Al Horford has owned the corner stall in the Hawks’ locker room since the first day he arrived in Atlanta nine years ago.
It’s prime real estate inside Philips Arena, previously occupied by Esteban Batista. Horford even has an empty stall beside for extra storage. However, when the center cleans out his locker as the latest season has ended, it could be for the last time. Next season there might be a new inhabitant.
Horford becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and makes his first real foray into the business side of the NBA. He signed an extension with the Hawks in 2010, but this summer he will have choices — plenty of them — as to where he will play next season. Those offers likely will include a maximum contract.
Horford reiterated Monday that he has not allowed himself to look past this season, one that for the Hawks abruptly ended Sunday with a sweep by the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. That time has come. Horford said he would seek the advice of those in his circle, including his family, agent, teammates and other players.
“I try to learn what other players go through,” Horford said. “Sometimes you think that another place is going to be better for you and it’s going to be great, and then you turn around and it’s not. Everybody has to experience their own things. I know, and I believe in my heart, that this is a special place, and I feel like the way the Hawks organization is going, it’s going in the right direction. People should want to be a part of this.”
Teammate Paul Millsap went through his first venture into unrestricted free agency last summer. He ultimately chose the Hawks over the Magic and signed a two-year deal, with an additional year as a player option. Millsap said he would offer advice, but only if Horford seeks it.
“If he wants my two cents, he’ll ask for it,” Millsap said. “I don’t like to butt into other people’s business, but I think he knows from talking to me last year what the process is going to be like. I think Al knows that every player on this team appreciates everything that he did. Love him like a brother. We know how important he is to us, but it’s up to him to make his decision.”
One of the questions facing the Hawks is whether to give Horford a maximum contract. Based on a player with 7-9 years experience, they can offer him a five-year deal with annual increases of 7.5 percent of the first year’s salary. Another team can offer him a four-year deal with annual increases of 4.5 percent.
Teams have been told to work off a salary-cap figure of $92 million, although that figure won’t be set until after the NBA moratorium period ends July 6. With the Hawks, Horford, who turns 30 next month, could receive a deal worth about $150 million from the Hawks and a deal worth about $111 million with another team.
“We have said it and it’s the same, he is somebody that we value and somebody that we find very, very important to us,” Hawks coach and president of basketball operations Mike Budenholzer said. “From the way he plays to his character on and off the court, he is the kind of person we want to continue to build with.”
For a maximum deal?
“It is the day after the season,” Budenholzer said. “All those things, you will have to call his agent. He is incredibly valuable to us.”
Horford is the Hawks’ all-time leader in playoff games (74). He also ranks first in rebounds (621), second in points (958) and field goals (406) and fourth in assists (210). He ranks among the franchise leaders in several regular-season statistics, including second in field-goal percentage (.535), sixth in blocks (698), eighth in rebounds (5,144) and 10th in player efficiency rating (19.1).
“Al has been a cornerstone of this team for a lot of years now,” Kyle Korver said. “What he brings to the table, there is just not anyone else really like him in the NBA.”
Horford said he hasn’t thought about his summer plans. He has participated in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders program for several years. He said Monday that he plans to conduct a youth summer camp, but details have not been finalized.
As for his plans to improve his game, Horford said that while he has effectively added a 3-point shot to his repertoire, he would like to get better in the post.
“I think that, I probably got a little away from the post this year trying to expand my game and do different things,” Horford said. “That is a point of emphasis that I will try to be better in the post and be able to put the ball down a little more on the floor. Being able to drive a little more. Even though I had some strides in that area this year, but I think I can be even better at that.”
The decision on where his locker will be next season awaits.
Here is what a max contract for Al Horford would look like:
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