Hawks may offer Al Horford a contract extension this summer

[HMFFL]

What to do with Al Horford, who means even more to this franchise?

Horford can become a restricted free agent at season’s end. The Hawks would prefer he not test the market because they know full well he’d be coveted from sea to shining sea. If any Hawk is apt to receive a contract extension before Halloween, it’s Horfy. There’s almost no chance two Hawks will be offered preseason extensions at this late date. Link

[azuresou1]

Sick.

[ATL DirtyBird]

We have to do it but another reason why we cant and wont contend. Gotta have size. Horf is great and I love him like few Hawks but he needs to be a 4. Im looking forward to seeing him in a Hawks jersey but am not looking forward to see him guard Dwight for the foreseeable future.

[Skyhawk1]

I hope we resign him way before next year's free agency period. If there's one Hawk I have no problem with, and I really mean none at all, it's Horford. Dude's got game and ethic.

[ATL DirtyBird]

I hope we resign him way before next year's free agency period. If there's one Hawk I have no problem with, and I really mean none at all, it's Horford. Dude's got game and ethic.

And his passion. Love the mans intensity. Plus he seems to be liked by the guys. Not sure everyone fits in the locker room but he seems to be the man around there.

[evildallas]

This is a dramatic departure from the Hawks standard MO. There are 3 reasons they could possibly be trying to ink him early:
1) They hope to get a small discount on the full max. (not a very good reason)
2) They fear the implications of a hard cap. (not sure the owners can push a hard cap through)
3) They fear someone front-loading an offer sheet in a way that requires the ASG to write a check that they may not be liquid enough to handle. (you hear about this strategy with RFA all the time, but not sure what more can be down beyond a max offer).

I think #3 is the key issue. You hear it talked about every summer about the way to keep a team from matching on a restricted free agent is to structure the deal so that there is an early lump payment. Maybe the ASG want to control the timing of writing checks to the point they'd commit early.

I also wonder if rumor of this negotiation spurred the Jamal Crawford story from a few days ago. It is one thing when no one gets an early extension, but when someone else is offered one and you aren't you have to question your future possibilities.