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Atlanta Hawks: Al Horford Signs With BDA Sports Agency

By Troy Tauscher

Oct 18, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen (11) and Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford (15) battle for the ball during the second half at Philips Arena. The Heat defeated the Hawks 101-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen (11) and Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford (15) battle for the ball during the second half at Philips Arena. The Heat defeated the Hawks 101-92. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta Hawks big man Al Horford is one of many players who will enter the chaotic, money-throwing time period currently known as 2016 free agency. Horford has spent all of his eight year career in Atlanta, as has played a major role. He helped lead the team to 60 wins last season and earned All-Star honors for his efforts.

Whether Horford decides to explore his options in free agency or re-sign for the max with the team he’s known, someone else will be helping him negotiate. Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal broke this news on Twitter Monday morning.

Horford was previously represented by Arn Tellum, who left his position as a power-player agent during the summer to take a front office job with the Detroit Pistons. Horford had previously been represented by the Wasserman Media Group and agents B.J. Armstrong and Jason Glushon.

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Duffy represents several other notable players in the NBA. His client list includes Danny Green, Rajon Rondo, Andrew Wiggins, Jahlil Okafor and Klay Thompson, the latter of whom cashed in with a four-year, $70 million extension with the Golden State Warriors last summer.

The move is also another in a string of recent blows to Wasserman. LaMarcus Aldridge, after signing a max contract with the San Antonio Spurs, left the agency. Joe Johnson, a former teammate of Horford, also defected. Both signed with Excel Sports Management.

Horford may be in the second-tier of free agents with Kevin Durant and Dwight Howard hitting the open market this summer. However, Horford is an extremely effective and probably underrated player.

His immense versatility makes him integral to the Hawks system. He’s a great mid-range shooter, hitting 48.4 percent of his shots from that area. His ability to roll or fade off screens triggers a Pavlovian-like reaction from opposing defenses. They panic if he even looks like he might screen.

Read my full breakdown of Horford here.

The good news for the Hawks is that Horford seems perfectly happy in Atlanta. Ideally, this move only changes who is next to Horford when he signs a new max deal with Atlanta they day free agency opens.

But you know, this is the NBA. Weird **** happens from time to time. Sorry if I scared any Hawks fans there. Fear not. Unless they substantially short-change him at the negotiating table, Horford should be in a Hawks jersey for years to come.

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