Atlanta Hawks: Down to the wire for Al Horford extension
Horford trying to become third Class of '07 draft pick to secure extension.
One thing I’ve noticed about Al Horford when talking to him about his contract extension is he really doesn’t seem to get caught up in the particulars of agent Arn Tellem’s negotiations with the Hawks. That hasn’t changed now that there’s just one week left for an agreement to be reached.
Horford said the Hawks told Tellem they want to wait until the end of the week to meet about the extension. If no deal is reached by the end of business next Monday, then Horford would become a restricted free agent next summer once the Hawks extended him a qualifying offer by June 30.
“I kind of have thought this all along, but I think it really is going to come down to the last day,” Horford said.
Only two 2007 draftees have secured extensions so far: No. 2 overall pick Kevin Durant received a five-year, $85 million deal from Oklahoma City and Horford’s former Florida teammate and friend Joakim Noah, the No. 9 pick, got five years and $60 million plus incentives from the Bulls.
The actual value of extensions could change once the next CBA sets the new rules for contracts. Under the current labor deal, the Hawks can offer Horford an extension of up to five years and $82 million.
Meanwhile Horford, the No. 3 pick in the 2007 draft, said he’s not nervous or anxious about the approaching deadline.
“All I can focus on is playing,” he said. “Obviously, I hope we get it done. I can’t control that. They [the Hawks] want to wait until then, so that’s what we are going to wait until.
“I have always been that way when it is something outside of my reach, and I can’t do anything about it. All I can do is just keep going. I have always been like that with all aspects of my life. I just kind of leave it up to my agent and hopefully they can handle it. It is my business, but it’s not like I can make something happen.”
The advantage for Horford in securing an extension is that he wouldn’t be a free agent during what could be a lockout summer. Though the new CBA likely would affect the terms of his extension, at least he’d have a deal in hand once the season resumed. Otherwise, his options would be to play for Atlanta’s one year qualifying offer, sign an offer sheet with another team or negotiate an extension with the Hawks.
Horford said his representatives discussed the potential ramifications of the new CBA in regards to his situation. But that’s another thing he said he doesn’t worry about.
“I hope we can get it done,” he said. “I think that is the feel. I hope we can come to an agreement and when it comes to that point, it comes. I can’t get caught up in that. I really can’t. I think that is a natural thing for players to look ahead and freak out. But I can’t control it.”
Injury report
Pape Sy worked out on the court following practice. It’s the first time he’s been able to do so successfully since the start of training camp. He said he aborted an earlier attempt because his back was too sore.
Sy looked to be moving pretty well while shooting jump shots and playing some defense.
“It is starting to get better,” he said. “I can’t wait [to play]. It is a little bit [sore] but I try to play with it and come back as fast as possible.”
L.D. said Bibby (back) is not yet up to speed. He also thinks Teague’s sore ankle has prevented him from being aggressive since his return.
Jamal’s back tightened up so he didn’t participate fully in practice today.
“I’m trying to get my timing back,” he said. “I just need to get my health right.”
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206 comments Add your comment
Ramon
October 26th, 2010
4:52 pm
You use MC’s comments to strengthen your argument. And then when someone uses the same reference, you questions it? And then on top of it, weren’t you the one lobbying for us to sign and start Dampier? You want a playoff team to start a center who’s met with four teams, and each have walked away choosing not to sign him. Also if you watched any of Dallas’s games over the past seasons, you would know that Dampier often times seemed out of position in the motion offense.
Then you make the statement that a shot attempt costs a team an entire game, as if the game only lasted for one play. So no matter how much players changes the game on the defensive end, if they miss 2 jumpers, they cost the team the game? As I said, you contradict your own postings.
lewis
October 26th, 2010
5:13 pm
damn, you waste your time trying to defend your post than the blog eats it up….
co-sign KevinM at 4:44
Ken Strickland
October 26th, 2010
5:15 pm
DRMARYB-In 07/08, the eventual NBA Champion Celtics were a much better team then they are now, and we weren’t nearly as good as we are now. The entire world thought the #1 seeded and eventual NBA Champion Celtics would have absolutely no problem sweeping the lowly 8th seeded Hawks in the 1st rd. As it turned out, we were the only team in the playoffs that were able to even be competitive against them and take them to 7gms.
