in the league 1-2 years from now.  Hawks sign that in a heart beat, but if Im Jalens agent, Im negotiating that up to 5/150 at a minimum, probably pushing hard for a 25% max (jalen wont qualify for the 30%)

[marco102]

19 hours ago, JeffS17 said:

5/25 with no options could easily be one of the best value contracts in the league 1-2 years from now.  Hawks sign that in a heart beat, but if Im Jalens agent, Im negotiating that up to 5/150 at a minimum, probably pushing hard for a 25% max (jalen wont qualify for the 30%)

Then we'll have to let RFA set the market. I like Jalen, but he's not a $50 million a year player unless he takes another huge leap this upcoming seasons.

Edited June 24 by marco102

[JeffS17]

11 hours ago, marco102 said:

Then we'll have to let RFA set the market. I like Jalen, but he's not a $50 million a year player unless he takes another huge leap this upcoming seasons.

Where are you getting $50M/year? The most hes eligible for would be 25% of the cap which is estimated to be ~$39M in the first year.  Not saying we should hand that out but Im sure thats where his agent will start— hell, thats where JC tried to start.  If we land somewhere btwn $25-30M per year Ill be quite content.