Atlanta Hawks: Catching up (again) with Al Horford
Caught up with Al Horford again, this time at Oglethorpe University during his summer camp for kids. The scene was about as loud and hectic as you might think. It’s always good for me to be reminded of why I don’t have (or want) any kids.
“The parents love it,” Horford said. “The kids do all this running around, and they are worn out when the parents come pick them up. They go right to sleep.”
The reports are that Al didn’t just lend his name to the camp like some athletes are known to do, but was hands-on with the kids. His father, Tito, helped out, too, running the kids through some drills. Bibby was there on Thursday.
Al held a camp in Michigan last summer and has two scheduled in the Dominican Republic next month, but this was his first local camp.
“This is my third year here so I figured I should do something here in Atlanta, [especially] since I live here, too,” Al said.
Before succumbing to the apparently A/C-less gym and those rambunctious rugrats, I managed to talk some business with Al. He offered insights on J.J.’s re-signing (good), Atlanta’s search for a center (important), a potential contract extension (no hurry) and the Heat loading up in Atlanta’s division (challenging).
Al said he’s happy the team re-signed Joe. He’s on board with ASG and Rick Sund’s philosophy that the Hawks still have the potential to get better so they had to keep pushing forward.
“I agree,” he said. “Everything is going well. Guys are still getting better. I think that is important to keep the team together. Like [Sund] said, we definitely don’t want to take a step back. It’s tough to build in this league.”
Atlanta is looking to add a center. I think that will happen through free agency rather than a trade. There are no indications the Hawks are actively seeking to trade any of their core guys but, like any team, they would listen to any offers that come their way.
They’d have to be very good offers, though. The Hawks still think this group can get better, and their focus is adding pieces to it, not “addition by subtraction,” Sund said. In other words, he’s not going to break up the core for a so-so trade.
Sund said the focus would getting bigs for the last three roster spots. That’s good news to Al, who thinks the Hawks definitely need to acquire a bona fide center.
“We need to get another big guy, another center, that’s able to help myself and Josh out,” he said. “We need to have someone to come in and have an impact. I think that is the position we need if we want to be any type of contender in the East.”
Al said he doesn’t necessarily mean getting a center to supplant him as the starter so he can move to power forward. Rather, it could be a scenario where the new center plays a lot of minutes and L.D. can mix and match from among the new guy, Al, Josh, Zaza and any other big guys Sund adds (a Jason Collins return is a possibility if he gets in better shape).
“I don’t have a problem splitting time [at center],” Al said. “I played a little four last year with Zaza in the game at the same time and I thought that was good. I know I am going to still play the five.”
He said he’s fine with that (it seems odd that an All-Star has to say that). He said he knows some fans and media seem to be more concerned about his position than him. But the way he sees it the Hawks have to play to their strengths, which includes a lineup with him at center.
“I think we create a lot of problems when have an athletic lineup with Josh at the four, me at the five and Marvin at the three,” Al said. “I think we create serious problems for people. I think that is one of our strengths as a team is we are so versatile.”
L.D. has talked about making better use of those advantages in the new offense and defense. Al said he hasn’t had that discussion with L.D. yet: “I am really interested to see what he is going to do as far as that.”
It’s also going to be interesting to see what the Hawks do as far as Al’s contract extension. The Hawks can offer him one that begins in 2011-12 and is worth up to five years and $82 million. The deadline for a deal is Oct. 31.
Al had said he knew the Hawks would take care of J.J. first. Now that they did, would he like to talk to them about an extension?
“We’ll see,” he said. “If the time is right. It is something that I will have to talk to my agent about. I know that the priority for the team was to re-sign Joe. We will see what happens the rest of the summer as far as the free agents if they are trying to get anybody else.”
The CBA complicates things for both Al and the Hawks. Atlanta will get the chance to retain Al’s rights as a restricted free agent next summer, but then what will free agency look like in the new labor deal? If Al signs an extension now it takes away some uncertainty but he can’t know now if he would be better off as a free agent.