We have the same mojo, or matchup advantage, against the Celtics that Orlando seems to have against us. If we could take that 07/08 Celtics to 7gms, we can certainly send this yrs Celtic team home after 7gms. While we certainly had the talent to defeat them in a 7gm series last yr, we definitely didn’t have the playoff caliber coaching needed to match Doc Rivers.
It’s amazing how some of you talk about the Hawks not having championship caliber talent, yet you keep suggesting we trade what talent we do have for certain players that haven’t taken their more talented teams any farther than we’ve gotten. What makes anyone think any combination of CBillups, Nene and CAnthony can do more for the Hawks than they’ve managed to do for Denver?
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
5:16 pm
Tomato – Tomtaoe!
Ok Ramon, if the game is tied and there is 2 mins. left, a bad play can cost you a game. Or, a bad play can spark an opponents run. Basketball is a game of runs. Baseball is a game of inches. You can never really point to one play and say that one play cost you a game. Missed FT’s or TO’s can cost you a game handedly. But, you CAN point to a style of play or bad habits costing games.
It’s not always if you Win or Lose, It’s HOW you play the game.
I know that’s deep and philosophical, but that’s how I generally see things.
I never take MC’s or anyone’s point of view as facts!
That’s not how I’m wired. I’m one of those people who:
1. Believe NOTHING I hear.
2. Believe NOTHING I read.
3. Only believe half of what I see.
I quote people all the time, but I always use quotations and may either agree or disagree with whom I quote. For the most part, I can make my own points from what I have seen watching games and listening to really talented bloggers on here.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
5:28 pm
Ken S.
Because Denver doesn’t have Joe and Josh and Jamal. I know they had Billups, Nene and Birdman. BTW, I don’t want Birdman, but just more of the right pieces would make their talents totally different, when on a different team.
We’re talking about making outside changes, not over-lapping the players we already have. Change in scenery also changes things.
Yeah, we took Boston to seven games and we do match them very well.
But, Championship Teams win on the road. We don’t do that, we ale like
1-9 in last ten road games in the play-offs, maybe 2. We are not gonna beat anybody with those numbers – nobody! Even, if we did beat Boston, we still got to beat Orlando – uuggh! Then, the Lakers. So, it’s not enough to say, we could have beat Boston in a seven game series. Unless, we can get them to beat Orlando before we play Boston.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
5:31 pm
Lewis meets the Bloginator! lol
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
5:37 pm
My Goal is not to beat Boston, it is to win a Championship!
We got top beat everybody! Can you honestly say this team as presently constructed, can beat everybody?
Honestly?
O'Brien
October 26th, 2010
5:38 pm
I will admit that Josh gets criticized a lot more than the other players.
Last year, he made major improvements on cutting down his 3 pt attempts.
This season, I would like to see less complaining to the refs (should be easy, because refs will call more techs), and less jump shots from him.
I’m looking forward to the Heats-Celtics tonight. Miami’s big 2 and 1/2 only played 3 minutes together this preseason. And the Celtics are just old. Can Shaq hold up for the entire season.
Ramon
October 26th, 2010
5:41 pm
Drmaryb, if the game is tied with 2 minutes left, and a bad play occurs. That one bad play did not cost you the game. The inability to stop the team, or to score more before those 2 minutes came, cost you the game. The inability to stop penetrating cost you the game. The inability to make necessary adjustment to slow down the opposing team cost you the game. I don’t know any coach who would say one play cost them the game! And I don’t know any one who has ever played competitive sports who would say that either.
RaJaH
October 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
We took Boston to seven but Cleveland did also. Cleveland actually competed in Boston and the series actually came down to Lebron missing the last shot.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
Ramon
Here’s my ENTIRE comment and, the part of my comments, you fail to read or comprehend: As I quote myself:
“Ok Ramon, if the game is tied and there is 2 mins. left, a bad play can cost you a game. Or, a bad play can spark an opponents run. Basketball is a game of runs. Baseball is a game of inches. You can never really point to one play and say that one play cost you a game. Missed FT’s or TO’s can cost you a game handedly. But, you CAN point to a style of play or bad habits costing games. “
JoJo the Godfather
October 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
I don’t know how the board started slamming Josh & Al, they are the least of our worries…Both guys are solid young citizens and have improved their games in each of the last 3 years…What’s the problem?…Keep both and improve Za Za’s spot…He, Marvin & Bibby are the guys whose production has dropped off.
