NBA free agency rumors: Atlanta Hawks offer Al Horford fifth year in deal

The Atlanta Hawks have now offered free agent center Al Horford that fifth year in their contract negotiations. Will that be enough to keep him in Atlanta?

According to WSB TV’s Zach Klein, the Atlanta Hawks “have upped their offer to Al Horford and added a fifth year.” However, it appears that it won’t be a five-year max.

Horford has said that he will make his decision on Saturday evening with regards to his 2016 NBA free agency. Atlanta had been the favorite to re-sign the four-time NBA All-Star, but apparently the Dwight Howard signing on Friday evening has rubbed him the wrong way.

Entering Saturday afternoon, the Boston Celtics and the Washington Wizards were the co-favorites to pry Horford away from the Hawks. Horford has spent all nine of his NBA seasons in Atlanta since being drafting by the Hawks No. 3 overall in the 2007 NBA Draft.

The Hawks have upped the ante on their efforts to keep their All-Star big man. While he won’t get the max, Atlanta has now put the much talked about fifth year on the table in negotiations. Since Atlanta has Horford’s Bird Rights, the Hawks are able to offer that fifth year, whereas the other 29 NBA teams can only offer him a four-year maximum salary.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Horford free agency saga finally ends, whether he stays in Atlanta or joins the Celtics or Wizards. By putting the fifth year on their latest offer, it seriously helps Atlanta’s chances to retain their longest tenured player. While both Boston and Washington will have to give him the max to land him, Atlanta’s play to offer that fifth might be enough to keep him in Atlanta through 2020-21.

For more NBA free agency news, please check out our NBA free agency category page.