Horford won't sign a Contract Extension before next summer

[jayu70]

I think you are massively under selling the "ENTIRE LEAGUE THINKS D12 is CLOWN" and "BLake is a PUNK" sentiment that is rampant around the NBA.

I 100% am underselling that.

I believe money and winning will solve all issues.

It'd be a gamble, no doubt. It's a bold, win-now move.

I don't love it. But no frontcourt in the East could withstand that kind of barrage. We'd be attacking every Conference team where they are most vulnerable. In the paint.

But, admittedly, that team is just as likely to implode when D12 and Blake inevitably come to blows...

Dwight got paid max money to go to Houston and that team was winning and went to the WCF last season. Now things are tough and he faces a little adversity he wants to tuck tail and run. He has to mental capacity to stay and fight for it. He'll always be looking for greener pastures.
Who else is on the Blake/D12 team?

[Jamaaliver]

Dwight got paid max money to go to Houston and that team was winning and went to the WCF last season. Now things are tough and he faces a little adversity he wants to tuck tail and run. He has to mental capacity to stay and fight for it. He'll always be looking for greener pastures.
Who else is on the Blake/D12 team?

That is certainly a fair assessment. But I'd look at it from another angle as well:

This was always going to happen. This was the plan all along. It's why he negotiated an opt out clause after only three seasons. So he could go into Free Agency one last time in his prime. So he could assess how the team had managed thus far and keep his options open.

The same thing LeBron is doing. The same thing K Durant will likely do.

I don't love D12, and I feel dirty trying to defend the guy. But he takes a lot of criticism unnecessarily.

That Rockets franchise is in shambles. They made the Conf Finals, but fired the coach weeks into the following season. Harden showed up out of shape apparently. They turned to Josh Smith to help cure what ails them...a surefire sign of desperation.

And less than a week ago the GM and coach basically told them the team is broken and it's possible both were being shopped as the franchise re-assesses their options.

If the team can keep their options open moving forward regarding both players...why should Dwight be criticized for doing the same?

[jayu70]

Dwight got paid max money to go to Houston and that team was winning and went to the WCF last season. Now things are tough and he faces a little adversity he wants to tuck tail and run. He has to mental capacity to stay and fight for it. He'll always be looking for greener pastures.
Who else is on the Blake/D12 team?

That is certainly a fair assessment. But I'd look at it from another angle as well:

This was always going to happen. This was the plan all along. It's why he negotiated an opt out clause after only three seasons. So he could go into Free Agency one last time in his prime. So he could assess how the team had managed thus far and keep his options open.

The same thing LeBron is doing. The same thing K Durant will likely do.

I don't love D12, and I feel dirty trying to defend the guy. But he takes a lot of criticism unnecessarily.

That Rockets franchise is in shambles. They made the Conf Finals, but fired the coach weeks into the following season. Harden showed up out of shape apparently. They turned to Josh Smith to help cure what ails them...a surefire sign of desperation.

And less than a week ago the GM and coach basically told them the team is broken and it's possible both were being shopped as the franchise re-assesses their options.

If the team can keep their options open moving forward regarding both players...why should Dwight be criticized for doing the same?

I have no issue with his shorter contract and his opt out at all. My response was regarding winning and money. Just pointed out that he had both in Houston and now its tough he's ready to leave. Players leave teams all the time but he's left a stink trail everywhere he's been.
Some of it may be undeserved but he's created a lot of it as well.
There was an article posted about his agents calling the Hawks last year saying it wasn't gonna work in Houston, not even a year in - like I said hes never happy. It's ALWAYS something with Dwight.

[Jamaaliver]

Zach Lowe's take on the Horford rumors:

There are rumors that Howard would like to end up in Atlanta, his hometown, and the Hawks stand as the mid-tier seller who could dictate this deadline if they make Horford available. Horford's pectoral issues raise some health concerns, but he has been healthy for two years, and his silky game figures to age well.

To put it politely, the league is skeptical this is anything more than a Hawks fishing expedition designed to gin up one crazy offer for Horford. Wes Wilcox, Atlanta's GM, is asking teams to "wow" him, sources say, and no one is biting.

The Hawks may not be fretting as much as it seems about Horford walking. Horford will look around, and he likes the idea of playing in a bigger media market with a larger Dominican population, per several sources familiar with the matter. But he also cherishes the continuity Atlanta has built, and the Hawks understand he is the keystone to their culture of selflessnes. If the Hawks keep Horford into the summer, they will have that extra fifth year in the quiver.

