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
CajunStorm
November 1st, 2010
5:35 pm
MC
What you think of my analysis at 5:16pm? Am I far reaching or does that have legs? I await your most wisdom filled opinion.
JeJe
November 1st, 2010
5:41 pm
Chad Ford said we may have to trade Smoove since Horf just got this extension.
My question: how do we get better or maintain our position in the East by trading him? I doubt we get equal value and we need to move Horf to PF. Get Kaman and ditch Jamal if needed
J.J.M.
November 1st, 2010
5:45 pm
we HAVE to let crawford go. that 10 million will give hawks room to keep this team together…No team wants to trade for marvin so hawks cant do nothing about that. What I think will happen…I think the hawks will trade marvin for a bum player and they will hope pape sy will step his game up. I also think they will work jordam crawford hard in the off season so he can replace jamal…If this all works out im assuming josh then wont be traded
jdewayneatl
November 1st, 2010
5:53 pm
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.
There is a difference… but the difference in the Hawks’ case is going into the luxury tax or downgrading. And the fact remains is that the Hawks don’t want to risk doing either. And tho I like Marvin, his stock is not high enough and his contract is a big deterrent for any team to want to take him on.
Again, ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
ATL FAN
November 1st, 2010
5:54 pm
Truthspitter, get a grip. There’s no way anyone in their right mind would trade Lopez for Pachulia straight up…
cp
November 1st, 2010
6:03 pm
Good deal, about what I thought he would get… I see the Teague discussion is back.. You have to give him a chance to sink or swim.And if I remember correctly Collison struggled when he was given pt at first. I think it was the second time CP3 got hurt that Collison finally turned it on.
Miles D
November 1st, 2010
6:09 pm
Thats what we’re talking about ATL! Now, lets sit back and watch the haters hate! Cause they know we coming for them!! ATLANTA HAWKS BASKETBALL BRINGING A CHAMPIONSHIP HERE SOON!! Come out! Watch and support us!!!
Section 303
November 1st, 2010
6:12 pm
J.J.M., these national writers have misread the Hawks for years. Last year, at this time, they all said Joe Johnson would be gone. But, when the Hawks starters were called on Saturday, he was one of them. And, the writers were wrong. They will be wrong on this, too.
No way the Hawks move Josh Smith. It is not going to happen.
J from the A
November 1st, 2010
6:13 pm
I don’t see any “low balls” or “hometown discounts” here.
Given the current environment (read: upcoming CBA), I am sure Al
would rather agree to a very fair deal than risk holding out for the
small chance of getting a bigger offer. Hell, depending on the outcome
of the CBA, holding out might have cost him. And the Hawks ownership
knows they could have held out, and might have been able to resign
Al for less. But instead of gambling, the Hawks went ahead and made
a very reasonable offer in spite of the upcoming CBA.
This signing was a very fair, safe move for both parties.
Ramon
November 1st, 2010
6:24 pm
JJM, if Chad Ford was the one who reported it, it won’t happen. Chad Ford is so often off basis with anything Atlanta related that not many respect him in that area. The GMs who expect Josh to be made available are the GMs who are praying he’s made available so they can make a push for him.
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
6:26 pm
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
Seriously you dudes are so quick to posting any dumb thing someone else post but everyone elses trade proposals are stupid. The Hawks will be paying out less in salary next year than this year as things are currently constructed. So, why would any sensible person believe that the Hawks would trade Smoove when they will be in better shape next year as salary goes? That’s just stupid
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
6:27 pm
ATL FAN
November 1st, 2010
5:54 pm
Truthspitter, get a grip. There’s no way anyone in their right mind would trade Lopez for Pachulia straight up…
STFU. I never suggested that either
Freshfromatl
November 1st, 2010
6:31 pm
Ohhhh Lord!!!!
Here we go with months of Josh Smith trade rumors and false speculation by ESPN Trade Machine Enthusiast. I can just see it now…after the first errant Josh Smith 3-point attempt, the vultures and misinformed will come calling SMH.
God Help Us ALL!!!
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
6:37 pm
Smoove isn’t going anywhere he is the only Rim Protector we have. The guy will likely be Top 5 Defensive Player of the Year race again shows how silly these NBA insiders are but if I came up with my own trade I would get bombarded by the lames that blog on this site all day. On the other hand, if Chad Ford says it you guys get on there knees and open up wide. What idiots.
tony
November 1st, 2010
6:38 pm
Al deserve more than that. Now give Jamal what he wants. Al and Jamal are my favorite players so take care of those 2.
