Despite the Suns' struggles, Steve Nash has yet to express an interest in being traded, league sources said. But the organization will try to accommodate Nash's wishes if the 37-year-old foundation of the franchise decides he'd like a chance to compete for a championship with a contender. "It's really on him in terms of what he wants to do or not do," a person with knowledge of the situation said. Nash, who turns 38 next week, will be an unrestricted free agent July 1.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Perhaps this is the first step in Steve Nash leaving the sad-sack Phoenix Suns before becoming a free agent at season’s end.

After all, the two-time MVP, perennial All-Star, and sure-fire Hall of Famer is deserving of so much better than playing for Robert Sarver’s thrifty team.

Sarver’s alligator arms have forced the Suns to give away draft picks, pass on free agents, and roll out the exit map for stars Joe Johnson and Amar’e Stoudemire.

Bottom line: what was once one of the NBA’s premier teams is now irrelevant. And Nash has wasted some productive years toiling on that irrelevant team.

Of course, he knows this.

However, Nash is reluctant to request a trade, rightfully believing such a move would  wreck his legacy with the city of Phoenix and Suns-nation.

It would be different if the club traded Nash prior to the deadline, and attributed such a trade to needing an asset for their rebuilding project.

Hopefully, Nash is freed from Phoenix. His situation has become sad. And he needs to play meaningful basketball before it’s too late.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.
 

"It's up to the team," Nash said. "I'm happy where I am. I'm not happy with our record. I feel like I made a commitment to the fans and my teammates. But at the same time, I'd understand if the team wanted to make a move, so I'm completely open. To be honest, I just occupy myself with trying to prepare to play and play as well as I can."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Phoenix Suns want to trade Steve Nash. And Steve Nash wants to the Phoenix Suns to trade him.

Sadly, team and player can’t admit as much publicly because they fear a backlash from fans.

Right now, the Suns are struggling. Soon, they’ll begin a long, painful rebuilding process, in part, because owner Robert Sarver lacks the resources to pay top talent.

Under Sarver’s watch the Suns have said goodbye to All-Stars Joe Johnson and Robert Sarver, and traded away first round picks Rudy Fernandez and Rajon Rondo.

The reason: Sarver must watch his pocketbook because the financial meltdown crippled his banking and real estate empire.

Nash is loyal to the city of Phoenix and Suns-nation. He knows asking for a trade would ruin his relationship with the city and fans. So the two-time MVP is saying all the right things.

However, the best thing for all involved is a trade. The Suns would get an asset to begin their inevitable rebuilding process, while Nash, a free agent at season’s end, would perhaps get an opportunity at a championship.

Somebody must blink. Team or player must make the first move to dissolve this partnership.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

An Atlanta jeweler is suing Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson.

HoopsVibe Very Quick Call: It sounds pretty sketchy though.

The following is a list of the NBA's top five highest salaried teams.  (And thanks to Hoopsworld.com for providing the data).

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  This list proves that the best team isn't always the one that spends the most money.

1.)  The Los Angeles Lakers - $102,256,438

Point and case.  The Lakers may have the largest payroll in the league but their current record is the worst on this list.  The organization kept busy this offseason and when they acquired both Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, it was looking like the purple and gold were the team to beat.  And indeed, they have been the team to beat.  Yes, it's still early in the season, but having won only three games with their expensive lineup is pretty embarrassing. Let's hope the recent hiring of Mike D'Antoni turns things around.

2.)  The Miami Heat - $87,595,822

It shouldn't come as much of a shock that the Heat are number 2 on this list.  They pretty much cleared out their books a few years ago to make sure there was enough cap space for Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade to be on the roster.  And as it turns out, that was a good idea.  Micky Arison, Pat Riley and company made a good decision in doing so seeing that the Heat are the defending NBA Champions and are currently sitting at the top of their division.

3.)  The New York Knicks - $82,010,527

The Knicks could quite possibly be the surprise of the season so far.  J.R. Smith is posting career numbers, averaging 18.2 points per game.  Raymond Felton is averaging 14 points and 6.2 assists while Carmelo Anthony's 26.8 ppg leads the league in scoring.  As a result, they're 5-0; all the while Amare Staudemire has been on the bench with knee injury.  Who knows if they'll keep it up, but it will certainly be interesting to see how they play with Amare back in the lineup.

