Atlanta Hawks: Hawks, Horford agree to 5-year, $60 million contract extension
The Hawks and Al Horford have agreed to a 5-year, $60 million contract extension.
Atlanta’s All-Star center and his agent, Arn Tellem, met with the team this afternoon finalize the deal, which also is expected to include performance incentives. The sides had until the end of business today to reach an agreement or Horford would have become a restricted free agent next summer.
“It happened like I’ve been predicting–down to the wire,” Horford said today after practice. “When we finally kind of agreed on everything, I was super excited.”
Horford’s deal is similar to the contract extension signed by Bulls center Joakim Noah, whom he teamed with to win two NCAA championships at the University of Florida. The Hawks selected Horford with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 draft while Noah was picked No. 9 by Chicago.
The Hawks and Tellem opened negotiations at the start of training camp but there was little movement in talks as recently as two weeks ago. With the deadline approaching, the two sides met this weekend and worked out a deal.
“From the moment he arrived in Atlanta, Al has been a large part of our success,” Hawks GM Rick Sund said in a statement released by the team. “The winning tradition he brought to the franchise as a rookie out of Florida has extended to three consecutive playoff seasons in a Hawks uniform. In addition, he was deservedly recognized as an All-Star last year, and we certainly look forward to his continued development as we move forward.”
Horford was eligible for an extension for as many as five years and as much as $82 million under the terms of the current collective bargaining agreement, which expires in June. The final terms of the extension could possibly be altered when the league and players agree to a new CBA but Horford would have a contract that must be honored.
Horford has said all along he hoped to sign an extension because he likes Atlanta and his teammates and believes the team is headed in the right direction.
“It’s great to be able to get it done and have peace of mind,” Horford said. “It makes me able to come out and just focus on basketball, which is my priority to begin with. So I’m happy about that part.”
Horford’s deal comes after the Hawks signed guard Joe Johnson to a six-year, $123.7 million over the summer.
Guard Jamal Crawford has asked the team for a contract extension or, in lieu of a satisfactory agreement, a trade. The Hawks now have to be concerned how Crawford will perceive Johnson and Horford’s new deals when he also is considered part of the franchise’s “core” and the team’s philosophy has been to keep the group intact.
MC
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168 comments Add your comment
IceMan
November 1st, 2010
3:27 pm
Congrats to Al Horford. He totally deserves it and should continue to improve into a perennial all-star. Too bad Joe doesn’t deserve what he’s getting and is eating up all that $ for all those years. Also too bad Al can’t play power forward instead of Center. Anyway, we are lucky to have Al for another 5 years
STRETCH
November 1st, 2010
3:30 pm
They may look like a playoff team now, but they are 1 injury to a JJ or a AL or a JS away from being the Wizards or Sacramento. Still think they should have made a move or two over the off-season.
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
3:34 pm
Rufus1
November 1st, 2010
3:25 pm
Perspective
The Bulls Front Line average salaries(Boozer 15mil)(Noah 12mil)….Wait for it(Deng 12.8mil)
The Hawks front line average salaries(Al 12mil)(Josh 12mil) and (Marvin 7.5mil)
Which would you prefer?
I will take the Hawks salary wise and even production wise because Deng and Boozer have shown to be injury prone. Another reason why Al and Smoove both got lowballed. I just hope Sund puts more talent around these guys we are still under the luxury and will be next year also. He has to find a way to add a better SF a legit sized C and a PG that can take the job from Bibby and I don’t trust his drafting track record. I needs to come from trades.
northcyde
November 1st, 2010
3:34 pm
O’Brien . . . the question to me isn’t what we should do with Jordan . . is what should we do about Teague?
I know people are convinced that he is the answer at PG, but I’m not. It’s almost as if the Hawks are trying to teach him how to play PG and be aggressive, instead of these things already being engraved in him.
It won’t take long, but the fan base will turn on him.
terrell
November 1st, 2010
3:35 pm
Very, very reasonable deal. Guess LD and Sund think he’s the longterm starter at center afterall. Congrats Big Al.
terrell
November 1st, 2010
3:40 pm
Truthspitter, Hedo IS worse than Marvin. At least defensively.
dukester
November 1st, 2010
3:41 pm
I must say I am happy with the hawks excpet!! If we could find a way to get a deadly 3 pt shooter for Marvin just some kind of trade I would be happy.