ATL FAN
November 1st, 2010
6:50 pm
Truthspitter,
Do you think either team gains or loses anything with swapping Hedo and Marvin? Not really. Do you think either team gains or loses anything with swapping Lopez and Pachulia? Yea, thought so.
J.J.M.
November 1st, 2010
6:53 pm
this has nothing to do with writers its about being able to pay players with the payroll they have
There is one "o" in lose
November 1st, 2010
7:00 pm
Why is that so difficult?
ATL: A.ホーフォードと契約延長（5年 & $60M） « GNYG NBA News
November 1st, 2010
7:00 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution [...]
vava74
November 1st, 2010
7:10 pm
Quick notes:
Everyone in the media loves to dice and talk sh!t about the Hawks.
We started 3-0 and re-signed Al for an excellent amount and immediately the press starts to generate bad reports on the Hawks.
Incredible. He even talks about Sund shopping Josh during the summer and the adds a “briefly” to cover his *ss since it is clearly not true and this way it will be impossible to confirm.
On Teague:
Give the kid a break. He is still working to regain his mojo.
Remember his preseason last year. It was at a level similar to what we saw from Jordan C this year.
Remember also that before his confidence was killed by Woody, he lead a comeback attempt against the lakers and dunked on Odom.
He is now nurturing his ankle and that is why he did not look good these games.
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
7:13 pm
ATL FAN
November 1st, 2010
6:50 pm
Truthspitter,
Do you think either team gains or loses anything with swapping Hedo and Marvin? Not really. Do you think either team gains or loses anything with swapping Lopez and Pachulia? Yea, thought so.
STFU unless you know what you are talking or typing about. The Suns save money and as I posted they get a 1st rd pick. The Suns get rid of there worse contract, save money, and get a 1st rd pick. Seriously, I’m done discussing with inferior minds and people that don’t do there research.
ATL FAN
November 1st, 2010
7:17 pm
They give up on a 22 year old rising star to save a couple million are you kidding me??
Grandad
November 1st, 2010
7:18 pm
vava:
Excellent post @ 7:10 pm !
Astro Joe
November 1st, 2010
7:22 pm
Almost every example of a PG taking years to “come into his own” involve a team that sucked for most of the years while that guy got it together. The Celtics are an exception, but they feature veteran, smart and hungry players who sacrificed much to win a title. And Boston was wretched in Rondo’s rookie season. Devin Harris was a top 5 pick. Same for Billups and Conley. The closest example (IMO) is Jordan Farmar… picked later in the 1st round to a winning team behind an established veteran PG. And honestly, if Teague becomes Farmar, I think that would be fine… considering his draft position and the number of PGs taken ahead of him. If the Hawks want to take the next step in Teague’s development, they need to get him away from spending so much time in the backcourt with Jamal. He needs a partner who doesn’t have such a high usage rate (someone like Mo Evans, for example).
Grandad
November 1st, 2010
7:28 pm
I don’t understand certain people & their readiness to trade Zaza.
He’s only 26, [most certainly part of the core], worked his butt off
this past summer, and a fan favorite.
He hustles, plays within his abilities, & has a high B-ball IQ.
[6-11 and a big body to boot]
Bless his heart, he was born white, therefore…..he’s grounded.
Still, many teams would love to have him.
We need Bigs. (can’t be givin’ any away)!
Grandad
November 1st, 2010
7:37 pm
Here’s what you do with Teague.
It’s simple.
Tell him to concentrate on his defense.
Become the best pg defender in the league!
Seriously.
Seen it work.
The offense will take care of itself.
He had ‘moxy’ [inner Dawg] when he arrived,
both last year and in college. [watch his college tapes]
Figure out where and why his mojo is missing.
Once again;
concentrate on the most important aspect of his game [defense]
and I can assure you all else will fall into place.
Worst case…..we have a great defender @ pg.
kwooden1
November 1st, 2010
7:40 pm
Congrats to AL!! He took a very reasonable deal, I actually think he’s worth more.
Grandad
November 1st, 2010
7:41 pm
“Figure out where and why his mojo is missing.”
* should have been *
“Yawl figure out where and why his mojo is missing.”
* as in *
-us bloggers figure it out-
* I never said the previous coach’s name. *
Hawks 1 fun
November 1st, 2010
7:44 pm
Great deal for both parties, very pleased Al is going to be here for a long time, but we are a starting good center away from the top 5 teams in this league. We need to trade M. Williams, Zaza or Jamal or package 2 of these players to get a good center, but with out a true center we will not go pass Orlando, keep working hard Mr. Sund to make that happen. Go Hawks.
jdewayneatl
November 1st, 2010
7:47 pm
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.
