Horford interview on leaving the Hawks

[bdm860]

Haven't seen this posted yet, but Horford had an interview with the major Atlanta newspaper about leaving the Hawks.

Nothing too special here really, mostly PR friendly stuff like I loved Atlanta, wanted to come back, fans were great, but it just didn't work out, Boston was the best place for me, yada, yada, yada.

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/al-horford-opens-up-about-his-decision-to-leave-at/nrw3N/

A couple of things he did touch on though:

On Isaiah recruiting:

Q. I heard (Boston guard) Isaiah Thomas was quite a recruiter?

A. Honestly, he reached out to me once. It wasn’t like I was in constant contact with him and talking to him. He reached out right before the free agency began and just said hello. He was at the meeting with the team. He was one of the players. For me, I’m just looking at the opportunity to play for that type of team. I knew it was going to take a lot for me to leave my situation in Atlanta. We feel very good here. We love the city. All the things I said to you during the season are still true. There are a lot of positives here. But at the end of the day the best decision for me was the move on.

On potentially playing with Dwight:

Q. There are a couple reports out there that I’d like to get your response or to clarify. One was that you didn’t like Dwight, you didn’t want to play with Dwight. True?

A. No, no, no. Not at all. I don’t have a problem with Dwight at all. I think that he is a great player and he has a lot of ability and a lot of potential. It has nothing to do with not wanting to play with Dwight. I don’t know if you remember but there was a time when I wanted to play power forward. With a guy like him, that would have been easier. It had nothing to do with Dwight. He’s a good guy.

On Atlanta fans:

Q. Another thing was your dad said some things about one of the reasons you wanted to leave was the fans in Atlanta were not as good as the fans in Boston. Was that true?

A. That made me really upset. I was angry when I heard about that because I never felt that way. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve actually gotten to know a lot of our fans, a lot of our season-ticket holders with the Hawks. They’ve always been great to me. I’ve always been very content and happy with the way they’ve treated me and my family. Parents are sometimes a little more passionate about their sons and daughters. I can relate because I have a son now. So my dad, with him, sometimes he would come to the games and get frustration. His frustrations don’t reflect on me with the fan base.

He also says 3 or 4 of the C's players met with him during his meeting,  He mentioned Isaiah was there, so probably the same crew that met Durant?  Didn't think they all went to meet Horford too.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

PR.

Dwight has a lot of "potential." That tips his hand. He doesn't think that Dwight has reached his potential in his long career. He would have played with him and hoped that Dwight could reach his potential next to him, but he wasn't sure Dwight would ever reach it.

[manl_lui]

On potentially playing with Dwight:

Q. There are a couple reports out there that I’d like to get your response or to clarify. One was that you didn’t like Dwight, you didn’t want to play with Dwight. True?

A. No, no, no. Not at all. I don’t have a problem with Dwight at all. I think that he is a great player and he has a lot of ability and a lot of potential. It has nothing to do with not wanting to play with Dwight. I don’t know if you remember but there was a time when I wanted to play power forward. With a guy like him, that would have been easier. It had nothing to do with Dwight. He’s a good guy.

kinda wished we actually met with Dwight before he signed with ATL. I wanted to see how that turned out

[hpantazo]

They should have asked him if he was offended that they didn't roll out Tom Brady for his recruitment.

[billysan]

Haven't seen this posted yet, but Horford had an interview with the major Atlanta newspaper about leaving the Hawks.

Nothing too special here really, mostly PR friendly stuff like I loved Atlanta, wanted to come back, fans were great, but it just didn't work out, Boston was the best place for me, yada, yada, yada.

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/al-horford-opens-up-about-his-decision-to-leave-at/nrw3N/

A couple of things he did touch on though:

On Isaiah recruiting:

Q. I heard (Boston guard) Isaiah Thomas was quite a recruiter?

A. Honestly, he reached out to me once. It wasn’t like I was in constant contact with him and talking to him. He reached out right before the free agency began and just said hello. He was at the meeting with the team. He was one of the players. For me, I’m just looking at the opportunity to play for that type of team. I knew it was going to take a lot for me to leave my situation in Atlanta. We feel very good here. We love the city. All the things I said to you during the season are still true. There are a lot of positives here. But at the end of the day the best decision for me was the move on.

On potentially playing with Dwight:

Q. There are a couple reports out there that I’d like to get your response or to clarify. One was that you didn’t like Dwight, you didn’t want to play with Dwight. True?

A. No, no, no. Not at all. I don’t have a problem with Dwight at all. I think that he is a great player and he has a lot of ability and a lot of potential. It has nothing to do with not wanting to play with Dwight. I don’t know if you remember but there was a time when I wanted to play power forward. With a guy like him, that would have been easier. It had nothing to do with Dwight. He’s a good guy.

On Atlanta fans:

Q. Another thing was your dad said some things about one of the reasons you wanted to leave was the fans in Atlanta were not as good as the fans in Boston. Was that true?