Mike is back
November 1st, 2010
3:41 pm
Great News, way to go Sund, and ASG!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bertie
November 1st, 2010
3:41 pm
Awesome. Good job Sund.
GT Alum
November 1st, 2010
3:44 pm
Doug -
ASG has made it very clear that they will spend up to the luxury tax level but no more. Most of the serious championship contenders spend into the luxury tax. If you’re not going to spend into the luxury tax, you have to be very smart about how you spend your money and have to be able to draft impact players. The contracts given to Bibby and Marvin, as well as the CBA basically forcing the Hawks to give JJ a max contract, have limited their success on point 1, and they’ve had limited success with their draft picks as well.
Gator
November 1st, 2010
3:44 pm
Al was robbed!!!
terrell
November 1st, 2010
3:46 pm
STRETCH, so is every other team.
Joey
November 1st, 2010
3:48 pm
I am a Josh fan, but I don’t think he works in the off-season to add elements to his game, as Al clearly has.
Sooner or later, Josh is gonna get traded for a big, and Al will move into the PF spot. His 12-15 ft jumper is becoming lethal.
Hoops
November 1st, 2010
3:49 pm
Congratulations to Al Horford and the ATL Hawks! Good deal for both!
Crawford will have to wait till next summer to see what he can get!
Let’s play ball!!!
terrell
November 1st, 2010
3:49 pm
How can you be robbed, if you signed the contract? Just curious? I guess Sund held a gun to his head?? Give me a break.
count_schemula
November 1st, 2010
3:51 pm
I’m not sure if Joe was worth the max. I’m pretty sure Al is worth the 5/60. If I still watched the Hawks, Horford would be the reason why. Most heart and soul of any Atlanta athlete.
I Heart Atlanta
November 1st, 2010
3:54 pm
Great News!!!
northcyde
November 1st, 2010
3:59 pm
Having said that, Al’s deal essentially replaces what Crawford made this year, which means that Crawford probably wouldn’t be re-signed.
Also, it’ll be interesting to see how Horford’s contract is structured. It may be in the best interest of the Hawks to go ahead and frontload his contract ( with him making the most money next season, and then descending in the following years ), because of how JJ’s deal is structured.
Not re-upping Jamal and Mo means that 12.5 mill would come off the books. Horford re-signs for 12 mill a year, but would make close to 15 mill a year, should the Hawks frontload the contract.
Melvin
November 1st, 2010
3:59 pm
Northcyde,
The PG position is probably the hardest position to learn at this level. You have to give Teague time to develop. Keep in mind, he basically sat on the bench his rookie year. Look at guys Rondo, D.Williams and T.Parker, none of them had stellar rookie years. Heck even Billups got traded several times before the light bulb came on for him. Teague need his time and opportunity just like other players. Last year, he got neither..
Smyrna Jacket
November 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
How overpaid is Joe? He avgs 0.56 points per minute. Jamal avgs 0.57 points per minute (team high).
terrell
November 1st, 2010
4:06 pm
Northcyde, Teague is basically our version of Blake Griffin. 2nd year ROOKIE. Cant give up on him yet. But like I said earlier, I think JC1 at least EARNED a few spot min here and there in the preseason. Heck try him at pg if you have to. If it doesnt work, put him back on the bench. Simple. Has Teague earned his minutes is the ?
i_am_soulstar
November 1st, 2010
4:08 pm
I think it’s very fair considering the market. Because The Hawks and Arn Tellem know that it’s either this deal, or wait and see what he gets after the new CBA is decided.
Hawks held all the leverage as long as they handled it respectfully.
Good job Hawks.
Freshfromatl
November 1st, 2010
4:10 pm
Shaquille O’Neal misses practice again
Boston Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal missed his second straight practice on Monday with a knee bruise suffered late in Friday’s game against the Knicks. He likely will miss Tuesday’s game in Detroit.