There is a difference… but the difference in the Hawks’ case is going into the luxury tax or downgrading. And the fact remains is that the Hawks don’t want to risk doing either. And tho I like Marvin, his stock is not high enough and his contract is a big deterrent for any team to want to take him on.
Again, ITS NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
northcyde
November 1st, 2010
7:59 pm
Astro . . I’ll co-sign that 7:22 post.
If Jamal gets to play ISO ball, and Teague doesn’t have the ball to run the point, then his learning curve will be slowed.
If he establishes himself as our best PG perimeter defender, and don’t be a total liability on offense, he can still justify his worth off the bench.
O'Brien
November 1st, 2010
8:05 pm
Northcyde,
Teague was the seventh pg taken, so my expectations for him are tampered. If he can develop into a solid backup pg, i am ok with that.
As for jordan, he looks like he can ball. But i dont think pg is his position.
Aj,
I agree with u. Teague and jamal are not a good match, because teague is not used to playing off the ball, especially sinc
ATL FAN
November 1st, 2010
8:21 pm
Grandad,
Not another Mario West…
MsDee
November 1st, 2010
8:24 pm
About Teague playing along with Jamal, yeah bad idea, BUT he could still be the PG that northcyde is saying. The moment that Jamal holds his hands out expecting the ball is the moment that Teague should get some ‘man-hood’ and go aggressive to the hole for an ‘AND-1′. Remember, LD is NO Woodson so I truly doubt LD will take Teague out for being AGGRESSIVE. After all, isn’t that what LD wants out of Teague??
TheAntiMe
November 1st, 2010
8:25 pm
Woo Hoo!!! Totally freaking awesome, baby!
Hawks Fan From Day One
November 1st, 2010
8:31 pm
truthspitter:
I’ma need for you to shut up, like FOR REAL. Take Lopez’s sack out of your mouth, too. I guess you believe that if you say it enough, maybe, just maybe, the ASG might actually be reading this and send you a check or something for your amazing insight (sarcasm included)……say what you want about Lopez, but he’s SOFTER than Twinkie filling when compared against the toughness that Zaza brings to this team. You don’t sound too much like a Hawks fan. Do you even know what the term “lowball” even means and do you think Arn Tellem would even have accepted what YOU think is a “lowball” contract?? Idiot. Stop reading whatever it is that you are reading and get to KNOW how the business of basketball really works.
Mz. Hawkdafied
November 1st, 2010
8:32 pm
Yay!
MsDee
November 1st, 2010
8:33 pm
Teague looks out-of-place at times because he has been held back by Woodson too long that it has become a bad habit of his to just ‘play it safe’ by handing Jamal the ball all the time instead of taking care of business himself sometimes. I was at that 1st preseason game when Teague had an all-star performance. He was making the necessary plays out there, driving to the lane at will and just being AGGRESSIVE! And, of course, Jamal wasnt playing at the time with him either to distract him from making the right plays either. Either LD needs not play Jamal with Teague, or Teague needs to make the plays HE feels needs to be made instead of being scared by giving up the ball too soon to Jamal, just to keep the peace!
TheAntiMe
November 1st, 2010
8:35 pm
I think that Jamal Crawford is a fine player and the Hawks wouldn’t have finished as well as they did last year without him. That being said, he did seem to enjoy the big deal of him making the playoffs for the first time in his career, and rightly so. Does he really want to take the chance of being traded back to a team like the Golden State Warriors or the N.Y. Knicks?
Mike is back
November 1st, 2010
8:38 pm
Spitter, tell us something we don’t know about Teague…dude its only been three games…what the heck did you expect…Teague is going to have his struggles…the biggest impact he can have right now…is on the defensive end. You are going to need him against these small PGs…as long as LD hasn’t given up him…why should we???
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
9:28 pm
MsDee
November 1st, 2010
8:33 pm
Teague looks out-of-place at times because he has been held back by Woodson too long that it has become a bad habit of his to just ‘play it safe’ by handing Jamal the ball all the time instead of taking care of business himself sometimes. I was at that 1st preseason game when Teague had an all-star performance. He was making the necessary plays out there, driving to the lane at will and just being AGGRESSIVE! And, of course, Jamal wasnt playing at the time with him either to distract him from making the right plays either. Either LD needs not play Jamal with Teague, or Teague needs to make the plays HE feels needs to be made instead of being scared by giving up the ball too soon to Jamal, just to keep the peace!