“I really can’t get too caught up in that,” he said. “I really just have to go out and play. If something happens and I get an extension, great. If it doesn’t, I just have to keep playing and keep getting better.”
As for Miami, everyone seems to be predicting they will become an instant juggernaut due to the SuperFriends. They still have a lot of roster spots to fill but at this point is anyone wiling to doubt Pat Riley? Dude re-signs Wade, adds the other two stars and then carves out enough cap space to sign Mike Miller by sending away former No. 2 pick Michael Beasley for peanuts–a draft mistake that hardly anyone cares about anymore.
Assuming the Heat keeps building the roster with useful players, the Hawks could find themselves the third-best team in their division.
“This division is probably the toughest one,” Al said.
MC
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281 comments Add your comment
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:11 pm
#
Undisputed Champ Said,
February 15, 2010 @ 9:51 pm
Undisputed Champ!
February 15th, 2010
8:34 pm
I can seem to understand why so many people are saying that Horford is such a liability defensively. So what if he cant defend the lane. If all those guys who are driving on horford, dunking and show casing, if they ever miss you can bet HORFORD, will get the rebound. True, alot of guys feel comfortable taking the pill to the rack against him, but, did it ever occur to any one,
that Horford is “THE #18TH CENTER IN BLOCKED SHOTS!”
So for all you who people like Joe Mama, and Truth Serum, who think Horford is a joke and a defensive liability, lets see you argue with being the number 18th defensive center in the NBA.
Go Hawks!
Read more: http://blogs.hoopshype.com/blogs/barrigon/2010/02/13/al-horford-i-think-i-can-be-a-go-to-scorer/#ixzz0tJuIdYDh
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:14 pm
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CBcQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.usatoday.com%2Fsports%2Fbasketball%2Fnba%2Fhawks%2F2010-03-23-defense-key-success_N.htm&ei=oPA4TPvCCoG88gbVpMWmBg&usg=AFQjCNFyIDH06plHlXhSC3HZBCJ-Xq0Vdw
Sautee
July 10th, 2010
6:18 pm
Truth-serum said this:
“were talking about a man with a career ave of 12pts, picks up 9 unattended rebound and….and….and….what the hell else does he do?”
I’m not sure, ummmmm………. makes the All-Star team?
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:20 pm
makes the All-Star team?
? I think he was added…couldnt fool the fans!
O'Brien
July 10th, 2010
6:25 pm
Wyatt Earp,
Last time I checked, it wasnt about pleasing the fans. The same fans who almost voted Tracy McGrady as a starter? The same fans who were voting for Allen Iverson to start? Yeah, leave it up to fans.
Lucky for us, its about pleasing coaches who actually know the game of basketball, and pleasing GMs, who actually make a lot of the important decisions.
Grandad
July 10th, 2010
6:25 pm
nc
How did Teaguer get to be Ken’s boy.
I like as well.
I think I’ve heard Big Ray speak well of the young man.
*More Importantly LD has pretty much declared him to be
the starting pt guard.
Why the bitterness toward the young man.
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:25 pm
19) Al Horford—Atlanta Hawks
Horford isn’t a very good defensive center yet, though the commitment to playing defense is certainly there. While he has the strength, Horford has to get tougher and be less disinclined to bump and bang. His post moves are limited, though he has a reliable elbow jumper and is a powerful rebounder.
In actuality, Horford is a power forward playing center on the Hawks only because of the franchise’s lack of quality big men.
Grandad
July 10th, 2010
6:26 pm
*sentence 2, “I like -[him]- as well.
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:31 pm
“Lucky for us, its about pleasing coaches who actually know the game of basketball,’
O Brien are those the same coaches who refused to put him on any of the All NBA squads? Are they a different set of coaches who voted that he wasnt good enough to make the NBA All Defensive lists?
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:32 pm
Ken Strickland Crucified Woodson for not playing HIS boy teague! Absolutely!
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:33 pm
“Horford isn’t a very good defensive center yet, though the commitment to playing defense is certainly there. While he has the strength, Horford has to get tougher and be less disinclined to bump and bang. His post moves are limited, though he has a reliable elbow jumper and is a powerful rebounder.