“I doubt if he plays, but we’ll see,” coach Doc Rivers said. “If he has a chance, he’ll make the trip.”
Damn, so the “Big Green” already hurt with knee problems?!? Lol.
Rufus1
November 1st, 2010
4:10 pm
@Truthspitter
I know many on the Blog people HATE Sund and ASG and are mad about some of the decisions they have made…I just want people to see some of the decisions other GM’s have made, that are just as bad, if not Worse.
The Bulls are considered a Model franchise, but their GM gave the most money to their most injury prone players…..That doesn’t seem to smart.
Rufus1
November 1st, 2010
4:13 pm
@Smyrna Jacket
How much value does playing defense count towards your figures?
Michael Cunningham
November 1st, 2010
4:17 pm
@ Sec 303: “Michael, it’s not too late to re-sign Jamal Crawford, is it? I would like to see the team do that.”
no. since he’s not on a rookie-scale contract it theoretically could be done up until he becomes a free agent next summer.
terrell
November 1st, 2010
4:18 pm
Smyrna Jacket, I guess defense is a nonfactor in your JJ vs Jamal comparison.
terrell
November 1st, 2010
4:20 pm
@Rufus
Thinking alike. lol!
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Cunningham: Are you hearing any rumors of the front office trying to trade Marvin finally?
jdewayneatl
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Why are there still these wild trade proposals in the Hawks blogosphere?
ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN
The ASG and GM Sund have a vision and it does not involve shaking up the balance of this team that has not achieved max potential, despite chatter outside of those inside the circle.
With Al extending, we have a team that will compete at a high level for the foreseeable future!
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
4:28 pm
jdewayneatl
November 1st, 2010
4:22 pm
Why are there still these wild trade proposals in the Hawks blogosphere?
ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN
The ASG and GM Sund have a vision and it does not involve shaking up the balance of this team that has not achieved max potential, despite chatter outside of those inside the circle.
With Al extending, we have a team that will compete at a high level for the foreseeable future!
Dude please there is a difference in shaking things up just to be doing it and making things better. Marvin has reached his potential and has a bad contract. Trades that include ridding yourself of Marvin make excellent sense. Even more sense than trading Jamal who is very productive in his role.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 1st, 2010
4:34 pm
My comment is awaiting moderation… I guess this means it won’t get published?
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
4:35 pm
terrell
November 1st, 2010
3:40 pm
Truthspitter, Hedo IS worse than Marvin. At least defensively.
And? Lopez would be a starting caliber C for the Hawks if they choose to start him and he offers resistance at the rim which Zaza does not. Marvin is not that much better than Hedo defensively and offensively it’s no contest. Hedo creates for others and can make open shots. He is also smart enough to quickly find spots in a motion system which they ran a lot in Sactown when he played with Bibby. Lastly, the Hawks are #16 in points allowed there are 30 teams in the NBA. That means technically the are in the bottom half of the league when it comes to allowing teams to score points. So, Marvin and his overrated defense that you guys magically think is so good is really not helping the team that much. I laugh at all the excuses people come up with for this borderline bust.
kirkinga
November 1st, 2010
4:44 pm
Good job by all parties. One thing that is clear is that ASG will pay to retain players but aren’t prepared to be as generous paying to entice new players into the fold. That means there will still be a perception by some fans that the organization is “cheap”.
We all know that it is likely that additional moves still need to be made in order for the Hawks to go deeper into the playoffs. Perhaps this contract was a necessary step that needed to be made in order for the Hawks to eventually makes such a move?
Go Hawks!!
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
4:51 pm
Northcyde ,
Some already have turned on Teague. It’s not like he got a worthwhile year under his belt last year. Sixers pg Jrue Holiday did, and even started the majority of the games, and he still has major issues.
The Memphis fans were probably doing the same with Mike Conley the first couple years, and now here in year 3, he looks like the lightbulb is finally on (for the most part). He acted pretty much the same way Teague did for two years, including a horribly unreliable jumper. And that was, again, with MORE playing time than Teague ever had. I even remember an interview with Lionel Hollins where he talked about cajoling Conley about attacking, instead of being passive and hesitant.