4.)  The Brookyln Nets - $83,511,726

The NBA's newest team are 4-2 to start the season.  They have a new stadium in the Barclays Center and with Deron Williams, Brooks Lopez, Kris Humphries and Joe Johnson on their payroll, they certainly have a few expenses.  But if they continue to win games, those expenses most likely won't be much of an issue.

5.)  The Memphis Grizzlies - $77,098,154

I was pretty surprised when Memphis came in at #5 on this list.  I would have thought Boston, or San Antonio, or even Oklahoma City would have been ahead of the Grizz.  Then again, they do have Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol on their roster.  Those three guys alone take up about $47 million of the payroll.  And for good reason; they combine for over 51 points per game.

Seinfeld celebrates with Johnson on his 2OT game winner over Detroit. (We got the video.)

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Even Newman can't ruin a Joe Johnson game winner for Seinfeld and the Nets.

On Friday, Forbes Magazine released it's report on the Top 10 Most Overpaid NBA Players.

Hoopsvibe's quick call:  Aren't most NBA ballers overpaid?  I mean they get paid millions of dollars to do something most people would do for free.

Anyway, thanks to Tom Van Riper, a business of sports writer at Forbes Magazine, we now have Forbes' list of the Top 10 Most Overpaid NBA players.

But before we get into the list, this passage from the Forbes article will help you understand how they measure players as overpaid.

"Advanced metrics show that in the NBA, scoring is overvalued.  Stats compiled by David Berri, economist and author of Stumbling on Wine, rates players' contribution to wins not only by scoring but shooting percentage, assists, rebounds and turnovers, all measured against opportunities to accumulate those stats (a faster paced game with more shots equals more rebound opportunities, etc.)"

Essentially, the main thing overpaid ballers have in common, according to Forbes, is that all they do is score (because they shoot so much) but lack in the other areas that help their respective teams win games.

So without further adeu, here are the most overpaid NBA ballers...

1.)  Carmelo Anthony, Knicks

Despite Melo's 28.1 points per game, his MVP-caliber season, and the Knicks second best Eastern Conference record of 48-26, Anthony is at the top of the list of Forbes' most overpaid.  Forbes asserts that while Carmelo is a scoring machine, he takes more shots than anyone else and that means fewer shots for his teammates.  He also rebounds less, assists less, and shoots more than Kevin Durant, for example.  And he gets paid $19.4 million a year to do so; so the Knicks better win a championship this season.

2.)  Ben Gordon, Bobcats

Gordon is a sick baller, no question, but the Bobcats are absolutely horrible.  So horrible, in fact, that they have the worst record in the NBA, at 18-57.  And Gordon is only averaging a modest 11.7 points per game.  His 2 assists and 1.8 rebounds don't help his team much either, yet he's making $12.4 million this year.

3.)  Joe Johnson, Nets

The Nets traded for Johnson as a guy to build a team around, and are actually having a pretty good year.  Johnson's 16.3 ppg, however, is his lowest scoring average since 2004 and he's only adding a little over 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game.  He makes $19.75 million this year.

4.)  Hedo Turkoglu, Magic

It's been a tough few years for Turkoglu, who's only played 11 games this season due to injury.  But in those 11 games, he only averaged 2.9 points, 2.1 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game.  That's what Orlando is getting this season for the $11.8 million they're spending.

5.)  Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks

Forbes notes that while Dirk is definitely a Hall-of-Famer and was injured earlier this season, his numbers are down.  And he's 35 years old.  His yearly salary is $20.9 million but Forbes figures he's worth about $13mill at 17.2 points per game.  I guess when you're a billionaire owner like Mark Cuban, what's a few million extra right?

6.)  Corey Maggette, Pistons

Maggette has always been a guy who can score, but he's also always been a guy who gets hurt.  Forbes notes that Maggette hasn't played one full 82 game season in his 14 year career.  (That's crazy and something I never knew.)  He's set to make $10.9 million this year, although he's only played in 18 games and averaged just over five points, one assist, and one rebound.  Oh, and the Pistons are 25-51 and not making the playoffs.  On a positive note, the dude is jacked.

