If the Hawks and All-Star center Al Horford are to reach an agreement on a contract extension he said it likely won’t happen until just before the deadline. Horford said Monday the Hawks and agent Arn Tellem, who have been in discussions for nearly a month, are set to meet at the end of the week regarding an extension to the contract he signed as the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2007. If no deal is reached by the end of business Monday, then Horford would become a restricted free agent next summer once the Hawks extended him a qualifying offer by June 30. “I kind of have thought this all along, but I think it really is going to come down to the last day,” Horford said. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The only potential competition for a starting position during the preseason never really materialized so point guard Jeff Teague will back up starter Mike Bibby when Atlanta opens the season Wednesday at Memphis. “My vision was to have Jeff constantly get better and constantly grow, and if there was a clear sign of him having a major impact on the team if he played significant minutes, I wanted to be in that position to have to make a decision,” Hawks coach Larry Drew said. “But clearly that’s not the case.” — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

After three seasons of increasingly productive play from center Al Horford, the Hawks have decided they want him for the long term. The feeling is mutual for Horford, who said team officials and his agent, Arn Tellem, have started negotiations on a contract extension. The Hawks have until Nov. 1 to make a deal with Horford on an extension that begins in 2011-12 and can be lengthened for up to five years and about $82 million under the NBA’s current labor agreement. Horford will make $5.4 million in 2010-11, the final year of his rookie-scale contract. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Since there has been no movement on the extension talks the trade discussion could be next. Two teams have made serious inquires about Jamal Crawford, per one of my league sources, only to be rebuffed by the Hawks. Crawford is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $11.1 million this season with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement set to be negotiated at the end of this season. Crawford and his representatives approached the Hawks in July about their desire to discuss a potential contract extension, with the option of exploring trade opportunities beneficial to both sides if something couldn’t be worked out. — NBA.com

So this is the dilemma faced by the Hawks. They have the most leverage because they have Jamal Crawford under contract and are under no obligation to offer him an extension or trade him. The Hawks could tell Crawford they aren’t in position to meet his contract demands and don’t intend to trade him, and then hope Crawford’s desire to showcase for his next deal while playing for a winning team eventually will trump any hurt feelings. But taking that stance could threaten the team’s chemistry and cohesion before the season even gets started. I don’t need to remind you that both of those things unraveled for the Hawks by the end of last season. L.D. already has a lot on his plate before adding a disgruntled sixth man to the list. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Al Horford can become a restricted free agent at season’s end. The Hawks would prefer he not test the market because they know full well he’d be coveted from sea to shining sea. If any Hawk is apt to receive a contract extension before Halloween, it’s Horfy. There’s almost no chance two Hawks will be offered preseason extensions at this late date. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

I figured maybe the Hawks wanted to bring Earl Boykins to camp as some kind of insurance, so I checked it out. I was told there’s nothing to it, that it’s a “crazy rumor” and that the Hawks are still focused on adding a big man. So it looks like Boykins won’t even get a camp invite from the Hawks. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Atlanta Hawks have reached out to free agent veteran Earl Boykins, confirmed a league source to RealGM. Boykins helped stabilize a tumultuous season for the Washington Wizards, appearing in 67 games and averaging 14.2 points per 36 minutes. His 09-10 season was a return to the NBA after a lucrative interlude playing in Italy for Virtus Bologna during the 08-09 season. — Real GM

The Hawks still are in the market for a center (I’ve still heard nothing to indicate they are seeking a wing) and they have veterans Francisco Elson, Brian Skinner and Josh Boone on their radar. Not so much Kwame Brown, who is thought to still be seeking a deal for more than the vet minimum. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution