“Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” This sage axiom perfectly describes the Atlanta Hawks‘ dilemma concerning Al Horford‘s impending free-agency in comparison to Joe Johnson‘s in 2010. Just as the Hawks are today, Johnson’s 2010 Atlanta iteration was a middle-of-the-pack playoff team, fighting to remain relevant.

Rather than perhaps face immediate irrelevancy, Atlanta chose to re-up their then 29-year-old, four-time All-Star to a widely ridiculed six-year, $123.6 million contract. At the time, this exorbitant pact made “Iso-Joe” the league’s second highest-paid player behind Kobe Bryant.

Granted, Johnson’s contract was back-loaded, but this was still seen as a real head-scratcher around the association. When cooler heads prevailed, Johnson was traded to the Brooklyn Nets just two years into his obscene, cap-crushing deal. In return, the Hawks received an assortment of bench-pieces and a couple of future draft picks.

The best asset to come Atlanta’s way from the Johnson trade was the 2013 first-round choice used to grab Dennis Schroder.

Now fast forward to 2016. As earlier mentioned, the Hawks still vehemently scrap and claw to remain relevant in the East; and at the heart of this unit’s salvo for immediate relevancy is another 29-year-old, four-time All-Star. Much like his predecessor before, Horford is still amid his prime years of production, albeit, those years are beginning to trend toward the back-part of NBA life.

As the late, great Yogi Berra might say on this one, “it’s deja vu all over again.”

However, even considering age, things get a bit convoluted when taking Horford’s unique versatility into consideration. In today’s NBA a true “stretch-five” is a most desired commodity. After connecting on more three-pointers (83) than any other pivot this season, Horford epitomizes “stretch-five.” The eighth-year man also produces a steady 15.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 blocks and near-steal per contest.

Those rare talents and reliable stat-line, combined with unparalleled dignity as a Hawk make a case for re-upping Horford. Unfortunately, Johnson’s attributes did as well. At the end of the day, Hawks management has a responsibility to focus on the franchise’s upward mobility. That does not include re-signing a marginal All-Star player who turns 30 in early June to a max, or near max-contract.

Due to a monumental TV rights coup, the league’s salary-ceiling is set to burst this summer. With a relatively mediocre free-agent class, many teams will no-doubt throw big money Horford’s way. It behooves Atlanta management to not match any outlandish offers.

Instead, this summer, the Hawks brass should focus on re-signing a younger piece in Kent Bazemore, filling holes around Paul Millsap and finally choosing a point guard — preferably Schroder  — beyond next season.

Yogi-Berra-isms notwithstanding, given history, Atlanta would be crazy to re-sign a fading Horford — PER is two points lower this season compared to last — to a long-term, max deal over the summer.