7.)  Rudy Gay, Raptors

Gay was traded from Memphis to Toronto mid season this year, and is averaging 19.4 points per game for the Raptors which is up from the 17.2 he averaged with the Grizzlies.  The only problem is all he really does is score.  Granted he doesn't have much of a supporting cast around him, and I'll give him that, but the reality is Memphis is 23-9 since trading him away and the Raptors have no shot at making the playoffs.  Gay will make $16.5 million this season.

8.)  Stephen Jackson, Spurs

Jackson is an interesting one on the Forbes list because the Spurs are one of the best teams in the league and he plays a solid role on their squad.  But I think Forbes is challenging whether or not the role he plays is worth the $10.1 million he makes a year when he's averaging just 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.  I see their point.

9.)  Chris Kaman, Mavericks

In the 2009-10 season, Kaman was a beast for the Clippers averaging 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.  Forbes cites that his play has since dropped off, and they're right.  They 7-foot big man is only pulling down 5.5 rebounds per game for the Mavs this season, while averaging 10.8 points and making $8 million.

10.)  Arron Afflalo, Magic

Afflalo is known as a scorer and is averaging 16.5 ppg for the Magic this season.  Forbes is all good with that; but they're not cool with the fact that he's making $7.8 million this year and only contributing 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game.  It seems they think he should be doing more than scoring for that kind of money.

So there's the list, Hoopsvibers!  And a special thanks to Forbes and Tom Van Riper for a very thorough and interesting report!

What do the Hoopsvibers think?  Should anyone else be on this list??  Leave your comments below!

HoopsVibe's Breaking Down The NBA Blog regularly provides a snapshot of the best NBA stories you should be reading from the three dubyas. We call it Best of the Web ...

The Hawks say Al Horford will miss 3-4 months with a torn pectoral muscle suffered during last night’s 96-84 loss at Indiana.. Horford is to get a second opinion on whether to proceed with the surgery. Under the most most optimistic time frame, Horford would return in mid-April. Atlanta’s final regular-season game is scheduled for April 26.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Whatever slim shot the Atlanta Hawks had at acquiring Dwight Howard is likely gone.

After all, the Hawks were reportedly offering Al Horford and Joe Johnson to the Magic in exchange for Howard. Horford's injured pectoral muscle complicates things.

Of course, Howard, an Atlanta native, wouldn't sign an extension with the Hawks, as he prefers a bigger market to land lucrative sponsors and transition into the entertainment industry.

Think Los Angeles. Think New York. Maybe Dallas, if owner Mark Cuban works his magic. Not Atlanta, especially with Horford on the injured list for an extended period.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Atlanta engaged Orlando in Dwight Howard trade talks this month, as well as the notion that the Magic would surely want Horford as part of any swap if the talks ever go anywhere. "Wow," Horford said. "I guess I'm heading back to Florida. ... I don't know, that's interesting, I know that Dwight is from here, but as far as I know, this is the first I've heard of it. But it'll be interesting."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Dwight Howard isn't getting traded to the Atlanta Hawks because Dwight Howard won't re-sign with the Atlanta Hawks.

Howard, who can opt-out of his contract in July of 2012 with the Orlando Magic and become a free agent, wants to play in a major market.

Think New York, specifically Brooklyn. Think Los Angeles. Maybe Dallas.

For a couple of reasons, Atlanta, despite being Howard's hometown, doesn't stand a chance at getting the world`s top center to sign an extension.

1) The Hawks`owners, the LLC Spirit group, are highly dysfunctional. They once sued each other. They gave away a professional hockey team. And, most importantly, they won`t spend on a winner. Sure, they`ll float a few big-tickets, but they lack the resources and market size to underwrite a championship contender. And Howard knows this.

