NBA Rumors: Boston Celtics And Al Horford Close To An Agreement
Within the next couple of hours, the Boston Celtics will be revealing a brand new signing to the team roster. That is the hope for the Celtics at least. Veteran free agent forward Al Horford will make his free agency destination known before the night is complete, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Which team will Horford decide to join? Will it be the Celtics, Washington Wizards, or an Atlanta Hawks return? Horford also met with the Detroit Pistons to talk about a deal.
Each team seems to be in the running for Al Horford. The Hawks are known to have made a strong offer to the all-star. They are considered to be third on the list of Horford’s preferred list of teams. Most signs point to Horford agreeing to a deal with the Boston Celtics.
Detroit was the mystery team that made Al Horford's short list of visits, sources say, but he looks lasered in now on Celtics/Wizards/Hawks
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2016
Of the teams which Horford is leaning towards, the Celtics likely have the most to offer in terms of a winning situation. They are coached by an extremely good coach in Brad Stevens. His youth, only 39 years old, makes him a coach who can relate to the players. Because there is not much of a generational difference between Stevens and players around the NBA, he can identify with everything from the sense of fashion to the music players listen to. That is regarded as a huge plus.
The Boston Celtics’ roster is one that is created in his image as far as young, fairly good players who all buy into the concept of team basketball are concerned. There is a trust factor which is evident on the Celtics. With the level of trust everyone has in each other, it is easy for players to play hard and do all of the little things. As a result, the Celtics have made the NBA Playoffs two consecutive seasons, and there are no signs of a declining year in the works. For the Celtics, it is the contrary. Their arrow is pointing upward. All the Celtics need to do is add a star player along with Isaiah Thomas and the young nucleus the team has.
Al Horford has reportedly narrowed his choices to the #Celtics and #Wizards https://t.co/X8XcUgjsC8 pic.twitter.com/7BGKkwDZCb
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) July 2, 2016
Building a sales pitch based on a likely ascension to a contender’s status is what the Celtics had to do for Horford. He must be convinced to leave a winner in the Atlanta Hawks.
Consistency is what Al Horford has had with the Hawks. The Hawks made the postseason in each of his nine seasons with the club. They are aiming for a 10th straight playoff appearance just judging from the offseason moves they have made. It was just barely 24 hours that the Hawks signed center Dwight Howard to a three-year deal, worth $70.5 million.
After the agreement to sign Howard was announced, it was reported that forward Paul Millsap is rumored to be on the trading block, according to NESN. It is all done in an effort to make room for Horford in the event that he decides to stay with the Hawks. If the CSN New England report is true about what Al Horford’s intentions are, the Atlanta Hawks may want to hold on to Millsap a bit longer.
Hawks Continue To Work Paul Millsap Trade Scenarios While Waiting On Al Horford: https://t.co/W9clEmwXT3 pic.twitter.com/As5b5EPi5I
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 2, 2016
CSN New England’s A. Sherrod Blakely is reporting that the Boston Celtics are the favorites to land Horford with a multi-year free agency deal.
Al Horford agreeing to sign with the Celtics would be a major move for the team. He gives them an all-star player still in their prime.
When he wants to be, Horford can be a dominant player who is capable of averaging a double-double. Last season, Horford extended his shooting touch beyond the three-point line. As long as his shot can become more reliable, it will help the Celtics space the floor the way that they like to.
Alone, Al Horford cannot get the Celtics over the top and past the Cleveland Cavaliers, but his addition puts them in the running for the Eastern Conference Finals. That would be a two-round improvement for the Celtics.
Al Horford will soon decide where he will play basketball next season. According to the NBA free agency rumor mill, Horford will join the Boston Celtics. His acquisition will give the Celtics the star player that has eluded the franchise for the past few seasons.
[Photo by AP Images]