Still, everything you said about Teague is true. The Hawks ARE having to teach him the position and to be aggressive, and that is never a good feeling. In other words, the jury is very much out on him.
You’re also right about the fan base, but I think it’s for different reasons. It’s not Teague that bothers people so much. It’s this franchise’s failure to truly solidify the position for a number of years. We brought in Mike Bibby in time for him to give us a solid year-and-a-half of pg play. Now he’s on the obvious decline (though better so far this season….we’ll see how long it lasts), and we’re back at square one. I think it’s the experiences with Speedy Claxton, Ty Lue, Anthony Johnson, etc on the vet side, meanwhile all of the young guards up to this point have not panned out.
The memory of Salim Stoudamire, Royal Ivey, and Acie Law is fresh in all of our minds, making Teague’s position a precarious one, with little room for error, and perhaps less than realistic expectation among the fan base.
It never ceases to amaze me. People are so quick to point out that he was a mid first round pick, and that he was the 7th pg chosen in the draft. What’s the expectation, exactly? I know YOUR’S is pretty realistic, but not everybody’s is.
KevinM
November 1st, 2010
4:54 pm
Smyrna Jacket
November 1st, 2010
4:03 pm
“How overpaid is Joe? He avgs 0.56 points per minute. Jamal avgs 0.57 points per minute (team high).”
Obviously, you didn’t take into account previous playoff appearances by Joe with those numbers.
Those are the numbers that matter at this stage for the core.
You can win 70 games, average 1 pt per possession, but if it doesn’t translate into playoff success…its just numbers.
And congrats to Joe for conning Sund. Chances are Sund won’t be around to see Joe’s biggest annual numbers.
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
4:55 pm
Teague is not a pure PG. That’s problem # 1. Teague can not shoot that’s problem #2. Teague needs time to grow on a playoff caliber team. That’s problem # 3-99.
northcyde
November 1st, 2010
4:58 pm
Terrell, that’s BS.
Don’t you dare compare Teague to a guy who was already a bonafide star even before he got hurt last year.
It took Ty Lawson all of 4 minutes in the season opener last year, to prove that he was a good PG. Darren Collison stepped in immediately for Chris Paul and balled.
But Teague can’t wrestle major minutes away from Bibby, a guy we had all left for dead at the end of last year?
Sorry Terrell . . . I’m going to keep saying this quote:
“If you can ball . . you can ball.”
It’s not “hating” on Teague. I simply don’t see a decent NBA caliber PG in him.
Meanwhile, Drew doesn’t even want to play Jordan at the 1, because he doesn’t have “PG instincts” . . . yet . . . he brings in a former PG to specifically coach Teague on how to play PG in the NBA.
Maybe coach can cut Jeff and Jordan in half, and combine Teague’s quickness and somewhat adequate defense, with Jordan’s offensive aggressiveness and ability to create his own shot ( both in the lane and on the outside by taking Jamal-like jumpers )
Cut them in half, and call the new player Jordan Teague . . #50
KevinM
November 1st, 2010
5:01 pm
Some numbers after 1 week this season:
Minutes: Bibby vs. Teague 30-13 Assists 4.7 – 1.3
Marvin: 28 min/game 7 pts / 7 reb / 71% FT – are these numbers really surprising? FT avg is to me.
Smoove – 29 mpg – 11.7 ppg / 8.3 rpg – low for Smoove IMO
Need more from Marvin/ Smoove and Teague IMO…..
terrell
November 1st, 2010
5:02 pm
Um, Truthspitter, we just signed Al to an extension. I think we have our starting center.
Tbrown
November 1st, 2010
5:05 pm
ARE U Serious!!! Al is good, but not 12 Million dollar good
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
5:07 pm
terrell
November 1st, 2010
5:02 pm
Um, Truthspitter, we just signed Al to an extension. I think we have our starting center.