2) Atlanta won`t provide Howard with opportunities to leverage his brand. For instance, he wants a career in entertainment, and New York and Los Angeles are the best places for this to occur.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Sources told ESPN.com that the aforementioned Hawks, meanwhile, engaged Orlando in trade talks for Howard earlier this month with an offer believed to be headlined by $124 million guard Joe Johnson and swingman Josh Smith. You have to figure that the Magic, though, would insist on Al Horford if such discussions ever got serious.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Rebuilding isn’t an option for the Orlando Magic, so they’re reluctant to trade franchise face Dwight Howard for prospects, draft picks, and expiring contracts.

The powers that be in Orlando want established professionals -like, say, Joe Johnson and Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks.

This is interesting, as both are big-ticket pieces, especially Johnson who is due to earn $107 million over the next five years. Smith is due $25.5 million through 2013.

Here’s the question: is Johnson and Smith superior to the Lakers reported offer of Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol?

--Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

America is awesome. We get to blow up illegal fireworks to celebrate the freedom of life and independence of this great country and get paid handsomely for playing a game. NFL football is where it’s at! F#$K yeah! What’s this World Cup stuff? Excuse me. I meant NBA basketball is the awesomeness. You do not have to be on Kobe – Wade – LeBron tier to get a max deal. Sweet.

The two men have openly stated that they would like to play for the New York Knicks. I do not know why the New York media machine has opened their playbooks for the world to see in acquiring potential future employee number 6. While I admire their ways of applying their resources to the test for these free agents, one has to ponder that they’re probably going after the wrong guys.

We know they’re chasing the big cash, but are they worth the dollars they are looking for? Forget the regular season. The playoffs are the true indicators of their worth.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: NBA players have a little extra time on their hands due to the lockout.

Some are getting in extra training. Some are scheming on crossing the Atlantic and playing in Europe. Others, like Joe Johnson, are masquerading as members of Jodeci on karaoke night.

Watch the Atlanta Hawks’ superstar bust out ‘Come and Talk to Me’ and tell us if Johnson has a future on the R&B circuit.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe in the comment box below.

Managing Partner Robert Sarver offered him a five-year, $96.6 million contract with $56 million guaranteed and the rest kicking in if Stoudemire logged significant minutes in the third and fourth years.

"The greater goal was to have a sense of security. I didn't want a football deal (with some or all of the money non-guaranteed). I want a NBA deal. That's what I ended up getting."

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: His thriftiness will finally benefit the Phoenix Suns.

For years, owner Robert Sarver hasn’t invested in his team. Initially, he had alligator arms, but recently his banking and real estate empire was hit by the financial downturn.

Bottom line: the Suns patriarch let Joe Johnson leave because he didn’t want to pay him market value and first round draft picks were given away because he wouldn’t fork out for rookie contracts.

Such an approach has hurt. Johnson is an excellent player, who righted the morbid Atlanta Hawks. The draft picks have materialized into established pro Rudy Fernandez and star Rajon Rondo.  

But Sarver was right not to break the bank for Amar’e Stoudemire, though. Sure, STAT is an athletic freak and perennial All-Star.

Still, $100 million is too much for a forward who treats defense like a contagious disease and has a history of injuries. A partially guaranteed contract made sense -even if the pogo-stick post left for the New York Knicks. 

The jury is out on Stoudemire’s replacements, though. Channing Frye is talented, but inconsistent; Turkoglu, while skilled, had a sub par 2010 with Toronto; and Warrick has never fulfilled his potential.

Sarver and the front office are thinking Turkoglu and Warrick will improve because of Steve Nash and the Suns’ up-tempo system. They’re also hoping Frye produces more regularly.   

This trio of forwards may or may not work out. However, the Suns believe they’re less of a risk than overpaying Stoudemire.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Derrick Rose reportedly preferred the Bulls to sign Joe Johnson instead of LeBron James, according to multiple people that spoke with Brian Windhorst.

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The Knicks are expected to try and pry Tony Parker away from the Spurs in order to pair him with Amar'e Stoudemire.A person close to both players told the New York Daily News that Parker and Stoudemire have talked about playing together in either New York or Miami.

"It's perfect for Tony because he wants to be in New York and he wants to play with Amar'e," said the source.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Amar'e Stoudemire hasn't even signed with the New York Knicks, but he's already playing recruiter.

Or he is trying to.

Reports indicate the power forward is trying to get Joe Johnson and Tony Parker to join him in the NYC. There's a hitch, though. In fact, there`s a couple.

