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| G Joe Johnson was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. |
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| F Marvin Williams (pictured right) was traded to the Utah Jazz. |
Only recently have the Nets and the Hawks talked about a deal including Johnson. Johnson was able to capitalize on being in a strong free agency class in 2010. The Hawks were reluctant to lose him so they paid him $119 million for six years. Johnson hasn't been able to lift the Hawks since he signed the deal. In the 2011 postseason, they were ousted again in the second round by the Chicago Bulls, and were ousted by the Boston Celtics in the first round this postseason.
For good measure, the Hawks also decided to deal their former first-round pick F Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz for G Devin Harris. Williams, who was drafted second overall by the Hawks in the 2005 NBA Draft ahead of G Deron Williams and G Chris Paul, has been a disappointment in the NBA. He was projected to be a franchise player, but has become nothing more than a less-than-average role player. After seven insignificant seasons in Atlanta, the Hawks finally let him go.
By unloading Johnson's $119 million contract, the Hawks have surprisingly put themselves in position to be in the running for C Dwight Howard. Even though it is considered a longshot by NBA analysts, Howard's best friend is F Josh Smith and both Smith and Howard were born and raised in Atlanta. The Hawks will definitely try to sell Howard and those two points once they decide to step into trade conversations. They can also wait for next offseason to attempt to sign him.
Howard has publicly stated that there is only one team that he interested in joining. Many NBA analysts and sources have stated that team is the Nets. Howard won't publicly state what team he's looking to join, so the Hawks are holding out hope that he would like to join his hometown team. As soon as Danny Ferry jumped on board to become the Hawks' general manager, his goal was to rid the Hawks of the two most expensive contracts, which he has just achieved. Ferry now looks to rebuild with cap flexibility.
As for the Nets, signing G Deron Williams will put them at the limit of the salary cap, which would essentially take them out of the bidding for Howard's service in free agency next season. This means the only way the Nets can obtain Howard is through a sign-and-trade. So now the question is do the Nets hold on to Joe Johnson for long? With an opportunity to get Dwight Howard, I don't see the Nets holding on to him for long.
With the acquisition of Harris, it will be interesting to see what the team does with him and rising G Jeff Teague. Do they pair both of them in a small backcourt, or do they come with Harris off the bench? That is a question coach Larry Drew will have to answer come September or October. As for now, hopefully a new location and potential fresh start for Marvin Williams can bring more out of him. So far, his career has been a bust.
