Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

7/1/2010 at 5:36pm

The future for free agent Atlanta Hawk Joe Johnson seems bright. Like, $119 million bright.

Johnson, a former standout with the University of Arkansas and Little Rock Central, is testing the free agent market and expected to command big money. That big money could come from his current team.

Here's the latest from ESPN.com:

The Atlanta Hawks have offered free agent Joe Johnson a maximum six-year contract worth $119 million, and sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that Johnson is all but sure to accept.

The Hawks and Johnson's representatives met Thursday morning in Los Angeles. Since Johnson cannot sign until July 8, he'll give other teams the courtesy of hearing them out. But unless a team completely blows him away, Johnson will take the Hawks' offer, the sources said.

Johnson's representatives also are scheduled to meet with the New York Knicks and Miami Heat as well.

"We met with the Hawks and Knicks [on Wednesday] night and have heard a number of other teams with significant interest in Joe," Johnson's agent, Arn Tellem, said Thursday. "At this point, Joe has many great options to choose from. We plan to meet with the Hawks again [Thursday] to discuss the details of their offer and we hope to make a decision in the near future."

While the Hawks are able to offer more money (over $30 million worth) because of the NBA's contract structuring, Johnson has been fielding the other offers because a price can't be put on winning.

The Knicks are trying to pair Johnson with his former Phoenix Suns teammate Amare Stoudemire in New York with hopes that LeBron James can join the duo to create a dynasty in the Big Apple.

New York is a city for dreamers and they're definitely dreaming big on Broadway. A star-studded cast is hard to beat but it's going to be hard to pry Johnson away from Atlanta. Johnson may not like the idea of being so far away from home, as he still has a residence in Little Rock. And that that $119 million is also pretty appealing.

Only time will tell...