Hoops Habit
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Each NBA team’s greatest free agent signing in franchise history

By Daniel Lubofsky

Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors, Paul George, Oklahoma City Thunder. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks
Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson, Shooting Guard (2005-12)

Heading into the 2005 offseason, the Atlanta Hawks had punctuated their sixth consecutive losing season with a record of just 13-69. They hadn’t made the playoffs since 1999 and were in desperate need of a boost in talent, which would require some creativity.

On the opposite coast, meanwhile, Joe Johnson had blossomed into a productive starting shooting guard in helping the Phoenix Suns to the Western Conference Finals. The former 10th overall pick averaged what was then a career-high 17.1 points per game playing off Steve Nash and Amar’e Stoudemire.

As a restricted free agent, he was looking to get paid his worth and possibly gain a greater role, whether that was by the Suns or another franchise.

Seeing his immense potential as a go-to scorer, the Hawks offered him a five-year, $70 million contract, one Johnson asked Phoenix not to match as a way to set him free. This led to a sign-and-trade between the two sides that netted Atlanta a player with star potential, something that couldn’t be said for most of its roster.

Following another two-year postseason absence, the Hawks would qualify for five straight playoff appearances with Johnson leading the charge, including three consecutive showings in the conference semifinals.

Nicknamed “Iso-Joe” for his prowess in such situations, he developed into one of the most feared one-on-one scorers in the game with the quickness of a guard, coupled with the strength of a forward. Johnson would make six NBA All-Star appearances in seven seasons with the Hawks while averaging 20.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.

He could have settled in Phoenix as an important cog on a team in constant pursuit of a championship. Instead, Atlanta gave him a chance to unleash the full breadth of his offensive powers, a pairing that wound up mutually beneficial in elevating each to a new and more prosperous status in the league.