Deal hit a snag

[Plainview1981]

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns ran into "procedural issue" Tuesday, holding up a sign-and-trade deal that would send guard Joe Johnson to the Hawks.

Joe Johnson

Guard-Forward

Phoenix Suns

Profile

2004-2005 SEASON STATISTICS

GM PPG RPG APG FG% FT%

82 17.1 5.1 3.5 .461 .750

The Hawks wouldn't reveal the nature of the hang-up, but said the deal had not been finalized.

"At this time, there is a procedural issue regarding the reported deal with Atlanta and Phoenix that needs to be resolved," Atlanta general manager Billy Knight said in a statement released through a team spokesman. "That's all I can say at this time."

The Hawks would send Phoenix two first-round picks, second-year guard Boris Diaw and a $4.9 million trade exception for the 6-foot-8 Johnson.

Suns president Bryan Colangelo declined comment on the deal "until our business is complete."

Diaw's agent, Doug Neustadt, said his client was excited about the chance to play for a team that had the best record in the Western Conference last season.

"If this goes through, he's going to a playoff team and he is excited about going to a good team," Neustadt said.

Because Tuesday ended a monthlong moratorium on trades and signings, there was an apparent backlog for league attorneys to approve.

The 24-year-old Johnson averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists with the Suns last season. He first must sign a five-year, $69.6 million contract with Phoenix that would include a 2005-06 salary of about $20 million. He would become the Hawks' highest-paid player.

Johnson is a restricted free agent, meaning the Suns can match other offers, but he told ESPN.com last week that he asked Suns owner Robert Sarver to let him go to the Hawks. The teams then worked out a deal involving Diaw and the two first-round picks.

Diaw, also a 6-8 guard, averaged only 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds last season.

The Hawks are coming off a league-worst 13-69 season, the poorest record in franchise history. The team hopes Johnson can play point guard and give the team an unusually big backcourt.

Josh Childress, yet another 6-8 player, finished his rookie season as the team's starting shooting guard.

The Hawks also are looking for a center to bolster a front line that already includes forwards Al Harrington, Josh Smith and the team's No. 1 pick, Marvin Williams.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday the team has made an offer to sign Milwaukee center Zaza Pachulia, a restricted free agent who averaged 6.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in a backup role for the Bucks last season.

[KB21]

Not a big deal. Just something about some pencil pushing lawyers needing to read some fine writing, probably.

[Packfill]

No need to disparage lawyers.

[Plainview1981]

I don't like Lawyers very much... Hope it isn't a major

issue.

[Packfill]

Do you dislike all attorneys or just certain types?

[KB21]

Mainly the ambulance chasers.

[Plainview1981]

You remember the lawyer that the dude that killed the

judge had? That's the type that I hate. Talking about

the dudes rights when he had taken the rights away

from 3 people. It's just the attitude that some of

them have that I don't like.

You know the Larry Elder dude on TV? He's a former

lawyer and he has that attitude that gets on my

nerves.

[Packfill]

Most people who say they hate lawyers don't realize that most lawyers never step foot inside a courthouse. Generally, only litigators - trial and appellate lawyers - and bankruptcy attorneys work on court related matters.

The majority of lawyers, however, work on transactions (corporate transactions, real estate transactions, etc.) or work in a specialized field (tax, health law, energy law, intellectual property, employment, government, sports and entertainment, etc.).

[MoonKnight]

Even litigators are not bad guys and most personal injury specialists rarely make actual Court appearances. Rarely are litigators acknowledged for fighting the good fight but are instead demonized for the actions of a few.