On the flip side...people close to Al Horford say he will value that fifth year more than almost every other variable in his free-agency calculus.

Here

[ATL Boy]

Zach Lowe's take on the Horford rumors:

On the flip side...people close to Al Horford say he will value that fifth year more than almost every other variable in his free-agency calculus.

Here

This should up his trade value to teams scared of him potentially bolting. tbh I'd rather just keep Al if we teams try to lowball us because they cite that he's an expiring. I still can't over how terrible that trade of late draft picks and end of the bench prospects from Celtics fans on our board was, a week ago.

[Jamaaliver]

Zach Lowe's take on the Horford rumors:

On the flip side...people close to Al Horford say he will value that fifth year more than almost every other variable in his free-agency calculus.

Here

This should up his trade value to teams scared of him potentially bolting. tbh I'd rather just keep Al if we teams try to lowball us because they cite that he's an expiring. I still can't over how terrible that trade of late draft picks and end of the bench prospects from Celtics fans on our board was, a week ago.

100% agreed. If we were ever going to trade AL Horford, that sort of thing should have occurred years past.

I'm more concerned with moving Teague and Millsap so we don't end up in this exact same scenario with them next year.

I still see Horford as a cornerstone player. He's not a franchise talent, but his presence on the floor and in the locker room is more important to us than any other player since...Mutombo?
I'd give him a 5th year, but it can't be the full supermax for totaling $144 million.

But we need to surround with him solid young pieces entering their primes. (Oladipo, Jae Crowder, Rodney Hood)

At this point, I wouldn't move Horford unless he specifically indicates he wants to go to a contender, but that's with the understanding we need to sign him to a reasonable deal to keep the team flexible and competitive. Like what Tony Parker ad Tim Duncan have agreed to over the past few years.


Hard Truth for Summer 2016: We can only pay Horford $20+ million per year if we dump Millsap. We can't tie up that much of our resources in an aging front court that got manhandled in the playoffs by Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mozgov. Horford gets that much money, he has to be the unequivocal focal point of this team until another young player emerges to take the reigns...

[td00]

We have a big hole if Al leaves. Like Gasol, Al has a full contract left. Having developed that 3 point shot, he is nothing but an asset.

You can't say that about D12, although his acquisition would create a true buzz we haven't had here in a long time.

I'd keep Al for the rest of the year, as the ECF is within reach as we stand today.

We have enough to resign Al. so what we get for Teague could be the key.

I would like for us to somehow lose little to get a Terrance Jones and add him to our depth.

[atlantabbq99]

Celtics Considered Favorites If Hawks Trade Al Horford

The Boston Celtics are the favorites to trade for Al Horford if the Atlanta Hawks decide to make a trade before the deadline.
Horford is in the final season of a five-year, $60 million deal. Horford will turn 30 in June and wants to sign a five-year deal instead of a four-year one that he'd be forced to sign if he were to leave the team he ends up with at the end of this season.

I'm guessing the Celtics have offered the Nets' pick if they are the favorites among the teams that has made an offer for Horford.

I wouldn't make the trade because i'm okay with giving Horford max but If it happens i wouldn't be upset either

[GTfan]

Celtics Considered Favorites If Hawks Trade Al Horford

The Boston Celtics are the favorites to trade for Al Horford if the Atlanta Hawks decide to make a trade before the deadline.
Horford is in the final season of a five-year, $60 million deal. Horford will turn 30 in June and wants to sign a five-year deal instead of a four-year one that he'd be forced to sign if he were to leave the team he ends up with at the end of this season.

I'm guessing the Celtics have offered the Nets' pick if they are the favorites among the teams that has made an offer for Horford.

I wouldn't make the trade because i'm okay with giving Horford max but If it happens i wouldn't be upset either

The sources are reporting that Boston will absolutely not trade the Nets pick. They're still the front runner for Horford though. If we're going to deal him, something like Crowder, Olynyk,the better of Bos/Dal 2016 1st, and the Memphis 2018 1st would be a nice haul and frees up a ton of cap space for the offseason. Could expand the trade to dump Splitter on them as well, if we want in exchange of Lee's expiring, making us major players in free agency. If we toss in Korver or Thefalosha we have enough space to make two max offers. And that's before we've even dealt Teague.

I'm totally fine with bringing Horford back on the 5 year max, but if we're going to deal him, Boston probably has the most attractive pieces to keep us good, get younger, get picks, and create a ton of cap space.