Johnson - despite being friends with Stoudemire and Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni - is considering a $119 million offer from the Atlanta Hawks, and is still listening to the Chicago Bulls.

Parker has a valid contract with the San Antonio Spurs; however, the team could be open to a trade because they have a young point guard in George Hill.

Of course, Stoudemire is also texting the big-ticket free agents: LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Expect James and Wade to sign elsewhere, though.

Nevertheless, things are getting interesting with The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010.

-- Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at us in the comment box below.

The Suns have agreed to terms on a four-year, $18 million deal with free agent forward Hakim Warrick, sources tell Marc Spears of Yahoo!

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Sources close to Je Johnson have told Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski the believe the All-Star guard will soon accept a six-year, $119 million deal the Hawks offered Thursday morning. Hawks GM GM Rick Sund delivered the offer to Johnson in Los Angeles shortly after midnight Thursday.

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David Kahn says he plans to call two agents at 11 o'clock Wednesday, when the NBA's free-agency negotiation period begins. I hear from a good league source that one of those two guys is Memphis forward Rudy Gay.I texted David Kahn for a confirmation or denial Monday evening and he did not respond.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This makes sense.

The lowly Minnesota Timberwolves should target Rudy Gay, the athletic swing with the Memphis Grizzlies. While young and talented, Gay has been overlooked because this year`s free agent class features superstars Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Joe Johnson, Amar`e Stoudemire, and Dwyane Wade.

But Gay has the explosiveness to become an All-Star. And the Wolves are desperate for a small forward to complement their bevy of point guards and power forwards.

Best of all, Gay is ripe for the picking because Minnesota - which has just $25 million in committed salary for 2011 - can afford to float a big ticket offer, while small market Memphis may lack the resources to match.

So perhaps the Wolves make a splash in this summer`s free agent market.

Got thoughts?

Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni are seeking to arrange a meeting with Atlanta free agent Joe Johnson in Los Angeles Wednesday at midnight -- or 9 p.m. California time -- before flying to Ohio for the LeBron James' pow-wow. Even crazier, the Knicks are trying to fit in Amare' Stoudemire that evening, too, in either LA or Phoenix.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Not for a New York second.

Joe Johnson and Amar’e Stoudemire won’t satisfy hungry Knick fans who are thirsting for free agents Chris Bosh and LeBron James to turn Madison Square Garden into a contender starting in October of 2010.

Consider Knick-nation’s plight: former prodigal son Stephon Marbury imploded before their very eyes; GM and coach Isiah Thomas shamed the organization with his dysfunctional ways and irresponsible spending; and for too long owner James Dolan did nothing, content to count his profits.

Donnie Walsh and Mike D’Antoni were hired to turn things around, but - instead of immediately competing for the playoffs – they purged the roster of big ticket salaries, so they could sign James and other free agents this summer.

That decision was made years ago. And the Knicks have intentionally tanked it ever since.

Management got fans to buy-in by selling hope, specifically the hope that they’d ink James – one of the game’s greatest stars – to a multi-year contract.

Cap space alone won’t secure James’ services. The King wants to win, and rumour has it he likes the Chicago Bulls’ supporting cast of point guard Derrick Rose and big Joakim Noah better than the Knicks’ depleted roster.

Bosh, who also wants to win now, has allegedly decided to follow the two-time MVP and serve as his co-star in The Windy City.

Walsh isn’t stupid. He sees how the free agent dominoes are aligning. He gets that the club will likely have to settle for Johnson and Stoudemire.

This won’t cut it in New York, where some of the NBA’s most educated fans reside. After all, Johnson and Stoudemire are good, but Bosh and James are great.

Unless Walsh and D’Antoni deliver great this July, fans will wonder why they suffered through the pain, torture, and punishment.

Got thoughts?

To listen to World Wide Wes, LeBron will never look back on Cleveland. “He’s up out of there,” is the way he tells it to people, but LeBron’s Akron crew has to tsk-tsk such public talk because they all live in Northeast Ohio, and maybe always will. "We're going to Chicago," WIlliam Wesley tells people," "and Chris Bosh is coming, too." 

