Oh where have you gone Boris Diaw?

When the Phoenix Suns shipped disgruntled, up-and-coming star Joe Johnson to the Hawks for two first round picks and Boris Diaw a vast majority of the public laughed at the Hawks.

"What are they thinking? They didn't have to give up that much!" the cynics laughed, and they were right. The Hawks seemingly gave up a lot to get a guy the Suns had no intentions of paying top dollar. In the 2005-06 Season, Diaw found his niche and blossomed. He averaged 13.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game for Phoenix. Meanwhile Johnson had a decent season on a dreadful Hawks team that won 26 games (which sadly doubled their win total from the year before). Pundits laughed at the Hawks. "Look at what happened with Diaw! Can you believe the Hawks gave this guy up??? AND Phoenix gets a draft pick from Atlanta? Boy are the Hawks dumb."

Well, as fortune would have it, the Hawks avoided having to give up their draft pick until 2008 quieting all the people who wrote "Can you imagine who Phoenix might get with Atlanta's pick in the 2007 draft? They could get Joakim Noah at #5? He'd be perfect in their system!" or "Atlanta's pick is unprotected in 2008, Phoenix can get anyone if the Hawks miss the playoffs!"

Well, as of right now the Hawks cling to the 8th playoff spot leading Indiana by 3 games with just 8 to play. Joe Johnson is proving he deserved that second All-Star spot down the stretch averaging nearly 25 points and seven assists per game in the month of March. The Hawks have won 8 of 10 and appear to be on the verge of a playoff birth for the first time since 1982 (I might have to go check the records on that.)

So what's Diaw up to these days? Well he's nearly dropped 5 points, two rebounds and three assists per game since the 05-06 season and you don't hear much about him as an impact player. And as for the draft pick, well barring a total collapse (which is possible with the Heart Attack Hawks) Phoenix will be selecting in the middle of the first round. NBADraft.net has Phoenix selecting French Shooting Guard Nicholas Batem with Atlanta's pick #15.

The Hawks have Johnson signed through the next two seasons, so let's play a game: Let's see who averages more points per game these next two years, Joe Johnson or Boris Diaw and whomever Phoenix selects with Atlanta's pick. I'll take Joe. I'd like to see some of these media blowhards come out and admit they were wrong and that the trade was a fair one and that Atlanta made out pretty well in the end, but then who would the media have to kick around? I guess the Clippers are back to sucking so it could be then. Please, talking heads give Joe Johnson some love.