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
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
10:26 pm
Wow.
Luol Deng is ripping Portland a new one….
39 points, 14-19 from the field, 3-5 3 point land, 8-9 from the charity stripe.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
10:27 pm
Meanwhile Lamarcus Aldridge has ripped the Bulls for 33 points on similar shooting. Just about every Bulls big man is either fouled out or on the verge…LOL.
But they’re beating Portland by 11.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
10:30 pm
Wabe ,
Yep. That’s why I say start a serious evaluation of him after seeing his body of work after 20-25 games. The school of hard knocks is in session. Let’s see how the kid takes his lumps.
To be honest, I’m not sure he’ll get that starting nod this season. Seriously. Could he? It’s possible. But there is a lot to learn, and as things heat up in the second half, he will have to show that he’s learned a good bit. Not expecting a huge leap, but he’ll have to be solid.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
10:35 pm
Truth ,
Yeah, no kidding. I’m actually not too overly happy about JC2 not getting the PT, but in this case, I see why he’s not. I don’t think Drew has it in his mind that Jamal is going anywhere. However, that doesn’t mean the front office won’t make a move, with or without his approval (hey, they don’t have to have his approval).
We’ll see what happens. If Jamal is still around, JC2 will continue to get the rook treatment until somebody gets hurt or it’s a big blowout game, I imagine.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2010
10:38 pm
I’d say the biggest thing here is going to be production at a position of need, though.
I felt that pg was a position of need last year, despite Jamal’s presence as a backup to Bibby (let’s be honest, Jamal can pass, but he’s no facilitator).
SG is not a position of need as it stands right now, but I still want to see Jordan get some burn. And the dude can ball. I know Drew says he sees him more as a 2 than a 1, but then Drew probably wouldn’t want to let the cat out of the bag if he considered him a combo guard. I see him as a 2 who can be a combo guard, but then…I’m not coaching the team.
Grandad
November 1st, 2010
10:39 pm
ATL FAN
If that’s what you thought?
Then you missed my point.
But I know, it’s not & you know so you didn’t.
Mario would have been awesome,
had he been able to play the [1].
If Teaguer becomes a great defender, and [protects/values]
the ball, everything else will be gravy.
lewis
November 1st, 2010
10:40 pm
couldn’t we have combined benchwarming etan thomas and lazy man jason powell’s contracts for a slightly more legitimate big?
childress would’ve been a good piece on this roster too
Melvin
November 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
Interesting take on Players contracts (extensions). Maybe the Hawks won’t pay Al 60 mil…
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17783
truthspitter
November 1st, 2010
10:53 pm
Melvin
November 1st, 2010
10:48 pm
Interesting take on Players contracts (extensions). Maybe the Hawks won’t pay Al 60 mil…
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17783
Not interesting at all just more speculation from rumor sites. Don’t be so stupid as to believe everything you read
Sleepy
November 1st, 2010
11:09 pm
farmer sucks why the heck would we trade Crawford so we can get Farmar more minutes what types of drugs are some of you on ?
Jordan Crawford cant hold a candle to jamal anyone who follows the game of basketball knows this if anyone has to go its time to get off the Marvin train .
Good teams pay the players that can consistently contribute to there success the only way we dont keep Crawford is if we cant find a dummy to take Marvin off of our hands .
Big Ump
November 1st, 2010
11:57 pm
Big Ray good post on Teague. A lot of people want to make excues that he didn’t get to play a lot last year is the reason that he don’t have confidence. Come on people these are professional B player. I seem Rec ball playere with more confidence in their self. At this level you you have to be able to perfom or else.it’s time to move on. If your confidence is that fragile you in the wrong profession..Big
Ray I know sometime you have to get on some of your officers, but they still go on and perfom their duties. I like Teague, but I don’t make excuses for him. Teague is a grown man and have to be responsible for his play. Keep writhing them good post Big Ray..
Contract Extensions Elude Much of 2007 NBA Draft Class | NBA Rock
November 2nd, 2010
12:00 am
[...] 3:12 p.m. | Updated The Hawks and Al Horford agreed on a five-year, $60 million contract extension before Monday’s deadline, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. [...]
Hawks Fan In New Orleans
November 2nd, 2010
12:36 am
Good deal for both parties involved. Now get the JC1 deal talks underway or package him for Carmelo or a legit center.
Hawks Fan From Day One
November 2nd, 2010
1:44 am
Half of these comments prove that people aren’t WATCHING the Hawks. That comment about Josh Powell being a lazy man…..that was stupid. He is clearly an upgrade over Joe Smith. He’s the only player on the roster with RINGS and championship experience that can be used to help mold this team.
I don’t see why some of you continue to talk Carmelo. The last thing we need disrupting team chemistry is a malcontent like him. Furthermore, the few of you saying that are forgetting that Al is playing ‘Melo’s position here….and we just paid him an additional 60 million dollars. No, we do NOT need Carmelo here….although he is a beast. Also, all this “trade JC1″ crap has got to stop. Other than JJ, who else do we depend on to score the ball? Unless y’all want Smoove heaving threes and “hold ya breath jumpers” from the perimeter, let’s focus on keeping the Difference as a weapon for us. He actually WANTS to stay, so until you all can find me another player with his skill set that actually wants to be in a Hawks uniform, let that go……please?? If it weren’t for JC1 and Smoove in last year’s playoffs, we wouldn’t have even seen the second round to be swept out of.
The dumbest thing that this organization did was to reward Joe with all of that money after his LACK OF PERFORMANCE in the playoffs the past two years.
yodaddy
November 2nd, 2010
9:02 am
somebody actually suggested a trade for Hedo Turkoglu??? That’s some craziness right there. What will the Hawks do with non defensive, slow player who is historically lazy and quits on teams as well as a ball hog?? I’ll take Marvin Williams…at least he gives effort and can run.
With Hedo on the Hawks, we instantly become the worst defensive team in the NBA and LBJ, Granger, Vince Carter, Paul Pierce, Luol Deng etc. make the all star team off us.
Hawks Fan From Day One
November 2nd, 2010
10:01 am
Great analysis, yodaddy! I totally agree.
terrell
November 2nd, 2010
12:37 pm
Carmelo plays the same position as Al? That’s a new one.
MsDee
November 2nd, 2010
4:44 pm
@Hawks Fan From Day One
Carmelo plays Marvin’s position not AL’s