A. That made me really upset. I was angry when I heard about that because I never felt that way. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve actually gotten to know a lot of our fans, a lot of our season-ticket holders with the Hawks. They’ve always been great to me. I’ve always been very content and happy with the way they’ve treated me and my family. Parents are sometimes a little more passionate about their sons and daughters. I can relate because I have a son now. So my dad, with him, sometimes he would come to the games and get frustration. His frustrations don’t reflect on me with the fan base.

He also says 3 or 4 of the C's players met with him during his meeting,  He mentioned Isaiah was there, so probably the same crewas nice, politw that met Durant?  Didn't think they all went to meet Horford too.

About what you would expect him to say. He was nice, polite, answered the questions, wasn't evasive, didn't say anything negative about Howard or Atlanta or the fans.

KG was about the same if I recall about leaving Minnesota..

This has been his home his entire career. He is a class act. Surprised but glad he left.

[mmmmm]

As expected, Horford has acted with class and grace in leaving his long time home.  He is well-spoken and thoughtful in his answers.   This is consistent with who he has been all along.

He is going to be exceptionally easy to root for.

[moiso]

I think Isaiah overstates his recruiting duties.

[TheTruthFot18]

Q. I heard (Boston guard) Isaiah Thomas was quite a recruiter?

A. Honestly, he reached out to me once. It wasn’t like I was in constant contact with him and talking to him.

Assuming this is true, who was IT talking to at the All Star game?

[kozlodoev]

Haven't seen this posted yet, but Horford had an interview with the major Atlanta newspaper about leaving the Hawks.

Nothing too special here really, mostly PR friendly stuff like I loved Atlanta, wanted to come back, fans were great, but it just didn't work out, Boston was the best place for me, yada, yada, yada.

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/al-horford-opens-up-about-his-decision-to-leave-at/nrw3N/

A couple of things he did touch on though:

On Isaiah recruiting:

Q. I heard (Boston guard) Isaiah Thomas was quite a recruiter?

A. Honestly, he reached out to me once. It wasn’t like I was in constant contact with him and talking to him. He reached out right before the free agency began and just said hello. He was at the meeting with the team. He was one of the players. For me, I’m just looking at the opportunity to play for that type of team. I knew it was going to take a lot for me to leave my situation in Atlanta. We feel very good here. We love the city. All the things I said to you during the season are still true. There are a lot of positives here. But at the end of the day the best decision for me was the move on.

On potentially playing with Dwight:

Q. There are a couple reports out there that I’d like to get your response or to clarify. One was that you didn’t like Dwight, you didn’t want to play with Dwight. True?

A. No, no, no. Not at all. I don’t have a problem with Dwight at all. I think that he is a great player and he has a lot of ability and a lot of potential. It has nothing to do with not wanting to play with Dwight. I don’t know if you remember but there was a time when I wanted to play power forward. With a guy like him, that would have been easier. It had nothing to do with Dwight. He’s a good guy.

On Atlanta fans:

Q. Another thing was your dad said some things about one of the reasons you wanted to leave was the fans in Atlanta were not as good as the fans in Boston. Was that true?

A. That made me really upset. I was angry when I heard about that because I never felt that way. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve actually gotten to know a lot of our fans, a lot of our season-ticket holders with the Hawks. They’ve always been great to me. I’ve always been very content and happy with the way they’ve treated me and my family. Parents are sometimes a little more passionate about their sons and daughters. I can relate because I have a son now. So my dad, with him, sometimes he would come to the games and get frustration. His frustrations don’t reflect on me with the fan base.

He also says 3 or 4 of the C's players met with him during his meeting,  He mentioned Isaiah was there, so probably the same crew that met Durant?  Didn't think they all went to meet Horford too.

So he supposedly liked the place, had no problem with Dwight or  the fans, and yet signed with Boston for less money. What gives?

[mmmmm]

Haven't seen this posted yet, but Horford had an interview with the major Atlanta newspaper about leaving the Hawks.

Nothing too special here really, mostly PR friendly stuff like I loved Atlanta, wanted to come back, fans were great, but it just didn't work out, Boston was the best place for me, yada, yada, yada.

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/al-horford-opens-up-about-his-decision-to-leave-at/nrw3N/

A couple of things he did touch on though:

On Isaiah recruiting:

Q. I heard (Boston guard) Isaiah Thomas was quite a recruiter?

A. Honestly, he reached out to me once. It wasn’t like I was in constant contact with him and talking to him. He reached out right before the free agency began and just said hello. He was at the meeting with the team. He was one of the players. For me, I’m just looking at the opportunity to play for that type of team. I knew it was going to take a lot for me to leave my situation in Atlanta. We feel very good here. We love the city. All the things I said to you during the season are still true. There are a lot of positives here. But at the end of the day the best decision for me was the move on.

On potentially playing with Dwight:

Q. There are a couple reports out there that I’d like to get your response or to clarify. One was that you didn’t like Dwight, you didn’t want to play with Dwight. True?

A. No, no, no. Not at all. I don’t have a problem with Dwight at all. I think that he is a great player and he has a lot of ability and a lot of potential. It has nothing to do with not wanting to play with Dwight. I don’t know if you remember but there was a time when I wanted to play power forward. With a guy like him, that would have been easier. It had nothing to do with Dwight. He’s a good guy.

