In an interview with Grantland's Charles Bethea, Hawks GM Danny Ferry talks about the Joe Johnson trade. He calls giving up Joe Johnson a "hard deal," but argues as well that "it was a win-win" for both him and, his old friend, Billy King.

We started talking about it June 26th, and we agreed on things July 3rd. I think it was a win-win for both teams. They got a good player who’d help keep around Deron Williams. It was a hard deal for us. But, at the end, we had a good making-the-playoff run, but we hadn’t had a good playoff run, if that makes sense. And the goal is to have a good playoff run. That was going to be hard to sustain, with how we were set up.

Ferry also says he was surprised that fans reacted so excitedly to the deal, adding "they've have taken for granted the success they’ve had here. And Joe was a big part of that." He admits that while the Nets are building, the Hawks had tired of "the status quo."

• Q&A: Hawks GM Danny Ferry on Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Basketball Analytics and Sam Presti's Wikipedia Page Charles Bethea - Grantland