The AL Horford Dilemma

PandaKidd · Post #201 » by **PandaKidd** » Sun Jul 3, 2016 8:44 pm

Via complex

http://www.complex.com/sports/2016/07/al-horford-didnt-want-play-with-dwight-howard?utm_campaign=complexmag&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

MaceCase · Post #202 » by **MaceCase** » Sun Jul 3, 2016 8:59 pm

PandaKidd wrote:Via complex

http://www.complex.com/sports/2016/07/al-horford-didnt-want-play-with-dwight-howard?utm_campaign=complexmag&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

Yup, they didn't bless him with the richest contract in franchise history while bringing in a hometown guy that the 4 fans that show up would likely gravitate more towards. Of course, I was looked at as insane when I called him a diva years ago but now the egotism is there for all to see.

jayu70 · Post #203 » by **jayu70** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 12:39 am

We couldn't bring back the same team as last year. We won't - I'm good.
Seems like Hawks set max limit on amount they wanted to give and that's that. It's a wrap.

reazun · Post #204 » by **reazun** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 12:47 am

MaceCase wrote:
reazun wrote:I have been a die hard atlanta fan since 1996. With the exception of alot of people on this board, Atlanta fans have been ridiculously fickle, really non-existent for the most part. Yeah they show up for the playoffs but then boo their own team if they don't feel they are doing well enough. Al was in atlanta in 2010 while he was literally booed on his own homecourt, not to mention the ownership fiasco. Joe Johnson led us back to the playoffs how many times? He gets booed when he visits us? Why? Because the mass of the people in the arena are not real fans. They dont appreciate the players, they whine, complain, and dont support.

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Eh, if you want to really add context to 2010 then you'd remember they were in the midst of being on the wrong end of a historically bad playoff performance when Joe dropped the gem that he didn't care about the fans. Yea, you're an apologist if you're going to continue cheering through both a lack of effort and being disrespected by a player.

The context was the magic was destroying the Hawks in the playoffs, and they started booing Joe bc he had an atrocious game. Even though he led us to 5 straight playoffs, was our first all star since deke, was a class act during the whole Belkin craziness, etc. they booed the guy. Afterwards, the reporter asked how he felt, and he said it didnt bother him, "we dont care if they show up." He said that after the boos, not before them. He and other players say his statement was misconstrued. Regardless, his comment was tacky, but out of frustration. Imo, the boos that came before the comment was just as tacky. Al was there. Joe said "we" dont care. Not I dont care. It seems obvious the entire team already knew that most so-called Atlanta fans were fickle. Thats why Al left. Sorry, but you cant deny it. Read the complaints on FB right now about the Dwight deal. Smh.. again, the people on here, are true fans, but most atlanta fans are pretty bad as far as fans go. Its just in the culture. Maybe bc its filled with people who moved here from somewhere else? Idk

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PandaKidd · Post #205 » by **PandaKidd** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 1:35 am

Can we STOP with this false narrative that Horford left because of the fans!

You guys are repeating comments HIS DAD MADE and says his son said them in private. Maybe it's true maybe it's not.

Al left because Atlanta didn't want to wait on him, they made an offer, he drug his feet and atlanta wasn't going to be caught with their pants down. They signed d12 and it was done .

Post #206 » by **Jamaaliver** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:50 am

PandaKidd wrote:Can we STOP with this false narrative that Horford left because of the fans!

You guys are repeating comments HIS DAD MADE and says his son said them in private. Maybe it's true maybe it's not.

Al left because Atlanta didn't want to wait on him, they made an offer, he drug his feet and atlanta wasn't going to be caught with their pants down. They signed d12 and it was done .

It'll be fun to see how things play out next summer with Millsap. We'll be in a similar situation except, correct me if I'm wrong, we don't even hold his Bird Rights.

Will Millsap suddenly become a monster, too, should he leave for a contender and hire annual salary?

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Post #207 » by **ATL Boy** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 3:26 am

Jamaaliver wrote:
PandaKidd wrote:Can we STOP with this false narrative that Horford left because of the fans!

