- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Al Horford wants to stay but Hawks ‘have some big decisions to make’
- Updated: May 10, 2016
11:03 PM ET
ATLANTA — Despite being swept in the playoffs for the second straight season at the hands of LeBron James and the Cavaliers, Mike Budenholzer doesn’t believe the Atlanta Hawks should break up their core.
Budenholzer, the Hawks’ coach and president, wants to re-sign free agents Al Horford and Kent Bazemore.
“Losing to Cleveland twice is tough,” Budenholzer said after the Hawks met Monday for the final time this postseason. “But to the fan base, to people who think [about making major changes], if we want to find a way to beat, whether it be Cleveland or whoever the great teams in the league or our conference are, blowing it up is probably not the way to beat a team like Cleveland.”
The Hawks figure their best chance of remaining competitive and relevant is to try to bring back Horford. Horford, a four-time All-Star, will turn 30 in June but could very well command a maximum contract. Considering that he is a center who can shoot from the perimeter, Horford could draw plenty of attention in free agency.
“There are a lot of things that we need to address,” Horford said of his impending decision. “But the biggest thing for me is I feel good here. I have a great relationship with Coach. That is important to me and my teammates. Atlanta is a city that welcomed me from the first day. … I like the way the team is going, I feel like we can win here.”
Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer thinks that keeping Al Horford is necessary to challenge LeBron James and the Cavaliers. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Horford and the …
continue reading in source espn.go.com