Why The Hawks Were Right Not to Offer Al Horford a Max Contract
Watching Al Horford sign with Boston was difficult for some Hawks fans, but did the team do the right thing by not offering him a max contract?
How good was Al Horford for the Hawks? Well, we’ve all watched him grow and evolve into the versatile, dynamic talent that he is today. What may have been his most impressive feat was extending his shooting range from mid range out to the three point arc. For the longest time, he was asked to play out of position and square off against foes that were frequently stronger and taller than him.
He never blinked. In fact, he has turned that into an advantage. Ultimately, that expansion to his game is what garnered so much interest in his services this summer in free agency, and earned him his big contract. The only thing that could be remotely worse than the Hawks signing him to a Max Contract, would be if they were the Grizzlies, who are now stuck with Mike Conley for five years at a gazillion dollars per season.
Mike Conley is a good player, don’t get me wrong, probably underrated. But really? What were they thinking? That franchise has locked themselves into a middle of the pack, second round playoff exit for the duration of that one particular deal. And that’s if they perform fantastic. As a Hawks fan I can understand not being a trendy destination for free agents, but there has to be a more rational pathway to take.
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The sky wouldn’t have came crashing down if the Hawks did sign Horford. He has the type of skills that will age well and should help him enjoy a long career. It’s actually what I expected them to do considering how much Coach Mike Budenholzer loved having Al as part of the group. Sometimes though, it’s best not to let emotional attachments get in the way of business. Budenholzer should be applauded for shuffling the deck in what is an obvious attempt to get this team to the next level.
When the maneuvers of free agency concluded, the Hawks emerged from the crowd with Dwight Howard. Resigning Al would have sunk the whole organization in quicksand just like Joe Johnson’s max deal once did. While the decision to not offer Horford the max level deal is a victory in of itself, getting Howard as his less costly replacement made the outcome even better.
Dwight Howard provides more value/potential production than Horford
The fact that Atlanta got an exceptionally better rebounder and rim protector for 3 years and $70 million compared to the 5-year, $152 million deal Horford would have commanded is remarkable. To watch Horford snag a measly two rebounds in a playoff game, as the starting center, was disturbing. There just isn’t enough shooting or stretching of the defense to make up for that.
It’s beyond perplexing when looking at his stats, for Horford’s worth to approach those type of figures. The Hawks did want to resign him, but the offer they made topped out at $136 million. Al felt as though he was deserving of getting the max, and found that unacceptable. Of course the new salary cap went bananas, but then why isn’t Dwight getting a $200 million dollar contract? That’s how much more productive he is as a center statistically. With all due respect to Horford, the Hawks made out like bandits.
Can one player’s stats carry more weight than the others because of their style of play? I don’t think so. At the end of the day, they are what they are. The traditional way Howard plays the position is unquestionably more efficient. Horford got so used to shooting three’s, his obsession came close to Josh Smith territory. The constant movement with the picks, pops, slips and rolls did favor coach Bud’s offensive principles. With that said you’d seldom see him ever post up. An offensive rebound? Forget it.
There isn’t any mystery about what Dwight Howard does. He is a monster on the boards that ranked third in the league last season. The painted area is where he wants to do all his damage. Expect to see him slam a helpless defender through the goal at some point this year.
There are reports out there grading every teams free agency results that list the Hawks below the top 10. Do not under any circumstances believe them. The improvement at this position alone puts the Hawks summer in the top five.
Next: Should the Hawks Target Ben McLemore?
Bravo, President of Basketball Operations and Coach Bud. Bravo!