Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford’s summer
Al, standing back right, with the winning All-Star squad. (www.singaporesports.sg)
The first part of Al Horford’s summer was personal. Now he will get down to the business of improving his game and maybe later think about a contract extension with the Hawks.
First, the personal: Al was scheduled to return to Atlanta yesterday after participating in Basketball Without Borders in Singapore last week. Al went to Mexico as part of the program last season but made his first-ever trip to Asia. Joining him in Singapore were Trevor Ariza, Francisco Garcia (Go Cards), Corey Brewer and Taj Gibson.
“It’s been a great experience for me so far,” Al said from Singapore. “I think we have made the most of it here, helping the kids and a doing a lot of activities with the NBA. I’ve had a blast. The Singapore people are excited about basketball here. The campers have been great. They are from all over Asia and some from the Middle East.”
The NBA guys’ activities included hosting a Special Olympics basketball clinic, a trip to Jamiyah’s Children’s Home for orphans and underprivileged children and and an NBA FIT clinic for high school students. Al also has a basketball camp scheduled this week at Oglethorpe University.
After taking a break for BWB Asia, it’s back to business for AL. He’s headed back to the gym for workouts this week. When I told him how some of my blog people seem to be very, very concerned about what guys are doing over the summer, Al laughed before laying out his plan:
“There are a couple things I will be working on, and I’ve already started a little bit. Obviously [last summer] I developed a lot more with the pick-and-pop as far as pick-and-rolling and shooting mid-range. Now I’m going to work on putting the ball on the floor more and strengthening my counter moves in post. Those are two things I will really be focused on.”
He said he hasn’t focused on his contract situation yet. Now that J.J. is locked up, Al might be next in line to get big money from the Hawks.
He’s in the fourth year of his rookie-scale contract so he’s eligible for a five-year extension to take his deal through 2015-16. The contract can start at the league maximum, which for Al is going to be something like $13 million, with maximum raises of 10.5 percent each season. If he doesn’t accept an extension, he would become a restricted free agent next summer if the Hawks extended a qualifying offer, which they obviously would.
Would Al be open to an extension?
“I’m not sure, yet,” he said. “This is a summer for me to get better and focus on next season. I don’t know what their approach is going to be on that. I know that as a team, [the focus is] to get Joe Johnson back.”
J.J. is back now. The Hawks still plan to add more pieces, including a center. Al reiterated his stance that he prefers to play power forward but isn’t making any demands about switching positions.
“I’m fine with [center] but my natural position is obviously the four,” he said.
With that said, there is one thing I’ve wondered about amid all this focus on getting a center. See if you feel me on this one.
I think the Dwight effect from the playoffs has caused a lot of people to undervalue Al as a center. I’m not saying the Hawks couldn’t use more size–even Al has agreed with that–I’m just saying you can make a case that a perimeter defender and bona fide point guard are more pressing concerns for this team. That’s especially true since Al presumably will be featured in offensive and defensive schemes that better utilize his talents and hide his lack of ideal bulk for center.
I know the Hawks hope Teague can hold down point guard while helping with the perimeter D. But if forced to choose, which might be what happens to the Hawks, would you rather acquire a center that can displace Al as a starter or a point guard you are sure can run L.D.’s revolutionary new offense so J.J. doesn’t have the ball so much? Is getting a starting center more important than finding a defensive perimeter guy who can upgrade a group that still could have Jamal and Bibby playing heavy minutes?
I’m not certain of the answers but just wanted to throw that out there. They are the kind of questions the Hawks will ponder now that J.J.’s deal is done. Lots of you have been asking about potential trades and Atlanta’s interest in other free agents, and I get that. It’s fun to imagine the possibilities. However, Atlanta’s focus has been squarely on J.J. so I’m afraid there hasn’t been much to talk about so far.
Also remember it’s still very, very early in the process, particularly for a team like the Hawks. They might have to wait until the initial craziness of the market subsides before swooping in for guys who overestimated their value. My guess is that’s going to happen relatively soon once teams that missed out on LeBron and Co. regain their fiscal sanity.
–Thanks to all my blog people for the clicks and comments during this J.J. saga. I appreciate your interest in what I have to say and admire your passion for your team. The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference, and no one can ever accuse my blog people of being indifferent about their Hawks. I’m on the clock from now through the first four days of Summer League and I will do my best to keep the conversation going until I head off for some me time.
MC
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253 comments Add your comment
ICECOLD
July 5th, 2010
8:02 pm
but out of all those centers… the only ones that harm us in games, is dwight howard, andrew bogut, and david lee.. so we gettin a soooo needed center for jus those three guys, cuz offensively, we really dont need a center, we score off pure athleticism and jump shooting..
and the orlando series… our problem was trying to double dwight howard and we was letting their three point shooting destroy us and let the lead go up too much and then try to play catch up.. let dwight have his little 20 points and 20 rebounds, cuz he can only score two at a time… two points at a time. boston played him straight up one on one and they won the series easily.. thats the only team that trully dominated us besides the cavs .. and they wont be the same even if lebron comes back.. .. so dont the team too much just to get a center.. unless its one to come off the bench or dwight howard.. and they will not ever get dwight howard..
(unless he turns to old shaq!!!) lol
cp
July 5th, 2010
8:20 pm
So any news on the coaching staff or summer league team?
Fundamentals
July 5th, 2010
8:21 pm
Hoops – Just thinking of chemistry in terms of Florida, strong rebounding, strong play around the bucket and a nice touch. If we had Lee, Smoove and Horford we might not need a center. What do you like better Lee, Smoove and Horford or Marvin Smoove and Horford? NY might lose him for nothing…or he’ll sign big when they don’t get what they want elsewhere. I just like his game. I realize he’s in the same situation as Horford.
NO claims they’ll not trade Paul – quit dreaming. What’s the word on his tendons anyway?
Iron Man
July 5th, 2010
8:22 pm
Sign horford and trade him lets get joe that real center. There are a couple of teams interest. couple that with marvin and a draft pick and we should be able to get true starting center. I think think we can begin talking about competing at the next level
Grandad
July 5th, 2010
8:27 pm
Thats between me and you mary. by the way that guy said if you bath he will mount you fat nasty azzzz next time.
Fundamentals
July 5th, 2010
8:28 pm
Siler is on the Nets summer league roster.
http://www.nba.com/summerleague2010/players/garret_siler/index.html
terrell
July 5th, 2010
8:34 pm
ICECOLD, when did David Lee hurt us?
terrell
July 5th, 2010
8:35 pm
If I recall, it was Nate Robinson who hurt the Hawks, not David Lee.
Grandad
July 5th, 2010
8:36 pm
Viagra helps me go hard in the paint like Big Al “Boss” Horford and Waka Flocka Flame
Pape Sy
July 5th, 2010
8:38 pm
lol,
c’était une plaisanterie drôle, juste comme moi obtenant rédigé par le sund de rick
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2010
8:52 pm
Multiple sources, including MC’s Twitter, confirm that the Hawks have offered Shaq the mid level exception and that Shaq is seriously considering coming here.
I assume we’ll have a new blog up before the day is over.
Grandad
July 5th, 2010
8:53 pm
mary you know a aint gonna uck that skank hole of yours so quit begging be itch. I wish viagra would work for a dinosaur like my old assse. All that lickin and Dmaryb still couldnt get me up. Im lame and limp like my b!tch horford
jroc
July 5th, 2010
8:53 pm
MC please get control of this blogg and put a block on the idiot that is posting non-basketball topics. Please whoever is doing this please stop!
J.J.M.
July 5th, 2010
9:02 pm
hawks offer shaq a contract????
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/07/05/shaq-weighing-offer-from-hawks-to-join-johnson/?ncid=txtlnkusspor00000002&xid=si_nba
JeJe
July 5th, 2010
9:05 pm
Dr.maryb
“Anyway, that was NOT the point of the conversation. Which you chose to ignore – You are trying
to pass off Water – Cooler Gossip as Truth and it is baseless!