You guys are repeating comments HIS DAD MADE and says his son said them in private. Maybe it's true maybe it's not.

Al left because Atlanta didn't want to wait on him, they made an offer, he drug his feet and atlanta wasn't going to be caught with their pants down. They signed d12 and it was done .

It'll be fun to see how things play out next summer with Millsap. We'll be in a similar situation except, correct me if I'm wrong, we don't even hold his Bird Rights.

Will Millsap suddenly become a monster, too, should he leave for a contender and hire annual salary?

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How wouldn't we have his bird rights? We've had him for four years.

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PandaKidd · Post #208 » by **PandaKidd** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 5:23 am

Yeah we have is bird rights, we signed him last year to a 2+1 , this will be his 4th year as a hawk.

I suspect it will get interesting if the Hawks are hovering near 500 at the trade deadline , do they trade him or not.

Lots riding on this season

simon24 · Post #209 » by **simon24** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 6:54 am

PandaKidd wrote:Yeah we have is bird rights, we signed him last year to a 2+1 , this will be his 4th year as a hawk.

I suspect it will get interesting if the Hawks are hovering near 500 at the trade deadline , do they trade him or not.

Lots riding on this season

Yeah, true. Next summer's PF FA market sucks. Blake, Millsap and Ibaka are the only stars.

http://hoopshype.com/2016/05/14/nba-free-agency-2017-power-forwards/

I'd hate for Millsap to leave ATL next summer to join Al in Boston or another team willing to pay him a 4 year max. He'll be 32 this season too.

jayu70 · Post #210 » by **jayu70** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 10:50 am

Pau is reported to be getting 2yrs, $42 million. He's gonna be 36 in 2 days. So Milsap at 32 years with $109 mil salary cap and teams with a boatload of capspace, he will get paid. I don't think he gets a full max of $38 mil/yr but he can easily get $30/yr for 3 yrs. So many teams having money is driving up the prices.

atlantabbq99 · Post #211 » by **atlantabbq99** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 10:54 am

^ Not a big deal, just let Millsap go and just go for Cousins or Favors when they opt to become free agents in 2018

thenbaman · Post #212 » by **thenbaman** » Mon Jul 4, 2016 2:14 pm

You guys came out the winners D12 over al any day of the week.

reazun · Post #213 » by **reazun** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:14 pm

Anyone catch the article? Al says it had nothing to do with the fans, it was money. It's so little money though, why couldn't they just give it to him? If things meshed, we would smoke Cleveland imo.

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/al-horford-opens-up-about-his-decision-to-leave-at/nrw3N/

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Post #214 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:36 pm

reazun wrote:Anyone catch the article? Al says it had nothing to do with the fans, it was money. It's so little money though, why couldn't they just give it to him?RealGM mobile app

Yeah, I did see that. Not sure if that makes him look better or worse.

I do get the feeling, from what Jeff, mark and others have written on AJC...that Hawks were still at the table willing to negotitate.

And AL walked away to accept the BOS offer. With Ainge whispering sweet nothings in his ear and flashing those championship rings, and with fresh lottery talent aboard...I can see that being an enticing offer.

While Wilcox and Bud attempted to play hardball over a few million.

I'd love to hear Ressler's actual feelings on his team's Free Agency plans getting blown up so early in the process...over a relatively minor amount.

PandaKidd · Post #215 » by **PandaKidd** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:55 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:With Ainge whispering sweet nothings in his ear and flashing those championship ring and with fresh lottery talent aboard...I can see that being an enticing offer.

Fixed that for you.

RING, SINGULAR.

Al Horford left because the Hawks didnt treat him like D12. PERIOD. Al wanted to be the FRANCHISE PLAYER and have the Hawks WOO and BEG him. We didnt, because we didnt like the price tag. The fact we were WILLING to negotiate is even MORE reason for Al to leave. He didnt want negotiations, he wanted a blank check.