On Atlanta fans:

Q. Another thing was your dad said some things about one of the reasons you wanted to leave was the fans in Atlanta were not as good as the fans in Boston. Was that true?

A. That made me really upset. I was angry when I heard about that because I never felt that way. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve actually gotten to know a lot of our fans, a lot of our season-ticket holders with the Hawks. They’ve always been great to me. I’ve always been very content and happy with the way they’ve treated me and my family. Parents are sometimes a little more passionate about their sons and daughters. I can relate because I have a son now. So my dad, with him, sometimes he would come to the games and get frustration. His frustrations don’t reflect on me with the fan base.

He also says 3 or 4 of the C's players met with him during his meeting,  He mentioned Isaiah was there, so probably the same crew that met Durant?  Didn't think they all went to meet Horford too.

So he supposedly liked the place, had no problem with Dwight or  the fans, and yet signed with Boston for less money. What gives?

Does it matter?   I mean, all the above is clearly a bunch of words carefully and thoughtfully put forth for public consumption.

I wouldn't necessarily expect to derive defining truths from that.

[OHCeltic]

Horford was just being polite,nice to his former team. Nothing more nothing less. Why create hard feelings when its unnecessary.  He won't get booed when he goes back.

[wiley]

Haven't seen this posted yet, but Horford had an interview with the major Atlanta newspaper about leaving the Hawks.

Nothing too special here really, mostly PR friendly stuff like I loved Atlanta, wanted to come back, fans were great, but it just didn't work out, Boston was the best place for me, yada, yada, yada.

http://www.myajc.com/news/sports/basketball/al-horford-opens-up-about-his-decision-to-leave-at/nrw3N/

A couple of things he did touch on though:

On Isaiah recruiting:

Q. I heard (Boston guard) Isaiah Thomas was quite a recruiter?

A. Honestly, he reached out to me once. It wasn’t like I was in constant contact with him and talking to him. He reached out right before the free agency began and just said hello. He was at the meeting with the team. He was one of the players. For me, I’m just looking at the opportunity to play for that type of team. I knew it was going to take a lot for me to leave my situation in Atlanta. We feel very good here. We love the city. All the things I said to you during the season are still true. There are a lot of positives here. But at the end of the day the best decision for me was the move on.

On potentially playing with Dwight:

Q. There are a couple reports out there that I’d like to get your response or to clarify. One was that you didn’t like Dwight, you didn’t want to play with Dwight. True?

A. No, no, no. Not at all. I don’t have a problem with Dwight at all. I think that he is a great player and he has a lot of ability and a lot of potential. It has nothing to do with not wanting to play with Dwight. I don’t know if you remember but there was a time when I wanted to play power forward. With a guy like him, that would have been easier. It had nothing to do with Dwight. He’s a good guy.

On Atlanta fans:

Q. Another thing was your dad said some things about one of the reasons you wanted to leave was the fans in Atlanta were not as good as the fans in Boston. Was that true?

A. That made me really upset. I was angry when I heard about that because I never felt that way. I’ve been here a long time. I’ve actually gotten to know a lot of our fans, a lot of our season-ticket holders with the Hawks. They’ve always been great to me. I’ve always been very content and happy with the way they’ve treated me and my family. Parents are sometimes a little more passionate about their sons and daughters. I can relate because I have a son now. So my dad, with him, sometimes he would come to the games and get frustration. His frustrations don’t reflect on me with the fan base.

He also says 3 or 4 of the C's players met with him during his meeting,  He mentioned Isaiah was there, so probably the same crew that met Durant?  Didn't think they all went to meet Horford too.

So he supposedly liked the place, had no problem with Dwight or  the fans, and yet signed with Boston for less money. What gives?

Does it matter?   I mean, all the above is clearly a bunch of words carefully and thoughtfully put forth for public consumption.

I wouldn't necessarily expect to derive defining truths from that.

There can be many reasons for moving to Boston to play...without some big discontent with Atlanta.  No need to look for ugliness.  It's normal to move on and try something new...especially with the trajectory the Celtics appear to be on, great coach, picks, passion, etc...

[indeedproceed]

So he supposedly liked the place, had no problem with Dwight or  the fans, and yet signed with Boston for less money. What gives?

On the one side, I think the notion that he's paying lip service to the only team he's ever played for is true.

On another side, I think that Atlanta nickle-and-diming him Miami-style was a big deal. He wanted max money, max years, and they wanted to screw around. Sometimes you can't do that. I've definitely known people through business that are like that.

[alldaboston]

Q. I heard (Boston guard) Isaiah Thomas was quite a recruiter?

A. Honestly, he reached out to me once. It wasn’t like I was in constant contact with him and talking to him.

Assuming this is true, who was IT talking to at the All Star game?

Isaiah confirmed the other day that he was indeed talking to Horford and that Horford asked him to Boston. I think Horford is trying to keep face and not really say that he asked about Boston.