Truthspitter approves this message
KevinM
November 1st, 2010
9:29 pm
You can’t give up on Teague; you just have to get him ready once Bibby starts to hit a ceiling or teams start defending his jumper. They know Bibby isn’t going to drive by them, so they can jam him on the perimeter, making him less effective. Teague, IMO, needs more time, and probably 7-8 more minutes and start establishing a rhythm like JC1 has. JC1 doesnt’ start games, but finishes them. Teague has an opportunity to do that as well.
Al did sign for a fair price. I figured they would be asking for max money knowing how limited depth this team is…but once the CBA comes around, Al could have potentially lost 20/25M in a 5 year deal, so a good move on his part to accept numbers a bit under what Smoove makes annually.
Looks like we have the 2 PFs locked up now, we just need to get them some more interior defensive help. Same issues we’ve discussed over the past few years.
i_am_soulstar
November 1st, 2010
9:48 pm
Adrian Wojnarowski is the most reliable. I follow him on twitter. If he says it, it’s already happening 9 times out of 10.
Wabe
November 1st, 2010
10:07 pm
3 games into the season…
Give the kid more than a week before you give up on the kid. I can understand skepticism, but, I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s not NBA material.
He’s the only gaurd outside of JJ on the roster who can stay in front of somebody.
Offense only gets you so far. His offensive game will come with time though.
Defensively, whose a better on ball defender than Teague? You can say JJ, but Teague is easily a better defender than Bibby/JC1. He actually has the ability to fight through screens and stay with his man. I’m with Grandad, keep working with the kid on the defensive end – and hopefully his aggressiveness on this side of the ball carries over to the offensive end.
30-35 games…
Give him that at least before you draw your verdicts.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
10:09 pm
Northcyde ,
I agree completely. I’d be okay with a Raymond Felton type, too…
Astro Joe ,
Yep. Great post. I can only imagine what it would be like if Rondo had landed in a far less beneficial situation. The dude STILL can’t shoot very well from the perimeter (but attacks the basket to great effect).
And man are you ever right about Teague being in the backcourt with Jamal. It’s another reason why I am more than okay with the unpopular opinion of trading Jamal…for the right pieces/reasons.
Wabe
November 1st, 2010
10:10 pm
And regardless of whether Teague’s the future at PG or not…
His skill set affords us to do things we can’t do with Bibby.
So, even if you’re upset that Teague isn’t producing to the extent that you were hoping he would…
Understand that some of the skills he possesses easily gives him an important role on this team.
Change of tempo.
Defensive upgrade against better PG’s.
Much needed.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
10:11 pm
Wabe ,
Excellent point. Teague definitely stays in front of his man better than JC1 or Bibby. Here’s the difference – Bibby won’t foul out of a game due to savvy tricks played on him. Teague will. Now Jamal….I have absolutely zero defense for his abysmal defenisve performance. If he wasn’t such an electrifying scorer…when hot, that is…he’d be freakin’ Von Wafer.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
10:13 pm
Wabe ,
I really want to take a close look at Teague and his development after 20-25 games. Until then…the only thing I’m looking at is whether he hurts or helps us. He is playing enough this year, at the right times in games, to do either one.
Wabe
November 1st, 2010
10:15 pm
True Big Ray. But, much of Teague’s foul issues stem from his youth and inexperience.
So, he may foul out of a few games for being over-aggressive, but, I’d expect a seasoned vet like Bibby to understand the balance of when to be aggressive and when to lay off a bit and not pick up those silly fouls.
For instance, staying on your feet and not biting on those pump fakes…
Those types of things are boneheaded plays that JT0 will learn from given more time. But, with time, JT0 will learn the balance out aggression with smarts.
The Truth
November 1st, 2010
10:20 pm
Congratulation Al on your contract extension; if you are happy with your deal than there is little to complain about regarding this matter. This seems like a win-win for both parties. For those that suggested that Al got robbed, perhaps it was the “performance incentives” along with the CBA uncertainties that got the deal done. Also give a shout-out to Sund for staying “true to his words” in maintaining that Al was the next priority of the Hawks after the JJ deal. Though still a slim chance but this may be the best scenario in which Jamal gets resign depending on how Al contract is loaded and the structure of a Jamal deal. With or without Jamal, to maintain any chance of a competitive edge, the Hawks need a strong bench that can offensively and defensively produce consistently. If the Hawks are planning to transition JC2 to replace JC1 in the very near future, it is certainly not obvious based on the lack of JC2 grooming and PT. As of now, he is getting the “Rook” treatment while JC1 is pushing for a SMOY repeat. I’m not sure what’s in the cards here just stating the obvious.