"Joe Johnson will be back with the Hawks. The challenge for the team now is to find Johnson some help so they can reach their goal of becoming true Eastern Conference contenders.

Arn Tellem, Johnson's agent, said his client would be part of that effort. Tellem confirmed in a blog posting at the Huffington Post Web site Sunday that Johnson accepted Atlanta's offer of a six-year contract expected to be worth about $119 million.

And now that Johnson has his deal, Tellem indicated the All-Star guard would try to woo other players to join him in Atlanta.

"For his next act, Joe plans to actively recruit other top free agents to Atlanta, a place not unlike his hometown [Little Rock], where he feels comfortable and appreciated," Tellem wrote. "LeBron [James], you've already met with the front offices of six teams. How about considering the Hawks?"

James is the most coveted free agent in the league. With no salary cap space and about $63 million committed to salaries for 10 players next season, Atlanta's targets in free agency will be much more modest: players willing to accept the league average salary or less.

The Hawks' payroll is near the projected luxury-tax threshold. The team's owners are said to be willing to pay the dollar-for-dollar tax for players they believe will help improve the team after the Hawks were dominated in the Eastern Conference semifinals the past seasons."