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: 'World Wide Wes', one of the NBA's great power brokers, believes the Chicago Bulls are poised for a big off-season. And he's right.

After dealing Kirk Hinrich and their 17th pick in Thursday's draft and getting nothing but cap space back, the Bulls have the financial flexibility to tender two max' contracts.

So The Windy City could sign LeBron James and bring in Chris Bosh, too. 

Other clubs - the Miami Heat and New York Knicks - can also offer a pair of max contracts, but the Bulls distinguish themselves by already having a star point guard in Derrick Rose and an established four-man with Joakim Noah.

Such a supporting cast may be enough for James to turn his back on the Cleveland Cavaliers -even though they can offer the most money, longest term, and he grew up in nearby Akron, Ohio.  

Even if James gets sentimental and re-signs with the Cavaliers, the Bulls could turn to superstar Joe Johnson, which isn't a bad plan-B.

Bottom line: Chicago is the team to watch this summer. 

Got thoughts?

"Steve Kerr says he won't return as general manager of the Phoenix Suns despite building a team that made a surprising run to the Western Conference finals.

Kerr told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the decision was solely his and not the result of any disagreements with owner Robert Sarver. He said he is "exploring a couple of possibilities" to return to television work."

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Publicly, Steve Kerr is saying the right things. Privately, the former sharpshooter was probably concerned owner Robert Sarver wouldn't dig into his pockets to re-sign posts Amar'e Stoudemire and Channing Frye.

After all, Sarver is about business. Always has been. He was the one who felt Joe Johnson wasn't worth a big ticket. And he was the one who instructed management to trade Rajon Rondo and Rudy Fernandez because he didn't want to pay their rookie salaries.

Of course, that was before The Great Recession hit. And make no mistake about it, Sarver's real estate and bank holdings were certainly hit by the economic downturn.

Now Sarver - a guy who loves the publicity and headlines - is likely in charge of negotiations with superstar free agent Stoudemire. Unlike teammate Steve Nash, STAT won't give the Suns a significant hometown discount. And Frye, even in this buyer's market, deserves a raise.      

Much is at stake in Phoenix. And the wrong guy, Sarver, will be making the key decisions.

Got thoughts on this?

The Atlanta Hawks will hire Larry Drew as their next head coach, a league source told ESPN's Ric Bucher.

Drew and the Hawks have agreed to a three-year, $5 million deal, according to the source. Those figures are slightly less than the three-year, $6.5 million deal Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau received from the Chicago Bulls. In both cases, only two years are guaranteed.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: It's not official, but it might as well be.

Joe Johnson, the superstar who resurrected the sorry Atlanta Hawks, will surely leave the team as an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, in part, because of Larry Drew's hiring.

While the on-court product has improved by leaps and bounds in Atlanta, the off-court operation hasn't improved. Ownership remains a dysfunctional and divided group of partners; the only thing they share is the desire to cut costs and save cash.

For instance, instead of rewarding talented sideline boss Mike Woodson with an extension for his efforts, they let him languish as a lame-duck coach in the final year of his contract and promptly let him go in May.

The Hawks' owners apparently fired Woodson because they wanted a fresh start. Yet, they promote Drew, Woodson's long-time right-hand man, because he's cheap. 

Drew, a respected assistant coach, could prove to be competent, but being frugal isn't a good look for Atlanta.

The end result will be simple: Johnson, a terrific player, will again see the Hawks as dysfunctional and cheap. And he'll leave as an unrestricted free agent.

Will Johnson leave The ATL because of Drew? What do you think?                   

The New Jersey Nets and ESPN analyst Avery Johnson have reached a verbal agreement to hire Johnson as the Nets' new coach.

Johnson is expected to be introduced on Thursday, said a person who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity because the team has yet to announce the deal.

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HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: For a coach, credibility is everything.

Most NBA players earn more money than their coach. And player contracts are usually guaranteed for several years, while the typical coach's contract has a far shorter term.

So, players, especially stars, hold leverage over the man who, in theory, is their boss. With such a dysfunctional arrangement, players won't follow a coach they don't respect or believe in.