I still haven’t seen the “heavy” set where Al & Josh play along with one of the backup centers…Maybe LD is saving that for the regular season.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
5:51 pm
Ramon you have terrible reading comprehension skills!
Are you ADHD or do you have a drinking problem? Which is it?
Read … Think. …. Then Respond.
ant banks
October 26th, 2010
5:52 pm
what does the 07/08 hawks team have to do with the current terrain? jus’ last year, we struggled mightly against the bucks in the playoffs and were mauled by orlando in record settin’ fashion. we open up this preseason by gettin’ thrashed AGAIN by the same orlando team, beat a WADELESS miami, then lose to the lowly bobcats.
THE MENTAL LAPSES THAT WE HAVE AGAINST SORRY TEAMS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT WE AIN’T READY THIS YEAR.
Daniel
October 26th, 2010
5:58 pm
Extending Al at 5 years 65 to 70 milion is a solid deal for both parties. The ASG needs to get it done. The threat that a future hard cap is more compelling than the actual CBA will be. Al is not the kind of guy who will get complacent and he is our team leader.
Daniel
October 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
JoJo- I agree with you that Al and Josh are the least of our problems, but they also share the biggest burden of improving our team. Josh backed up a MUCH improved season with a historically disappointing playoffs. Will he ever “get it”? It is such a strange dynamic that a young guy who skipped college became a milionare and off the court has been an outstanding citizen (showing much more maturity than I would have in the same situation) can’t get it together on the court.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
6:02 pm
Oh yeah! Duuh! If the game is tied and their is one play left, the next point is a tie-breaker. So all that happened before is nullified, because both teams played evenly up to that one point. And it just don’t stop!
Daniel
October 26th, 2010
6:03 pm
ant- but don’t you know that Woody is gone and we have this new motion offense! (note sarcasm) I have not forgotten that historic playoff a** whipping.
Daniel
October 26th, 2010
6:06 pm
Ramon- it is quite possible that one play can change the course of a game. Good teams don’t let that happen, but it does all the time anyway.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
6:13 pm
680 The Fan
Just interviewed Horford from 6 to 610 PM check it out:
Al said (para-phrased) for us to be Elite? We need to play the type of defense for 48 minutes that Boston and Orlando does. He said, Jamal is a starter on any other team and is a game changer for us, he is fantastic. Etc.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
6:28 pm
Obrien said:
“I’m looking forward to the Heats-Celtics tonight. Miami’s big 2 and 1/2 only played 3 minutes together this preseason. And the Celtics are just old. Can Shaq hold up for the entire season.”
Doc Rivers will manage his players minutes geared toward the play-offs last year. He is not concerned with being 3rd or 4th seed, he is concerned about his team being healthy and prepared for the play-offs and the Championship series.
I’m sure of it! He will rest Shaq for an entire month if he has to leading up to the real season – The Play Offs!
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
6:30 pm
* LIKE last year …
Ramon
October 26th, 2010
6:41 pm
Drmary, its called posting something and the blog monster taking 5-10 minutes to post it. But I guess you’ve never posted something, just to see what you was responding to had already been answered.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
6:43 pm
Liar Liar!
Ramon said:
“You use MC’s comments to strengthen your argument. And then when someone uses the same reference, you questions it? And then on top of it, weren’t you the one lobbying for us to sign and start Dampier? ”
Please copy and paste ANY comment I made using MC comments to strengthen my argument? My arguments are only my opinions and I promise you I don’t need strengthening from MC’s opinions!
I do lobby to get Dampieer in here to upgrade our bench, when did I say we should start him? Al said, he and Josh need some help? Do you see any help?
Al said, “I will go to war with what we’ve got!”