[jayu70]

Olynik has a shoulder injury and is getting a 2nd opinion. Pass.
They're listing Boston player assets as Olynik, Sullinger, Young Rosier, as what they will trade - no Crowder, Smart or Bradley. The Nets pick is not in play.
I'd rather keep Al if we aren't getting any decent player.

[ATL Boy]

Olynik has a shoulder injury and is getting a 2nd opinion. Pass.
They're listing Boston player assets as Olynik, Sullinger, Young Rosier, as what they will trade - no Crowder, Smart or Bradley. The Nets pick is not in play.
I'd rather keep Al if we aren't getting any decent player.

Who's "They?"

If all of that is off the table, then Bud shouldn't eve waste his time listening to a garbage offer comprised of late picks and average prospects.


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[atlantabbq99]

if the nets pick isn't in, then that is why the trigger hasn't been pulled on a Horford trade, and it will never get pulled.

[jayu70]

Olynik has a shoulder injury and is getting a 2nd opinion. Pass.
They're listing Boston player assets as Olynik, Sullinger, Young Rosier, as what they will trade - no Crowder, Smart or Bradley. The Nets pick is not in play.
I'd rather keep Al if we aren't getting any decent player.

Who's "They?"

If all of that is off the table, then Bud shouldn't eve waste his time listening to a garbage offer comprised of late picks and average prospects.


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There was a list I saw/read somewhere that listed the players and picks that were the "tradeable assest" - I can't seem to find it now.
It was probably a Boston paper/writer/blogger.

[Jamaaliver]

Speculation that Orlando, flush with cap space after trading away Tobias, will now be suitors for Horford (and Joakim?) this summer:

[The Orlando magic] are just 90 minutes from the University of Florida, and this year’s free-agent class is certainly friendly to Gator country...a source told Sporting News that the Magic will have an interest in Hawks big man Al Horford — and the interest would be mutual.

Depending on where the salary cap lands, Orlando could have nearly $50 million to spend this summer. That’s enough to sign two max-contract players outright.

Here

[ATL Boy]

Speculation that Orlando, flush with cap space after trading away Tobias, will now be suitors for Horford (and Joakim?) this summer:

[The Orlando magic] are just 90 minutes from the University of Florida, and this year’s free-agent class is certainly friendly to Gator country...a source told Sporting News that the Magic will have an interest in Hawks big man Al Horford — and the interest would be mutual.

Depending on where the salary cap lands, Orlando could have nearly $50 million to spend this summer. That’s enough to sign two max-contract players outright.

Here

When it comes down to it, money will end up being the deciding factor IMO.


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[Jamaaliver]

Speculation that Orlando, flush with cap space after trading away Tobias, will now be suitors for Horford (and Joakim?) this summer:

When it comes down to it, money will end up being the deciding factor IMO.

Likely so, the article points out that with FL having no State Tax, the monetary advantage Hawks can offer is limited unless we offer the all out supermax. Something I am wary of doing.

But with Horford and his wife the two of the most prominent Dominicans in the world, I wouldn't underestimate the importance of a town with a strong Dominican/Hispanic population. It's something he's mentioned recently as well.

I think this keeps ORL and MIA in play should the Horford family decide to relocate.

[Jamaaliver]

More damage control by Hawks front office personnel regarding their 'commitment' to keeping AL.

”Al Horford Has Been, He Remains And Will Be A Priority”

Audio Here

Read on Twitter

[No-Man]

Wont be surprised if he leaves for a mega-offer from Orlando, with no state taxes+way bigger dominican town, and the Hawks sign Pau Gasol as a patch.

[ATL Boy]

People overrate no state taxes, I think I read that Dwight only saved like &3-$4 mil from his max with Houston from no state taxes.

We can and will offer Al a bigger contract than Orlando.

I also think that continuity is very important for Al and the Horford family, especially with a little one now a part of the family. Al said that he spends his summers in Atlanta, so we have that going for us. There's also the allure of going down as one of the greatest Hawks of all time and a one team player for his career.

Prediction: we'll overpay, but come next year, Al will be in a Hawks uniform.


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[MaceCase]

People overrate no state taxes, I think I read that Dwight only saved like &3-$4 mil from his max with Houston from no state taxes.


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Has everything to do with the fact that you're still paying jock and other income taxes everywhere else you play but Florida, DC and Texas. Is it an advantage? Sure, but not nearly as large as it's made out to be.