Atlanta Hawks: 5 Biggest Mistakes Of The 21st Century

4. Joe Johnson’s Contract Extension

In one of the greatest trades in Atlanta Hawks history, Joe Johnson was acquired from the Suns for Boris Diaw. He emerged as a star player and the undoubted #1 scoring option for a young, high-flying Hawks team. He gave energetic players a calming presence and constantly answered the call in games.

In the summer of 2010, it was clear that he was deserving of a big contract. However, then General Manager Rick Sund did something no one really saw coming. He gave Johnson six-year, $123.7 million contract, which, at the time, made him the NBA’s highest-paid player.

For the following seasons, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, and Carmelo Anthony headlined a list of superstars earning less money off of salary than Johnson.

If Johnson would have kept up his productivity, then this contract would have not made the list. The thing is, he got worse over time. His once 25 PPG  dropped to 18 PPG. Also, his usage dwindled as star big-men Josh Smith and Al Horford began to show their capabilities. One can only wonder what would have happened if Johnson took less money and the Hawks were left with cap space.