In actuality, Horford is a power forward playing center on the Hawks only because of the franchise’s lack of quality big men.
“
O'Brien
July 10th, 2010
6:48 pm
Wyatt Earp,
First of all, it is SPORTS WRITERS who vote for the All NBA teams. And the 3 centers they chose were Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, and Andrew Bogut.
Coaches vote for the all defense teams, and they are NOT allowed to vote for their own players. So the one vote Horford got did NOT come from Woody.
That being said, for the All NBA defensive teams, Dwight Howard and Tim Duncan were the selected centers.
So what’s your point? That Howard, Stoudemire, Bogut, and Tim Duncan are better than Horford? I don’t think anybody would argue that point.
So while you’re busy stating the obvious, maybe you can also tell us how Kobe and Wade are better than JJ, and how LeBron is way better than Marvin.
Grandad
July 10th, 2010
6:49 pm
“Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.”
-Doc Holliday-
“Ignoratio elenchi”
Sautee
July 10th, 2010
6:53 pm
Al Horford – All-Star Center 2010
Not Shaq.
Not B. Lopez.
Not Bogut.
Not Bargnani.
Not T. Chandler.
Not Noah.
Not David Lee. (though he was added later when A.I. backed out)
No, none of those centers were judged to be as good as Al Horford by the Head Coaches of the league.
Al Horford – All-Star Center 2010
Enough said.
Heh heh.
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:55 pm
O’Brien Sorry, did not mean to ruffle or feather
or
Harry Potter’s @July 10th, 2010
6:49 pm
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:56 pm
Not David Lee. (though he was added later when A.I. backed out)? Brain on Drugs? Horford played the the celebrity classic called and all “star” game.
UGA
July 10th, 2010
6:57 pm
Sources say the #Cavs are considering make an offer to Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent forward Josh Childress. per yahoo
Wyatt Earp
July 10th, 2010
6:57 pm
Grandad
July 10th, 2010
6:49 pm
LMAO!!
Go harry!
O'Brien
July 10th, 2010
6:58 pm
Grandad,
Although I am a fan of Jeff Teague, I am uncomfortable with the fact that the starting PG for a 53 win team might be a second year player, who did not get much PT his rookie year.
Therefore, I would like to see the Hawks sign a 3rd PG. Because if Teague struggles or gets injured, then we are back to Bibby and Jamal playing the bulk of the minutes at PG.
Bubba leader
July 10th, 2010
7:02 pm
Undisputed Champ!
February 15th, 2010
8:34 pm
I can seem to understand why so many people are saying that Horford is such a liability defensively. So what if he cant defend the lane. If all those guys who are driving on horford, dunking and show casing, if they ever miss you can bet HORFORD, will get the rebound. True, alot of guys feel comfortable taking the pill to the rack against him, but, did it ever occur to any one,that Horford is “THE #18TH CENTER IN BLOCKED SHOTS!”
So for all you who people like Joe Mama, and Truth Serum, who think Horford is a joke and a defensive liability, lets see you argue with being the number 18th defensive center in the NBA.
.
. 
Simpdawg
July 10th, 2010
7:05 pm
What’s the fascination with Shaq? Did I miss something? You guys do realize that Shaq is 38 years old, he’s still a Diva, he doesn’t have the skills he had two years ago, let alone ten years ago. He still can’t defend the pick and roll or screen and roll plays that the Orlando Magic and other teams in the Eastern Conference run to perfection. I don’t understand how Shaq is going to improve the Hawks. If the Hawks need big players to bang with Dwight Howard or Kendrick Perkins, they could sign younger free agents who would give them the same production as Shaq. Players like Kwame Brown, D.J. Mbenga, Josh Boone, Brian Zoubek, A.J. Ogilvy and Courtney Simms. Shaq is not the answer. He would miss up the chemistry of the team like he did in Phoenix.
Sautee
July 10th, 2010
7:05 pm
Najeh,
About this:
“Yeah, that’s real convenient… post an article from right after Horford’s rookie season. While you’re at it, you might as well post an article from the same time period about how Rajon Rondo is the 19th best starting point guard in the league.”
Najeh you really didn’t expect T-s to be truthful about the article, did you?
I knew it was some wrtier’s BS as soon as I read the part on Yao, who the writer calls “a terrific rebounder”. The same writer claims that Tyson Chandler is “the best defensive center in the league”. There goes the old cred.
Yao’s career rebound avg.? 7.8 rebounds / gm
Not so terrific by me
Horford’s career rebound avg?: 9.6 rebounds / gm
And that will be going up.
JeJe
July 10th, 2010
7:43 pm
If u just play a physical zone vs. Miami and clog the lanes this team will fold. They have no shooters and Mike Miller probably won’t start. If Mike Miller starts, you attack Bosh at Center (too bad Horford is too small to play Center).
JeJe
July 10th, 2010
7:48 pm
ILGAUSKAS WILL GO TO MIAMI. FREAKING OVERPAY FOR SHAQ ALREADY. HE’S BOUND TO OPT OUT AFTER 1 YR ANYWAY. JESUS
Bubba leader
July 10th, 2010
7:50 pm
“Najeh you really didn’t expect T-s to be truthful about the article, did you”
IF HE WERE NOT TRUTHFUL HE WOULD NOT HAVE POSTED THE DATE.
Heres another you may enjoy.
Top 10 NBA Centers 2009-2010
Written by Boyd Madsen
Monday, 16 November 2009 16:25
I wrote this whole piece once, then the browser failed, and I lost it, so screw this crap. Here you go:
10. Andrea Bargnani-hard to respect a man named Andrea
09. Andrew Bogut-probably thought he had escaped Michael Redd’s indiscriminate jacking of threes only to have Brandon Jennings join the team
08. Brook Lopez- His brother is named Robin, isn’t he? You have to wonder what effeminate, androgynous name his parents would have given a triplet. Terry?
07. Mehmnet Okur- Best 3 point shooting center in the league. Which might be a bad thing. Also, cool hair.
06. Marcus Camby- Awesome on defense. Awful looking shot. I could finish the NY Times crossword puzzle in the amount of time it takes him to get off a jumper.
05. Joakim Noah-You could kick a field goal through the gap in his teeth. Well, you could if you were awesome at kicking and used a very small football. Noah is good at basketball, though.
04. Al Jefferson-Big Al has lost a lot of weight. He will now be called Medium Al. Medium Al is good at post moves, which I like. 03. Andrew Byum-It must be awesome to be 8 feet tall.
02. Tim Duncan- Don’t call him a power forward. If you are the tallest man on your team and guard the opposition’s tallest player, you are a center. Also, good bank shots.
01. Dwight Howard- Not only the biggest guy, but the biggest dork. Dwight is not cool at all, but he can sure dunk that basketball.
Clyde
July 10th, 2010
7:50 pm
At the end of the year I thought it was understood that the Hawks needed a legit center. I guess its still up for debate. Lets see if another year of Horford getting abused will change peoples minds.
Truth-Serum
July 10th, 2010
7:56 pm
Co- Sign- Clyde @7:50
I think they like abuse at the 5,
Time to glorify horfords 12pts career average.
Truth-Serum
July 10th, 2010
7:57 pm
Horford doesnt like the abuse thats why he wants out!
Truth-Serum
July 10th, 2010
8:04 pm
Clyde
July 10th, 2010
7:50 pm
At the end of the year
Actually two years in a row its been clear the hawks need a starting center.
OK
July 10th, 2010
8:52 pm
Mo Williams to ATL Trade Rumor starting to heat up. It could involve Childress and/or Marvin
Here is the link to trade rumor
http://twitter.com/SamAmicoNBA
OK
July 10th, 2010
8:52 pm
Mo Williams to ATL Trade Rumor starting to heat up. It could involve Childress and/or Marvin
Here is the link to trade rumor
http://twitter.com/SamAmicoNBA