NBA Rumors: Indiana Pacers Possibly Signing Al Horford From Atlanta Hawks

NBA rumors are swirling around Al Horford. The Atlanta Hawks season came to an end when the Cleveland Cavaliers swept them. The Hawks have been knocked out of the playoffs by LeBron James and the Cavaliers for two straight years. They have had no answers for the Cavaliers. With that in mind, Horford might decide it would be best to take his talents elsewhere. Plenty of teams in the National Basketball Association will be looking to make a run at signing the former Florida Gators star. According to FanSided, one of those teams could be the Indiana Pacers.

Al Horford has done so much for the Atlanta Hawks since being drafted by them. He has led them into the NBA Playoffs eight times in his nine year career. Horford has taken the team to the Eastern Conference Finals once. The past two seasons, the Hawks have come up short against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With the Atlanta Hawks’ season coming to an end, Al Horford will become an unrestricted free agent this summer. The Hawks may have to go to a bidding war to bring the former Florida Gators star back to their team. Hawks management might not be willing to pay Horford the maximum contract. Earlier this season, the Hawks put him on the trading block to gauge his value. Atlanta could be looking to retool their team this summer. Horford might not be in the team’s future plans.

Al Horford is one of the best big men in the NBA. He has adapted his game to fit into today’s style of play. The All Star has expanded his shooting range to beyond the arc. Not only can he shoot the ball, he is a star low post player. His offense isn’t only what makes him so good. Horford is a very consistent defensive player. He is an interior rim defender and can also guard the stretch fours. According to Hoops Hype, Horford is the seventh best player available in free agency.

Indiana Pacers team president Larry Bird will be looking to add some pieces to his team so they can compete for the NBA Championship. He has made some questionable decisions to start the team’s offseason. Bird decided not to resign head coach Frank Vogel. Then, he made a questionable move by promoting assistant head coach Nate McMillan to be their new head coach. Bird can help silence some of those critics by signing Al Horford.

Al Horford does his best work as a secondary scoring option for a team. During his time with the Atlanta Hawks, the first scoring option for the team is Paul Millsap. Millsap is a very good player, but Paul George might be a better teammate for Horford. George has made a tremendous comeback this season after that horrific injury the year before. George has shown that he is back to his superstar form.

Last summer, Larry Bird expressed that he wanted Paul George to play more minutes at the power forward position. The addition of Al Horford would help prevent that from happening. The front court would be Horford, Myles Turner, and George. Both Turner and Horford would help space out the floor. The former Texas Longhorns star has shown the ability to be an interior rim defender. Throw in George Hill and Monta Ellis, the Pacers could be a force in the Eastern Conference.

The Indiana Pacers are trying to reach the NBA Finals. The addition of Al Horford could help push them to that level. During the playoffs, Paul George looked like a one man show. Horford would be a capable second scoring option for the team.