Al Horford’s Departure Represents the Era He Left Behind

To the shock and dismay of Atlanta Hawks fans, Al Horford has chosen to sign with the Boston Celtics.

The Atlanta Hawks have lost franchise mainstay, Al Horford, to a conference rival in the Boston Celtics. While Horford was terrific for the Hawks in his nine seasons, many were frustrated with the lack of progress that the team made over that time period.

The organization seemed content with sticking to the status quo and did not win a playoff game past the second round. The fans grew tired and frustrated due to the lack of bold moves. But this off-season, bold moves were made. Dwight Howard came home to Atlanta and joined the team on a 3-year deal. But perhaps it was that bold move that pushed Horford away.

Horford was a consistent, steady presence on all of those “status quo” Hawks teams and was perfectly happy with the direction of the team. But now he is not, as he declined a 5-year/$136 million offer to stay with the Hawks, according to ESPN.

At first, it appeared that Horford wanted a 5th year if he were to stay with the Hawks and the organization ponied up on that request. But he instead choose a 4-year/$113 million deal with Boston, leaving $23 million on the table to join a team that he helped eliminate in the first round of the playoffs. It appears that he made a lateral move at best from a basketball standpoint, based on the current team rosters. Maybe Boston was attractive because of their young assets and cap space to lure other stars? That may be a factor but more has come out to suggest something different.

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All indications are that Horford left because he was unhappy with the Howard signing. Instead of being committed to the organization and working to make that pairing successful, he ran in the face of a bold move. A bold move that fans had been wanting for many years. Fans that his father blamed for his departure, stating that they were not supporting the team while they were winning in recent years. While fans called for progress and a move that could have a big impact on the team, they grew tired of being stuck in neutral.

But Horford instead felt more valued by Boston, even though Atlanta was shopping their best player in Paul Millsap in order to commit $136 million to Horford. This move is understandable by Horford but must be frustrating for the Hawks. They finally made the bold move to help take the leap to championship contention, but it is a move that ran their franchise player out of town.

Horford’s departure now signals the turning of a new leaf for the Atlanta Hawks. From a conservative regime to a bolder, more aggressive one. This ownership group and front office acknowledged that the Hawks needed to improve and now took steps to do so. But Horford was uninterested in such a big shakeup, regardless of if it could be better for the organization. He wanted to go to a team that played in a style that he was completely familiar with, which is understandable but he moves to a team full of role players that is coming off of back-to-back first round playoff exits.

Looking Forward

The Hawks will probably not be in championship contention next season, but the organization has shown a willingness to do what it takes to get there. There was always a place for Horford in this movement if he wanted it, but I suppose we must go on without him. Anyone who is not on board with trying to better the Hawks and take that next step, must move on.

Horford was a great player, person, and leader for the Atlanta Hawks for nine years, but his reasons for leaving are sadly indicative of the era that he inhabited for the Hawks. That era was inexcusably conservative and content with being stuck in the middle, but we as a city must move on to new horizons. Horizons that provide change and new looks. Horizons that will provide this city with more hope than the organization has given in past years. Because this city deserves it. This city deserves to be good enough to win it all, instead of almost good enough. We will move forward with Millsap, Howard, and company as we try to take the leap.

More moves are still to come for Atlanta, as this new regime has shown that they are committed trying to become a championship team. Big moves will not be put on the shelf and they Hawks have ways to shed salary in order to bring in another piece, either now or down the road. But we approach a season that will showcase where this team is headed, as opposed to what we were. Here we go Hawks fans, this season will be a ride.