Tis a good read. Let's see if Ferry can get some good value with all the cap space he's allocted this summer.
Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks
Four years, $48 million
Horford’s game — which is predicated on his calming offensive influence, fluid high-post work, sturdy rebounding and flexible defense – is remarkably understated, but absurdly compatible. He can work well alongside most any ball handler, as his balanced skill set allows him to post up, roll to the rim or flare out for a jumper. His defensive abilities (quick feet, good technique, long reach) make him a great match for most any big-man counterpart and a huge asset to any coach. He handles the ball well, creates terrific synergy with cutters and shooters and makes everything easier for his team on both ends of the court.
Yet because he does it all so quietly (and in the shadow of the more exciting and infuriating Josh Smith), the 26-year-old Horford doesn’t often get the credit he deserves. It’s a damn shame, and yet now it comes to serve Atlanta well. Hawks general manager Danny Ferry will see the vast majority of the team’s contracts expire at the end of this season, with Horford’s flat $12 million salary being the largest commitment on the books. That affordable value combined with Horford’s complementary game should make Ferry’s job that much easier. Rather than debate over who might fit next to the pieces already in place, Ferry and the rest of the front office can target players around the league purely based on their talent and availability.
