Hawks, Suns close to Johnson trade

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks and Phoenix Suns are close to completing a deal that would send guard Joe Johnson to the Hawks in a sign-and-trade deal, according to reports in Phoenix and Atlanta.

The Hawks apparently plan to make Johnson their starting point guard.

Atlanta would send the Suns two first-round picks, second-year guard Boris Diaw and a $4.9 million trade exception. The Arizona Republic reported Monday the deal will become final today.

Johnson first would sign a five-year contract with Phoenix worth an estimated $70 million that would include a first-year salary of about $20 million, according to reports in the Arizona paper and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

A Hawks spokesman said no trade announcement is planned for Monday or Tuesday, the first day free agents can be signed.

The addition of the 6-foot-8 Johnson could enable the Hawks to cause mismatches with a big backcourt.

If Johnson, who has been a combo guard with the Suns, can handle the ball well enough to be the Hawks' starting point guard, he could join 6-foot-8 shooting guard Josh Childress in the backcourt.

The Hawks apparently are willing to pay the high price of two first-round picks in exchange for the security of not worrying about the Suns matching their five-year, $69.6 million offer to Johnson. Because Johnson is a restricted free agent, the Suns can match offers from other teams.

Johnson told ESPN.com last week that he asked Suns owner Robert Sarver not to match the Hawks' offer.

The Hawks have their own first-round pick in 2006 and another first-round pick acquired in last season's trade that sent Antoine Walker to the Boston Celtics.

Johnson, 24, averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists with the Suns but often was overshadowed by teammate Steve Nash, the league's MVP last season, and Amare Stoudemire.

With Atlanta, Johnson would join Childress, Josh Smith, Al Harrington and rookies Marvin Williams and Salim Stoudamire as the team's to give the Hawks a youthful foundation. The team hopes to add a center during free agency.

Diaw, also a 6-foot-8 guard, averaged 4.8 points and 2.6 rebounds but is a strong defensive player.