Horford Looking to Leave the Hawks?!?

[Jamaaliver]

07:14 AM ET 10.29 | Playing in what has become a quiet market from a national perspective, Al Horford has become one of the best centers in the game. So, how patient can he be while [Danny Ferry's and Mike Budenholzer's] regime takes hold? "That's a very fair question," Horford said by phone Friday afternoon. "I do realize that, and I do want to win. I do want to be in a really good position to compete. I wonder. I do wonder what's going to be our next move as a team. But for now, all I can focus on is this team, this year. But absolutely -- I want to compete. I want to be part of a winning, successful, championship team. I do trust that Danny's moving in the right direction, but like you said, I have been in seven years already. Some things are going to have to happen the next few years."

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/404076-horford-looking-for-a-way-out-of-atlanta?eref=sihp

Honestly, I think the writing is on the wall.

David Aldridge is sure to emphasize AL isn't demanding a trade or making threats, but it's clear he is skeptical of what Ferry has in mind. D Ferry is willing to run dude into the ground. Since we're going nowhere this season anyway, it might be best to go ahead and trade Horford while his stock his highest.

It pains me to say it, but being proactive can yield us much more than sitting and waiting. The Josh Smith fiasco is proof of that.

[parson]

His contract has 3 years left.

[MaceCase]

3 years, no option years. Tad premature to be banging the "Al is going to leave!" drum. 2 seasons away from being able to attempt a Dwightmare/Melodrama and 3 from a "Decision". I think we can rest easy at night.

[tcorbin]

i hope not, but Al has been really good to the Hawks, if Al really wants to, the Hawks should not have any problems in getting equal value for him, for either a young guy on a rookie contract or some draft picks or both.

i hope Al decides to stay and be apart of the Hawks five year rebuild plan, but he is 28yr old and i understand if he wants to go to an elite team who can contend in the next 3 years.

[Jamaaliver]

3 years, no option years. Tad premature to be banging the "Al is going to leave!" drum. 2 seasons away from being able to attempt a Dwightmare/Melodrama and 3 from a "Decision". I think we can rest easy at night.

Not saying AL would ever cause melodrama, but the priniciples of being proactive forces us to look years down the line at every what if scenario.

Should another 'James Harden' scenario occur and a young rising superstar become available, Horford could be the piece that gives us a shot to acquire real talent.

Waiting until the last minute to trade Josh cost us the shot at anything over the last few years. Let's not make the same mistake twice.

(NOTE: I LOVE AL Horford and hope he finishes his career in a Hawks uni, but it would be foolish to not even acknowledge the possibility that he we might be better of parting ways at some point.)

[MaceCase]

The point that I made is that he's not in a position of control. If we were further down the line he could make threats about who and where he'd resign but for now he can talk all he wants, ball's in Ferry's court.

[Jamaaliver]

The point that I made is that he's not in a position of control. If we were further down the line he could make threats about who and where he'd resign but for now he can talk all he wants, ball's in Ferry's court.

EXACTLY!

We're in control now and with our flexibility can shop Horford from a position of strength.

[parson]

^ Yeah but 3 years gives us plenty of time to change his mind.

The big problem is that the team INITIATING trade talks is always at a disadvantage. If we said, "Al Horford's available but we want a king's ransom," all we'd hear is junk. And, once the news got out we had offered him, his value would plummet.

Besides, there's literally nothing wrong with the guy. He doesn't have a bad contract, he's not a lockerroom cancer, he's not a ballhog, he's not playing stupid basketball or taking dumb shots or refusing to pass the ball to our PG.

Short of it: we can't get get fair value for him and there's no need to dump him.

[Jamaaliver]

The big problem is that the team INITIATING trade talks is always at a disadvantage. If we said, "Al Horford's available but we want a king's ransom," all we'd hear is junk. And, once the news got out we had offered him, his value would plummet.

I would disagree with you there, initiating talks this early allows us to play teams against each other. Especially with the break-up of the Heatles imminent, other contenders will be mortgaging their future for a chance to win their titles next season. Horford would be an upgrade for pretty much every contender out there. Getting them closer to that goal.

