Hawks Tell Jalen Johnson He Is Not Being Shopped Despite Giannis Rumors
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Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson said team officials quickly assured him he would remain in Atlanta after his name surfaced in trade chatter involving Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo earlier this season.
“That was probably the first time in my career hearing the rumors and stuff like that,” Johnson told The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer. “But I got reassurance from everyone around here that that’s not the plan.”
Speculation intensified in December when Johnson’s agent, Rich Paul, mentioned the Milwaukee native as a possible centerpiece in a hypothetical Antetokounmpo deal during a podcast appearance. The Hawks, according to Fischer, immediately dismissed the idea and reiterated that they view the 22-year-old forward as a foundational piece.
“Obviously it means a lot,” Johnson added. “The trust they have in me and the belief they have in me.”
Source: Hoops Wire
