Suns sign Dermarr Johnson

[slinslin]

The Suns added DerMarr Johnsons to the camp.

Johnson is a 6'9 G/F former lottery pick by the Hawks. He is a great talent but broke his neck in car accident when he was still with the Hawks.

I love Dermarr Johnson. Can't believe he is in our camp after I wanted him to get another chance with the Suns all the time.

 

[slinslin]

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[slinslin]

http://www.enquirer.com/bearcats/2003/01/31/wwwdermarr.html

[url]http://www.ajc.com/hawks/content/sports/hawks/0703/12hawks.html;COXnetJSessionID=16nNc9nbpRD1T9h6GhoD1WIra43Ap6h20KwJR0xIZxY9jVGuYPdk!-1754280005?urac=n&urvf=10650192134310.26524266387097173[/URL]

 

[schutd]

COngrats SLin, I remember you stumping for us to go get him. Where does he fit though?

 

[SirStefan32]

He's 6'9 G/F. That means he is going to play the power forward in Phoenix.

 

[slinslin]

Zarko could play most of his minutes at backup PF and C.

If that's the case Demarr could be the backup SF/SG. I think he might be better or should be better than Casey Jacobsen.

I think DerMarr could beat out Jacobsen, Knight or Barbosa on the active roster.

Last offseason when he had that accident he was pretty much in the same situation that Joe Johnson is right now.
He was poised to have a breakout year.

This would be our depth chart right now.

Googs/Voshkul/Williams/Trybanski
Amare/Zarko
Marion/DJohnson
Penny/JJohnson/Jacobsen
Marbury/Knight/Barbosa

I figure that Trybaski will more than likely be on the IR. And unless one of the more injury prone players like Googs, Penny or Knight spends time on the IR either Jacobsen, DJohnson, Knight or Barbosa should be on the IR.

 

[elindholm]

I think they picked him up just because his last name is Johnson. They know that Kevin was the franchise's best player, so they just keep trying to recapture the magic. It will continue this way until they fire Frank.

 

[Phill11]

Wow, he looks and sounds like he has a lot of potential. Maybe he will do great

 

[Chaplin]

Man, the dude BROKE HIS NECK. That isn't something to take lightly. I remember reading earlier this summer that he was looking pretty good, and I thought at some point he was going to be signed by Philly or something... I don't remember.

I don't really mind the signing--but wouldn't Vlad Stepania be a better choice??

 

[SirStefan32]

Absolutely! We have enough guards/ swingmen in Marbury, Barbosa, Knight, Hardaway, Jacobsen, Johnson and Marion.

What we need is a center who can knock down open jumpers to make everything easier for Marbury and Stoudemire. Vlad could do this, and he is one of the "energy" guys in the league.

Let's recall Johnson and replace him with Vlad.

 

[hcsilla]

I really like picking of Dermarr Johnson even with his broken neck.

He was a true defensive stopper swingman of the Hawks. He was an important factor of ATL's (relative) success after the 2002 All-Star Break.
He is tall, athletic, has long arms and can hit 3P-s.
As a defensive minded swingman he is a good addition to our roster especially if he can completely recovery from his big injury.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by Chaplin
but wouldn't Vlad Stepania be a better choice??

It wouldn't, IMO.
Stepania is the better rebounding version of Tsakalidis.
He is completely lost in offense and lacks athleticism.

 

[Chaplin]

Originally posted by hcsilla
It wouldn't, IMO.
Stepania is the better rebounding version of Tsakalidis.
He is completely lost in offense and lacks athleticism.

Gee whiz, a better rebounding center? Athleticism or not, he's better that Big Jake ever was.

 

[slinslin]

And of course Stepania wouldn't take a short minimum contract.

Breaking his neck isn't exactly like breaking your knee or something. It is not like it should affect his game once he recovered which he is since the beginning of this year.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Athleticism or not, he's better that Big Jake ever was.

Based on what?

Stepania' last seasons numbers are comparable to Tsakalidis' from 2001/2002.

 

[elindholm]

And of course Stepania wouldn't take a short minimum contract.

The Suns could offer him something like $4 million over three years, the third year a player option. This late in the off-season, how likely is he to get a better offer?

 

[slinslin]

Why would the Suns want to immediately waste most of their gained flexibility on a multi-year contract for a player who might not even have as little impact as Big Jake?

 

[elindholm]

Well, apparently they don't.

But in my opinion Stepania is quite a bit better than Tsakalidis.

 

[elindholm]

Isn't DerMarr Johnson still a RFA? He should be: this is the fourth year since he was drafted in the first round, and the Hawks did not pick up his option. Is there any chance the Hawks will match whatever offer sheet the Suns have signed him to?

 

[slinslin]

No the Hawks waived his rights.

 

[hcsilla]

Originally posted by elindholm
Isn't DerMarr Johnson still a RFA? He should be: this is the fourth year since he was drafted in the first round, and the Hawks did not pick up his option.

The Hawks did not pick up the 4th-year option of Johnson's contract.

 

[elindholm]

The Hawks did not pick up the 4th-year option of Johnson's contract.

Right, I thought that made him a RFA, but evidently I was mistaken. Thanks.

 

[Joe Mama]

Wait a second. As far as I can tell they only signed him to their training camp roster which means there isn't even a great shot he will make the team. Where does it say he was given a guaranteed contract?

I would be happy if the Suns signed Stepania to a small contract. He is better than Jake Tsakalidis.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

Where does it say he was given a guaranteed contract?

I don't think he was. But if he were a RFA (which apparently he isn't), he could still be signed to a non-guaranteed contract. I guess. It's moot, though, because he's a UFA.

 

[slinslin]

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Career high

28 points vs Milwaukee
6 offensive rebounds vs Charlotte
8 defensive rebounds vs New Jersey
10 total rebounds - 2 times
6 assists vs Portland
5 steals vs Cleveland
4 blocks - 4 times

DerMarr Miles Johnson was born May 5, 1980 in Washington, DC
Nicknamed "D.J." and "Slim"

Also what I didn't even know is that he didn't even need surgery after the accident.