Where do you make this get your stuff? Outa’ your azz? I would start Dampieer against Orlando maybe. But one game does not make him a starter!
Al is our starting center, until we see different. Al should get some playing time at PF this year, because L. D. Said so!
You are off the chain – boy.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
6:48 pm
*Where do you get your funny material from?
Samuel
October 26th, 2010
6:48 pm
C Webb just predicted that the Hawks “DON’T” make the playoffs.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
6:53 pm
Ramon
I feel you on that! No problem. You put up a good fight, I like it!
It’s fun and entertaining to blog with light – hearted and thick skinned people.
Yeah, we throw jabs at each other, but at the end of the day?
It’s all in jest! I really like posting with you, you are a class – act!
I love debating and jabbing at the facts!
“What we are having is a healthy, decent conversation”
- cedric the entertainer -
Game Time! Heat -vs- Celtics! Yeah!
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
7:06 pm
Hair Cuttery!
I see Bosh and Josh Powell both got new hair styles.
Fresh hair and fresh teams!
I see Barkley dropped 45 LBS and counting! Looks good and healthy!
Nutrition is the key to health and performance.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
7:16 pm
Ramon said:
“Drmary, its called posting something and the blog monster taking 5-10 minutes to post it. But I guess you’ve never posted something, just to see what you was responding to had already been answered.”
But, this statement doesn’t apply to the fact that you responded without reading and comprehending my ENTIRE post. What I said was ALL there re:
Whether one play can cost a game or not.
Sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t. It all depends on the situation.
But, you did not read my entire post correctly before you commented badly.
Samuel
October 26th, 2010
7:48 pm
Game 7-like atmosphere in the Garden. Big Leprechaun in the fast break.
doc
October 26th, 2010
7:56 pm
samuel, what does c webb know as far as a prognosticator? you can say whatever you want now. we are backing up but not that far unless a few injuries crop up to major players.
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
8:03 pm
That LeBron Nike commercial is whack!
STEEL(Formerly VenomSpitter)
October 26th, 2010
8:05 pm
The Heat only scored 9 pts in the qtr so ya’ll need to shutup comlaining about the hawks
Melvin
October 26th, 2010
8:13 pm
The Celtics are showing the Heat how its done. They have a deep team and Doc knows how to rest and rotate his main players…
drmaryb (*_*)
October 26th, 2010
8:14 pm
Kenny “Jet” Smith said Miami will win 70 games?
Starting when?
Section 303
October 26th, 2010
8:25 pm
Go Celtics! I never thought I would write, say, or think that. I hate the Celtics, but I hate the Heat even more.
Melvin
October 26th, 2010
8:27 pm
I figure the Heat will need some time to get on the same page but they look shell shock tonight in Boston…
doc
October 26th, 2010
8:31 pm
shaq with a fly swatter steal. heh heh no way he could have helped us, no frigging way.
Melvin
October 26th, 2010
8:41 pm
Yeah doc, he would not have been able to outplay ZaZa for the backup center spot…
O'Brien
October 26th, 2010
8:44 pm
Just Like Miami has to adjust to each other, Hawks will have to adjust to a new system. Hopefully our adjustment will go better than the heat has.
Wabe
October 26th, 2010
9:00 pm
Where’s northcyde at?
I believe he said a while back that the Bungles were gonna beat the Falcons this past weekend…
As for tonights Miami/Boston game, I understand that it’s gonna take time for Miami to adjust and get things together, but truthfully, I’ve been thinking what Barkley echoed at halftime when they put this team together.
Aside for Wade/Bosh/LBJ, the rest of those guys are mediocore-average. They have no size inside. And I must say, Chris Bosh isn’t as great as people make him out to be. The guy is a finesse-type PF. Relatively small for his position. Can’t handle bigger PF’s on him. J.Smith/Al Horford abused him last season – and I know it was just preseason, but they handled him pretty well again a couple nights ago.
We’ll see. Should be an interesting season.
Gotta say, the C’s have done a pretty good job getting re-tooled. They look to have a solid starting 5 (which they’ve had for 3 years now) – but their bench looks solid too.