Sorry, your friends brother and ‘Nem has NO credibility here &”
Dude, you are a joke. I could care less if you think my source is credible or not. The guy who told me is had no reason to lie, given that he’s a casual fan and it’s not very hard to find Mark Price in the ATL. STFU and get off my nuts
JeJe
July 5th, 2010
9:08 pm
LOVING these rumors.
Trade Marvin/Bibby/maybe Smoove for a PG, bring Shaq in.
But a question:
If Joe said he’d recruit bigtime FAs,
1) HOW can he do that if they will mostly sign by Thursday when he signs?
2) WHY wouldn’t he take less? Does he want to be the #1 option for sure?
Makes no sense how he is the #1 guy here but woulda sacrificed that for similar salary in CHI or NYK. He should’ve done what Dirk did (Dirk is WAY better than Joe and is quite a bit older)
northcyde
July 5th, 2010
9:10 pm
I want Horford to set a personal goal to average 11 rebs this year, while being a much tougher post player. Saying that he’d rather play the 4 does not help this team right now. We all know that he’d be better at the 4. But we need him to GO TO BATTLE while playing center.
The guy that people like around here, Andris Biedrins . . is 6 – 11 . . 240 – 245 lbs. He may be longer than Al, but he’s not stronger than Al. Which is the reason why Biendrins doesn’t stop good big men either. I think that dude is vastly overrated, and a trade for him would end up being disasterous and a REAL salary cap killer.
Matter of fact, his running mate at Florida . . Joakim Noah . . is 6 – 11 . . 230 – 235 lbs. Although he is thin, he embraces playing center, even though he might be a hell of a PF as well.
Al needs to get in the gym and become a ROCK. Get stronger. Play bigger. Be more fundamentally sound to overcome shortcomings. And simply be the best player that he can be in the post. He shouldn’t let people ( or himself ) label him as an “undersized center”. Just be a bad azz . . if he has the ability to be one.
Personally . . I want him to STOP talking about his desire to play PF. We all know that’s his best position and that he would rather play it. But in the meantime, he needs to try to be the best CENTER that he can be. I want him to take that as being a personal challenge.
Charles Barkley dominated this league at PF . . and he was only 6-5 . . 6-6.
So when it comes to Al Horford at center, I don’t want him to be somewhat disgruntled because he has to play the position. I want him to take it as a challenge, and try to be the BEST center in the league.
He simply has to make it his goal to OUTWORK people this year.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2010
9:11 pm
The funny thing about this is that Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley called this 5 years ago — they used to clown on the Hawks saying they will make the playoffs in 2010 because that’s when Shaq becomes a free agent.
JeJe
July 5th, 2010
9:12 pm
“Johnson was told by management that the Hawks intended to make significant changes to their roster, including the possible addition of O’Neal.”
Significant? Better be true. Marvin, Bibby, and Smoove are all tradeable. Get a real PG here, while still getting Teague 10 mpg, and get a new SF
hawks_4_life
July 5th, 2010
9:12 pm
JeJe
Joe is 28 and Dirk is 32.
pinoy hawk
July 5th, 2010
9:13 pm
“The Hawks have recently been exploring the possibility of trading power forward Josh Smith as part of their summertime makeover, according to sources around the league. FanHouse.com”
Any truth on this?
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2010
9:16 pm
I am not opposed to trading Smoove, but they better be careful what they wish for if they do. Smoove may not be a #1 option offensively but his single-handed impact on the game in every way other than scoring is extremely hard, if not impossible, to replace. If they trade him, they better get a blue-chip All Star in return. If they are considering trading him just to make room for Shaq, who is way past his prime and won’t be here in 2 years anyway, such a move would make picking Marvin #2 overall look extremely smart by comparison.
Chip Shot
July 5th, 2010
9:16 pm
here you go guys. i think the hawks are going after CP3!
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=NBA&id=1057
Samuel
July 5th, 2010
9:19 pm
Go head Rick. Get my Boy Shaq in here and while you’re at it trade Josh for Monte Ellis straight up.
STEEL (Formerly VenomSpitter)
July 5th, 2010
9:20 pm
If the Hawks trade Josh they better be getting chris paul in return. Anything less spells doom 4 this franchise.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2010
9:22 pm
CP3 is the kind of legit All Star for whom I wouldn’t mind trading Josh, assuming his knee issues are in the past. Carmelo Anthony is also acceptable.
It would be bittersweet, though, acquiring CP3 and not being able to see him throw alley-oops to Josh…
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478)
July 5th, 2010
9:26 pm
ahh man….talks of shaq,,,,possible moves of josh/marvin/bibby…joe “recruiting” other FAs…..etc.
I’m gonna be upset if another big move isnt made this supper.
If we get shaq and start teague…that’ll be good for me (for now), I’m interested to see how they and the remaining hawks will operate under a so called new system ran by drew.
northcyde
July 5th, 2010
9:27 pm
J.J.M.
Honestly . . if I’m the ASG . . I’d give Shaq the entire MLE.
I not only do it from a basketball standpoint, I’ll do it from a P.R. standpoint.
The whole reason why Cleveland went after Shaq, is so that he could go up against Dwight Howard. But because Cleveland got bounced by Boston, he never got the chance to really prove his worth.
You gotta pay to play in this league. And sometimes, you have to take risks. I’d rather waste 12 million on Shaq for the next 2 years, than to trade for a scrub like Biedrins.
Shaq’s PER 36 MINUTES numbers were still impressive . . which kind of shows just how weak the center position is in the NBA these days. Shaq is obviously on his last legs, but he’s still better than most centers.
18.5 ppg
10.3 rebs
1.8 blks
2.3 asst
57% FG
50% FT
From a P.R. standpoint . . while Shaq isn’t a superstar anymore, he’s still a superstar name. This is the guy who ATL would come out to see, even for 20 minutes a night. And needless to say, the potential for revenue if you bring Shaq in, could really be a shot in the arm for this team.
Plus you add a major personality to a team in need of an identity.
We acquire Shaq . . and all of this ish talking that the national media is doing, would abruptly come to a halt. They would at least give us the benefit of the doubt now, instead of constantly hating on us. That move may also increase our national TV time as well.
What do we have to lose? Make an offer to him . . send JJ, Smoove, and Al to try to sell the team to him . . along with 5 of Atlanta’s best “exotic dancers” . . and see if we can’t bring him in the mix.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478)
July 5th, 2010
9:36 pm
summer* I mean.
Get big diesel!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEJldO6GFIM
“No one touches the shaqtus”
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2010
9:38 pm
If Shaq does come here, I hope bigdave’s nickname “The Big Bird” catches on.
Gainesville#1
July 5th, 2010
9:40 pm
Amare is going to sign with the knicks
JeJe
July 5th, 2010
9:42 pm
Does anyone know when Larry Drew was an assistant for the Lakers? Maybe he knows Shaq from then
Tony
July 5th, 2010
9:43 pm
Shaq attack baby! Finally! A Center! Go Get em!
J.J.M.
July 5th, 2010
9:43 pm
I dont get why we trade for chris paul? thats saying you dont believe in jeff teague and thats just wasting draft picks on PGs and why the hell is josh always in trade rumors when hes our best player
JeJe
July 5th, 2010
9:44 pm
Sign Shaq.
Trade Marvin, Bibby, Josh/Jamal for CP3
NBA Finals
J.J.M.
July 5th, 2010
9:46 pm
jeje go hang yo self for that one
N-Trigue
July 5th, 2010
9:47 pm
If we trade Josh the Hawks will be making a stupid stupid move! Josh is really the only exciting player the hawks have besides Jamal! Josh too me was the 2nd best player on the team. He affects the game so much in so many ways we would be stupid to trade him! Shaq has1 year remaining in the nba so to trade a young Josh Smith would be crazy! Josh Smith should not be trafee he should be off limits!
JeJe
July 5th, 2010
9:48 pm
J.J.M.
Melo and CP3 ARE AVAILABLE despite what their management says. We need a point guard and a center.
That’s amazing! We’ve needed a point guard and center for 6 years, and we still need them!
