RealGM

assuming we can pawn off Calderon by using a 1st to dump him we would have max cap room. Im just curious as to what you think your FO would do. Would they match a max contract offer for Horford? I come in peace im just curious because you have a better grasp on what they will do than me.

I expect the ownership to match. They may wait around for Al Horford to find his value and just match like they did with Josh Smith during the past.

ok thanks. Just curious because of Johnsons max deal i dont know if Horford max would be a bit much. Toronto would likely offer their trade exception for you to find a cheaper replacement but i can see why you would match it.

Calderon can be traded if you trade Toronto's 2011 1st. Miami's 1st ain't nearly enuff incentive to take on Calderon.

To further expand on the subject, the Hawks not spending the MLE this year is a (financially) strategic move to allow them to spend as much as needed to match an offer to Al. They have about 50M in committed salary next season and will let Jamal Crawford walk and fill out the roster with minimum salary players to be able to resign Al without necessarily exceeding a luxury tax threshold. Even if the tax threshold is significantly lower next year they would still likely exceed it to match knowing they would have Bibby coming of the cap at the end of the season (or they could make a move in season to get back under).

I think they are delaying dealing with an extension in case the new cba alters the rules of what they can sign him for.

By any chance have you guys heard of any numbers being talked if an extension has been talked about?

Can you also give us a measure of what you think is fair value for Horford (basically how much would you pay him).

^ i wouldn't be surprised if Horford got an contract offer similar to that of Al Jefferson, $65M for 5 years. if the economy gets worst, then maybe $60M for 5 years.

Al will be making Rudy Gay money at the minimum. Might get a lowball offer come the October deadline and decline it but Sund has proven that he is perfectly fine with letting the market dictate a player's worth before matching or going over.

None of us knows what the rules of FA will be next offseason so its really tough to say what his contract would be. Fromt hat perspective it would be far better for Horford to go ahead and sign an extension this offseason. The only hitch is that Sund has shown he has no problem with exploiting the advantage he has when someone is a RFA.

But basically it looks like the hawks will decide between Crawford and Horford and it would be shocking to see the Hawks let Horford leave.