Mismanagement of Funds

Center Al Horford just joined Kevin Durant and Joakim Noah because now all three are 2007 draftees that have safely secured a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract. That should be a huge sigh of relief for the young center out of the University of Florida. It should also bring a huge smile to Hawks general manager, Rick Sund and the rest of Atlanta's front office. Horford is a talented All-Star center, probably the second most talented behind Orlando's Dwight Howard. And though he is a natural power forward at 6'10", 245 pounds, he is able to establish an inside presence and has the ability to defend the elite big men in the game today.

But this brilliant move to safeguard Atlanta's franchise for at least five more years, given a healthy Al Horford, also brings back chilling memories of this past offseason when these same Atlanta Hawks resigned guard Joe Johnson to a 6-year, $124 million deal. Horford is worth every $12 million a year that he will be receiving. Joe Johnson is light years away from being worth the $20 million a year that he will be receiving. First of all, Horford is just as important to Atlanta as Johnson is. Why the $8 million a year discrepany? Secondly, that contract is usually reserved for top five players, such as LeBron James (6-year, $110 million) and Dwayne Wade (6-year, $108 million). Altanta didn't even make an effort to chase after James this past offseason; in fact, Atlanta seemed to be in a unusual rush when free agency began on July 1, 2010 by quickly signing Johnson to that ridiculous deal, which makes him probably the most overpaid athlete in the NBA, instead of exploring their options further with the funds that they had.

The implications of these two contract extensions are simple. For as long as Johnson and Horford remain the faces of this franchise, Atlanta will never be a contender. You'd think after three years of postseason disappointment, Atlanta would look to revamp their roster in some way. Instead, Atlanta stayed away from sign-and-trades and free agent shopping and fell in love with contract extensions. And as a potent free agent class coming the league's way this summer, headlined by Blazers center, Greg Oden (who just may be 100% healthy by then), Atlanta is going to wish it had some money left in its salary cap. Imagine a front court that featured Al Horford and a healthy Greg Oden. Atlanta would turn into a contender. That'd definitely cause problems for a Miami Heat team that lacks a front court. That'd definitely force Orlando to switch its "dominate-the-ball-inside-with-Dwight-Howard" game plan. And not even Boston's physicality would be able to match up.

But let's stop dreaming. According to Atlanta's management of its salary cap, they're looking to maybe advance through the second round of the playoffs and call it a season.



- Leather Head