Bibby is garbage and Teague doesn’t have a jumpshot yet. If he is like Rondo, he won’t have a jumpshot for a while
northcyde
July 5th, 2010
9:52 pm
J.J.M . . . if we have a chance to get Chris Paul . . you don’t even blink to do a deal like that. That’s like keeping around JJ, but passing up on Kobe . . or keeping Marvin, but passing up on Lebron.
You don’t fall in love with a player like Teague to the point where you are hesitant to make a major move like that. That’s what Cleveland did last year, with their love for J.J. Hickson in a possible Amare trade. Cleveland thought that the Suns were asking too much when they asked for cap relief in Big Z, and a young prospect in Hickson.
That was the main sticking point in the deal that would’ve sent Amare to Cleveland. So they kept Hickson, and settled for Antwan Jamison.
As for trading Josh Smith . . that’s simply to balance out the team, and see if Al Horford can become a real good PF.
Acquiring Shaq for the next 2 years, would make all of that moot for the short term. We could keep both of them, plus have a serviceable center in Shaq.
Najeh Davenpoop
July 5th, 2010
9:53 pm
LMAO
I just searched Twitter for “Shaq” and I saw this:
“The Atlanta Hawks signing Shaq is like finally getting with the finest girl at your high school 15 years, 3 kids and 2 baby daddies later”
Ken Strickland
July 5th, 2010
9:55 pm
The Wizard’s recent acquisition of Yi could make either JMcGee or ABlatch available in a sign and trade for JChildress, especially since they’ve shown a definite interest in Chills.
Gainesville#1
July 5th, 2010
9:56 pm
JeJe
I thought I was the only one who thought it is good to have a good shooting point guard.
TruthSeeker
July 5th, 2010
9:57 pm
I said this the day the season ended: the Hawks need to do everything they can to get Chris Paul. He IS the type of bonafide superstar that can get the Hawks to the Finals. Before he got hurt this past season, if you asked most people around the game who the top four players in the league were, LeBron, Kobe and Wade would have been the top three, and CP3 probably would have been fourth. It seems like everyone wants to anoint Deron Williams as the new best point guard in the NBA, but if you compare their stats, CP3 comes out ahead in almost every major category.
The Hawks have a golden opportunity here. They’ve gotten over the mental hump against the Celtics, who are only getting older. LeBron could be about to leave Cleveland. Even if he stays, that team has shown itself to be far from invincible in the playoffs. That still leaves the Magic as a team that the Hawks have to learn how to beat, but if you add a Chris Paul and a Shaq then that completely changes the dynamics of that matchup. The point is, the East is open for the taking right now, and the Hawks could have the means to step up and take it.
Get Chris Paul, Sund.
~~MAC-ToWN~~ (Area Code 478)
July 5th, 2010
10:08 pm
Girls do look good in jersey dresses though.
http://tinyurl.com/6juzpu
JSS
July 5th, 2010
10:15 pm
@ Najeh…
> 9:53PM But isn’t that Atlanta in a nutshell?
dr.maryb
July 5th, 2010
10:16 pm
Northcyde
CP3 has not played since he had a complete removal of one of the meniscus in his left knee.
He was supposed to return in 6 to 8 weeks, but never did.
I see visions of speedy claxton with him for now. Bone on Bone in the most complicated and weight bearing, pivot, joint. In the body. Very serious stuff!
I fear he may need micro-fracture surgery in the very near future.
That’s a Year to recover, maybe longer. I wouldn’t trade Josh for him just yet.
Marvin & Jamal & Zsa – maybe?
drmaryb
July 5th, 2010
10:32 pm
Peace & I’m out!
Tony
July 5th, 2010
11:59 pm
At Najeh, but she is still effective
Al Horford’s summer – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) « My NBA Video
July 6th, 2010
12:33 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
raybud
July 6th, 2010
12:49 am
@JSS–who were you thinking of? Shaq? Z? Haywood? Bring in Garret and allow him to develop. If i’m not mistaken, Ben Wallace wasn’t even drafted and he eventually became a beast on the defensive in. We need size and depth. Zaza isn’t enough. Morris isn’t enough, Joe Smith isn’t enough anymore. Jason Collins, well, enough said. Bring in the youth and see how it work. The Hawks should have done that with Siler vice Mario West.