And? Like I said Lopez is a starting caliber C if you choose to start him. I would rather have Lopez as a backup C than Zaza. I would rather have Hedo as a starting SF than Marvin does that break it down to you enough sense you seem to lack understanding and comprehension. Better players would be coming our way. Get it dude. I’m done with the back and forth with you
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
5:09 pm
KevinM
November 1st, 2010
5:01 pm
Some numbers after 1 week this season:
Minutes: Bibby vs. Teague 30-13 Assists 4.7 – 1.3
Marvin: 28 min/game 7 pts / 7 reb / 71% FT – are these numbers really surprising? FT avg is to me.
Smoove – 29 mpg – 11.7 ppg / 8.3 rpg – low for Smoove IMO
Need more from Marvin/ Smoove and Teague IMO….
Your needs will not be met from Marvin. I suspect that Smoove will get the average up closer to 15 pts a game when he decides to quit with the jump shots. I have more hope for Teague than Marvin let’s just leave it at that
terrell
November 1st, 2010
5:13 pm
Northcyde, BS? I guess you misunderstood me. 2nd year ROOKIE was the comparison, not the potential. Calm the uck down.
CajunStorm
November 1st, 2010
5:16 pm
Great Deal for both sides. I don’t think anyone was on the losing end of this one. Great Job Sund and Al (Tellem)
NOW….All Sund has to do is package JC1 ($10.8Mill) & Marvin ($7.2Mill) & Mo Evans ($2.5mill) and 2 – 1st Round picks for Carmlelo Anthony ($23Mill Extension) and we’ve got a 5-7 year run at the title and we still are right around the cap.
Why Denver would do it…Carmelo is OUT!!! They would get a high upgrade at SG with Jamal over Affalo and get a legit, although underperforming, SF in Marvin and capable back up in Mo Evans. They get flexibillity with $13.3 Mill in expiring contracts (JC1 & Mo) to GO ALONG with Kenyon Martin’s $16.5Mill coming off the books ($29.8Mill Total) and TWO 1st Round picks to start over. That is LIGHT YEARS Better than Cleveland (LeBron), Toronto (Bosh), Utah (Boozer), or Phoenix (Amare) got!!!!
What the Hawks get…Potential sell-outs every night and LEGITIMACY!!!!
Make it happen Sund and you will be the BEST GM The Hawks have ever had!!!
terrell
November 1st, 2010
5:18 pm
And Northcyde, I didnt know there was a such thing as a bonafide star before you ever played a game. Not even Jordan. But whatever. Guess youre talking bout Preseason?
northcyde
November 1st, 2010
5:25 pm
Big Ray . . . it’s like I was saying about the kid last year. As a bench player, you’re only going to get a certain amount of minutes to impact a game. If you don’t do it within that allotted time, you may not play as much and you’d like.
I haven’t given up on Teague. But then again, I’m hoping that he’ll at least be an Earl Boykins scoring type PG at best. People are trying to compare to All-Star PGs as that being his ceiling as a player. Fans really shouldn’t do that, because he’s showing nowhere near the talent or mentality of those PGs while they were in their rookie year.
I believe on hoopdata.com, there is a blog talking about Teague, and how he could be the next Raymond Felton. If he could develop into a Felton type of PG, I’d actually be very happy with that.
J.J.M.
November 1st, 2010
5:26 pm
josh smith will be traded
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/20975/hawks-next-move-wolves-feeling-love
CajunStorm
November 1st, 2010
5:27 pm
BTW…I have re-evaluated my perception of ASG. Sure I thought they were a bunch of bean counters and I still think they are but for what its worth they are very shrewd and fair business men.
Just a fact that I’m sure most do not know. The Hawks are debt free!! Think about thatfor a minute….. Nw, unlike MOST of the teams like the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls included, the Hawks Owners have not borrowed against the team therefore leaving them with a tight budget but debt free one. They can make a “BIG DIP” over the Luxury Tax Line if they need to for a player like CARMELO!!!!
Now I ask, how many of us can say we’ve handled our business like ASG? Hard as it is to believe but few of us…..if any!!
terrell
November 1st, 2010
5:29 pm
Northcyde how in the hell can you compare Lawson and Collison to Teague? They had WAY more experience than Jeff did at pg. Now that’s BS! lol!