Fortunately, for the New Jersey Nets, Johnson has credibility to burn. He holds the all time best winning percentage for a sideline boss and led the Dallas Mavericks to the sixth game of the 2006 NBA Finals. 

The current ESPN analyst will have the attention of the Nets' young core mostly because of his run with the San Antonio Spurs. Johnson may have been a role player, but The Little General's enthusiasm and leadership was key to the Spurs winning two NBA Titles.

Of course, this will be attractive to the summer's free agent class. Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Joe Johnson, and Dwyane Wade know of - and appreciate - Johnson's championship pedigree. So do second tier free agents like Carlos Boozer and Amar'e Stoudemire.

Expect the Nets to improve in 2010. And Johnson's credibility will be a big part of the turnaround.  

Is Johnson the right hire for New Jersey?

There are all kinds of people in that conversation. LeBron James has said he is the ringleader. Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson ... it's a who's who of this year's free agent class. In terms of having a lot at stake, those players are at the top of the list with the owners, staffs and fans of the various teams.

But there is another interested party no one has mentioned: Nike, and its affiliated Jordan brand.

That is a giant corporation with a lot of branding tied up in basketball, and specifically the footwear of the best basketball players in the world, including James, Bosh, Wade and Johnson as well as Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki and dozens more who could change teams this year. Where they all end up will not just determine the fortunes of various NBA teams, but also the abilities of those players to inspire fans to buy shoes.

Link to article by Henry Abbott on ESPN Truehoop

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: While furthering The Swoosh may not be priority one, it will be a major priority.

Players like Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade view themselves as brands and value their lucrative relationships with Nike.

These players have people whose job is to figure out the impact playing for a certain team will have on sponsors. For instance, fact or fiction, much has been speculated about Nike wanting James in the world’s largest media market, New York City.

Clearly, The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010 is about the business of basketball, and not so much the game of basketball. 

Got thoughts on Nike’s role in the free agent summit?

Last week, Wade told the Chicago Tribune that he planned to talk with fellow free agents LeBron James and Joe Johnson before making a decision on where he would sign this summer. A source told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that Bosh also would be part of those talks, and Amar'e Stoudemire, who is likely to opt out of the final year of his current contract with the Phoenix Suns, told AOL Fanhouse that he planned to be part of those talks, too.

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HoopsVibe's Quick Call:  Rumor has it journeyman Brian Cardinal wants in. Darko Milicic also plans on attending. And Adam Morrison, the dude permanently attached to the Los Angeles Lakers' bench, may also show - if the purple-and-gold don't offer the restricted free agent a one year deal for the minimum before free agency hits.

Seriously.

Jokes aside, this summit, or whatever it's called, is getting bizarre. Sure, Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Joe Johnson, Amar'e Stoudemire, Dwyane Wade, and Mother Teresa can meet and discuss their future or anything else they like. 

However, James and Wade are wasting their incredible leverage. As the game's best players, they should pick where they want to play, who they want to play with, who they want to play for, and then make the team they selected meet their demands.

Nothing else should be considered. After all, this is pro sports, not friends running together on the playground.

James and Wade have supposedly waited years for this summer. Instead of wasting time and energy consulting others, they should figure out exactly what they want and get it. 

What do you think of the free agent summit? Get at us in the comment box below with thoughts.

Dwyane Wade has a big decision to make on where he'll sign this offseason. And before he makes his choice, he said he'll talk it over with fellow big-ticket free agents LeBron James and Joe Johnson.

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HoopsVibe's Call: It was reported to be the sitdown of all sitdowns. Like the five families of New York meeting in the 1960's to split up their various interests. Yet, nobody knew if The Dons of the 2010 free agent class were really going to meet before deciding where to sign.

Until now.      

Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Joe Johnson, and Dwyane Wade will connect, chat, pick their destinations, and, ultimately, decide the landscape of the NBA for years to come. 

This foursome will discuss how to to partner-up and avoid undercutting each other on the open market. Look for Bosh and Wade to possibly sign as a package because they share the same agent, power-player Henry Thomas.

Of course, anything and everything can happen, so we'll just have to wait until July 1st. 

What do you think of Bosh, James, Johnson, and Wade's sitdown? Get at us in the comment box below.