NBA Rumors: Al Horford Leaving Atlanta Hawks For Boston Celtics
From the archive: published May 13, 2016, 10 years ago. Details may have changed since.
NBA rumors have started swirling around Al Horford. The 29-year-old center is set to become an unrestricted free agent this upcoming summer. Horford will be one of the most sought out players in free agency. Several teams in the National Basketball Association will be looking to add a player like Horford to their team. According to FanSided, one of those teams will be the Boston Celtics. With the salary cap rising to around $92 million this year, the Celtics will have more than enough money to sign the former Florida Gators star.
Al Horford was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the third pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. He has spent his entire career with the Hawks. Horford was a starter as a rookie and he has become the heart and soul of the team. He has helped lead Atlanta to the NBA Playoffs eight times in his nine years. This season, Horford averaged 15.2 points, 3.2 assists, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game in 32 minutes. He is a very durable player. Horford played in all 82 games. He is one of the best big men in the National Basketball Association.
The Boston Celtics are in need of another All Star player and a big man. Al Horford fits the bill. He has been a very consistent offensive-defensive presences for the Atlanta Hawks. The Celtics were lacking offensive consistency from their big men all season. Horford is a very versatile big man who can guard both the power forward and center. He can help the Celtics spread the floor with his ability to hit from beyond the arc. Boston signing the All Star could help them become a serious contender in the NBA.
The Boston Celtics will have enough money to sign two players to maximum contracts this summer. Boston has shown they are capable of making it to the NBA Playoffs without a superstar under head coach Brad Stevens. If they manage to sign Al Horford from the Atlanta Hawks, that would make the Celtics a very attractive place to be. Bringing Horford could help garner the attention of superstar Kevin Durant. It would show Durant that the Celtics are doing whatever they can to bring another championship to the city.
The Boston Celtics are in need of a big man who can help the team become a contender for the NBA Championship. Al Horford is one of the best front court players currently in the National Basketball Association. The Celtics showed a lot of interest in him earlier in the season. With him being available this summer, they will be pursuing him to join their team.