Melvin
October 26th, 2010
9:06 pm
Heat losing Mike Miller for the first half of the season will be huge. He’s the best outside shooter. Outside of Eddie House, the rest of the Heat player are streaky from the perimeter…
Wabe
October 26th, 2010
9:07 pm
Do you guys really believe what any of these “experts” have to say about the Hawks?
They really know nothing…
The Hawks are still the 4th best team in the East.
Not the Bucks…
Not the Bulls…
The Hawks.
The Bucks are still nowhere near as talented as the Hawks are. What people fail to realize is the Bucks didn’t take the Hawks to 7 games in last years playoffs because they were as talented as the Hawks – they simply outcoached us. We didn’t adjust until we were down 3-2. After we made the proper adjustments, we took care of business…
The Bulls being better than the Hawks makes me laugh. Carlos Boozer + Kyle Korver has them jump into a Top 5 team in the East? Really?
D.Rose is nice. I like Noah. But, Boozer and Korver aren’t gonna catapolt them to the better half of the Eastern Conference.
Ramon
October 26th, 2010
9:07 pm
drmaryb (*_*)
September 17th, 2010
8:03 pm
Najeh
I posted the exact same comment yesterday about the
Center rotation with Dampieer:
Al Horford (PF/C)
Eric Dampier (or start)
Zsa Zsa (PF/C)
Etan Thomas (PF/C)
I for one, am NOT satisfied with the current center rotations at all.
Which begs an answer to the question:
Why did we sign Collins so early in the process?
Ken S. replied to me that Collins has a high ball IQ.
With all due respect Ken S., I don’t give a damn about Collin’s
IQ, if he shows up fat and slow to a winning, play-off bound
new ball club! I personally would want to prove myself to the
new guys and show some pride.
I got 3M reasons why the ASKG should nibble at the L. T. to
get Dampieer in here. He is at best comparable to Perkins
of Boston. He should get some rebounds, make some stick backs
and, bother some people. Move Marvin to the bench and Josh
T
To
to the SF against certain teams.
Just do it! Buy Out Collins contract with some of that 3M,
carry 14 and be done with it. I would offer 2 years 12M right
outa’ the gate
Melvin
October 26th, 2010
9:08 pm
Shaq is making the Hawks GM and some other GMs look real bad right now.
Wabe
October 26th, 2010
9:10 pm
Let me rephrase my comment…
The Bulls will be a Top 5 team in a relatively weak east…
But to assume they’re miles ahead of the Hawks is a bit laughable.
The Hawks, Bucks, and Bulls will fight it out for seeds 4, 5, and 6. But, if anyone suggests that the Hawks don’t have the upper-hand, I tune them out. Not sure where your logic is.
Jody
October 26th, 2010
9:18 pm
One of the things Charles Barkley pointed out about the Heat at half time was that they can’t get easy baskets in the half court. Boston is essentially making them a jump shooting team and I think the effective size Boston has up front defensively is having a lot to do with that. In the playoffs, that’s going to be a HUGE problem for the Heat because the game, of course, slows down in the playoffs. The Heat need only ask the Hawks about that.
doc
October 26th, 2010
9:24 pm
i am so tired of laqueen getting away with crap. at least boston is the recipient this time. i think josh got his last year like pierce did just now.
fun seeing how shaq inspires the fans in boston.
Melvin
October 26th, 2010
9:58 pm
From NBA FanHouse. You may have to overlook the key errors…
“Duffy confirmed two of his other clients from the 2007 draft, No. 4 pick Mike Conley Jr. of Memphis and No. 14 selection Al Thornton of Washington also will not sign extensions by Monday.”
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/26/greg-oden-to-be-restricted-free-agent-next-summer/
Wabe
October 26th, 2010
9:59 pm
ostrich watcher
October 26th, 2010
9:50 pm
tuning them out doesnt change the facts, All too often we ignore the facts and truths because we have a favorite. Ignoring the truth wont change it or make it go away. How childlike and immature.
What exactly are the facts my man? Please explain. How do the Hawks go from a Top 4 team in the East last season – bringing back essentially the same team with a new coach to being a non-playoff team this season, as an “expert” has claimed? I think I tune that out…