MaceCase · Post #216 » by **MaceCase** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:06 pm

Done discussing the diva. Good luck to him in Boston, hope they draft Magic Johnson and/or the trio of Durant, Westbrook and Harden so he can see a Finals within the next 4 years.

Post #217 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:07 pm

PandaKidd wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:With Ainge whispering sweet nothings in his ear and flashing those championship ring and with fresh lottery talent aboard...I can see that being an enticing offer.

Fixed that for you.

RING, SINGULAR.

I was including the championships Ainge won as a player.

Recruiting is as much an appeal to emotion as it is to logic or monetary need.

Hell, I hope Bud is taking all his Championship Rings when recruiting Free Agents. I'd consider it a mistake if he didn't.

If you're attempting to build a championship team, it helps to remind folks that you've been a part of a championship team.

PandaKidd · Post #218 » by **PandaKidd** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:09 pm

Jamaaliver wrote:
PandaKidd wrote:
Jamaaliver wrote:With Ainge whispering sweet nothings in his ear and flashing those championship ring and with fresh lottery talent aboard...I can see that being an enticing offer.

Fixed that for you.

RING, SINGULAR.

I was including the championships Ainge won as a player.

Recruiting is as much an appeal to emotion as it is to logic or monetary need.

Hell, I hope Bud is taking all his Championship Rings when recruiting Free Agents. I'd consider it a mistake if he didn't.

If you're attempting to build a championship team, it helps to remind folks that you've been a part of a championship team.

I know, i was just being salty

Still pissed that KG/Allen/Pierce dont have at LEAST 1 more ring from those Celts teams

Post #219 » by **Jamaaliver** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 3:52 pm

atlantabbq99 wrote:but anyway, we can all agree that Al didn't stay for the Atlanta fans.

atlantabbq99 wrote:No, it has nothing to do with Dwight, Horford said that we suck (fans), that is why he left...He is a #1 douchebag!

dms269 wrote:I really hope the fans don't pull a very Atlanta thing and cheer for him. It should be straight up boos when he is introduced.

In my opinion, Al is being controlled/HEAVILY influenced by his father.

afectar wrote:AL had it easy the fans liked him. Al most not know how much people supported him even though he was playing like crap in the playoffs.

AL's actual on the record comments:

C-Viv: So you are not leaving bitter?

Horford: No, no no. I love the fan base here. I thank coach (Mike Budenholzer) for giving me an opportunity to grow as a player and develop. He always had that confidence in me. I know it’s extremely hard for him. This was a hard decision for me.

C-Viv: ...your dad said some things about one of the reasons you wanted to leave was the fans in Atlanta were not as good as the fans in Boston. Was that true?

Horford: That made me really upset. I was angry when I heard about that because I never felt that way. I’ve been here a long time. They’ve always been great to me. I’ve always been very content and happy with the way they’ve treated me and my family. Parents are sometimes a little more passionate about their sons and daughters. I can relate because I have a son now. So my dad, with him, sometimes he would come to the games and get frustration. His frustrations don’t reflect on me with the fan base.

Here

PandaKidd wrote:Comical. Boo Horford? #1 douche bag is Horford? Lololol

Al was all class and I'll miss him.

AL has always said/done the right thing in public. He's NOT above criticism...but so much of the narrative is more emotional now. It seems really short-sighted to slight the man for alleged off-hand comments, made in private. Especially when he's been the epitome of class since the day he got here.

PandaKidd · Post #220 » by **PandaKidd** » Tue Jul 12, 2016 4:02 pm

Put yourself in his shoes, like I said, his alleged comments , hes not WRONG. EVerything he said was factually correct, but fans dont want to hear that ****.

However I will say this, if Al goes to Boston and doesnt produce, lord help him with those fans, we will not be so kind to him . We can be ferocious cheering you on, we can also absolutely destroy you if you play soft and play like crap. With the local Boston peeps hailing him as "THE SUPERSTAR WE WERE LOOKING FOR" i hope he understands the pressure that town has.

What to do with AL?