Also, teams have already been calling Ferry about Horford....

•The Hawks‘ roster is “built to trade,” but Ferry has emphatically turned away teams calling about Al Horford‘s availability, Lowe hears

http://www.hoopsrumors.com/al-horford

[parson]

Okay, so, if you're right, either no one offered enough or they did but Ferry still said no. Either Horford's not valued or Ferry wants to build around him.


Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[PandaKidd]

Horford isnt a centerpiece to build around IMO, hes a nice asset to whoever your main superstar is.

The problem I have with Horford is hes never been allowed to play his natural position, that has to be pissing him off. If they dont get a center this offseason, I cant see him sticking around.

3 years left on his contract means he would be in prime trade position next year IMO.

SIdenote, this team plays ZERO defense, at least in the first quarter. Giving up 30+ points in the first, nuts.

[parson]

^ Nah, they were just hot. Budenholzer kept telling our guys to get back on defense, hustle and don't let them get confident. He knew they'd cool off. 13 points in the 2nd means the Kings were taking really bad shots - the same ones that were dropping in the 1st.

[MaceCase]

Okay, so, if you're right, either no one offered enough or they did but Ferry still said no. Either Horford's not valued or Ferry wants to build around him.


Sent from my SCH-I535 using RealGM Forums mobile app

Well we both know that negotiations don't workout by you offering up your best wares from the jump. You call up, get a feel for what the other party wants, try to finagle a lowball deal and then negotiate up to a deal that is still tolerable for you. Ferry saying "Al is off the table" is a tactic being used telling GMs that their opening line on that phone call better be an eye opener......which we know GMs are reluctant to do but it's still a case of "if you want him, you better reaaaaaaally want him because you're not going to **** me on a deal".

Additionally, I agree in that there's no rush to move him. With Josh, getting the opportunity to see how he would perform as the man without Joe came too late in his contract cycle but this isn't the case with Al. He's the de facto best player on the team right now with 3 years left. The roster is still in flux, a whole slew of new faces may be here by February or July so I imagine that Ferry is going to get a full sense of what he needs to know about Al on whether to keep or move him and, of course, Al is going to get a better sense of the direction of the franchise to alleviate or confirm his fears. No need for panic.

[DayofMourning]

With such a loaded draft coming up, it might be time to cut ties and see if you can convince a cellar dweller that Horford is the missing piece.

It would be interesting to see the Hawks have three lotto choices.

[MaceCase]

With such a loaded draft coming up, it might be time to cut ties and see if you can convince a cellar dweller that Horford is the missing piece.

It would be interesting to see the Hawks have three lotto choices.

Wait what? Where did the other two come from?

[DayofMourning]

With such a loaded draft coming up, it might be time to cut ties and see if you can convince a cellar dweller that Horford is the missing piece.

It would be interesting to see the Hawks have three lotto choices.

Wait what? Where did the other two come from?

If you traded Horford for a lotto pick, that's one. I believe you have NY's as well, that's two currently. Trading your best player away probably guarantees your own as well, making that three.

Its far fetched but possible.

[MaceCase]

With such a loaded draft coming up, it might be time to cut ties and see if you can convince a cellar dweller that Horford is the missing piece.

It would be interesting to see the Hawks have three lotto choices.

Wait what? Where did the other two come from?

If you traded Horford for a lotto pick, that's one. I believe you have NY's as well, that's two currently. Trading your best player away probably guarantees your own as well, making that three.

Its far fetched but possible.

We don't have anyone's pick. What the Hawks have is the right to swap picks with Brooklyn.

[DayofMourning]

Wait what? Where did the other two come from?

If you traded Horford for a lotto pick, that's one. I believe you have NY's as well, that's two currently. Trading your best player away probably guarantees your own as well, making that three.

Its far fetched but possible.

We don't have anyone's pick. What the Hawks have is the right to swap picks with Brooklyn.

Denver has NY's pick. I was looking at the traded picks and must have just flipped them. Thanks for correcting me.

[MaceCase]

I think even Denver is in a similar situation where they owe the lesser of either theirs or New York's to Orlando. Now that is a sweet position to be in considering that both Knicks and Nuggets suck right now.