Soaring Down South
Fansided

8 Worst free agent signings in Atlanta Hawks history

By Tyler Watts

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 01: Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena on April 1, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 01: Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks against the Boston Celtics at Philips Arena on April 1, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 8
Next
Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks, Joe Johnson (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

5. Joe Johnson

People forget just how good Johnson was for the Hawks. The 6’7 wing made six straight All-Star appearances and averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and one steal per game over seven seasons. Johnson was a walking bucket that helped lead Atlanta to five straight postseason appearances.

Iso Joe became a free agent in the middle of that run, and the Hawks rewarded him with a six-year $119 million max contract in 2010. There was immediate backlash, and for years he was referred to as “the most overpaid player in the NBA”.

His production did decline in the first year of his new deal, but he still made two All-Star appearances with the Hawks in the first two years. Atlanta reached the second round of the playoffs in 2011 with Johnson as their leading scorer. The Hawks wisely dealt Iso Joe to the Nets in 2012, and Brooklyn felt the worst of his massive contact, especially after giving up a first-round pick and a handful of role players to acquire him.

According to Basketball-Reference, Johnson has a 50.6 percent chance of making the Hall of Fame, and his best seasons came with the Atlanta Hawks. Hate on his max contract if you wish, but Iso Joe was better than he ever got credit for.