The Boston Celtics are known as the frontrunners in the NBA when it comes to trades, but recent rumors have them as possible players in free agency.
After not making a splash at the trade deadline, there are now reports that the Celtics are poised to grab top free agents, specifically, Al Horford.
No less than Yahoo senior hoops scribe Adrian Wojnarowski mentioned in a video response to a fan question that the Celtics have a real chance to land Horford. (h/t NESN for transcription and video link).
"There's two things Boston has here in the next two months," Wojnarowski mentioned on the "Woj Report" at Yahoo. "They have Brooklyn's draft pick, which very well could be top four, top three. It will also give them a chance to use that as a trade chip. Again, they had it at the trade deadline and they didn't find a player of the stature they needed to move that pick."
It was eventually rumored that they dangled the pick allegedly for Jahlil Okafor and also for Jimmy Butler, but not for Al Horford. But it's not for a negative reason.
"But then in summer free agency, part of the reason sources tell me that Boston didn't make an immense offer to Atlanta for Al Horford was because Horford is a free agent this summer. Boston feels like it's got a real chance to get Horford in free agency. I think Danny Ainge's patience is going to pay off. They're going to get a chance to better this team, and I think the opportunity is coming either around the draft or after in free agency."
Why should the Celtics stop at Al Horford? The Dominican Republic native was a champion in college and he would also like to win in the pros. One of his draft classmates in 2007 is also hungry for an opportunity to win a title: Kevin Durant.
In his podcast, Bill Simmons reminded that the Celtics preferred Durant over eventual top pick Greg Oden. He admitted that he was talking as a Celtics fan, but CSNNE had some interesting insights on the possibility of Kevin Durant choosing to go to Boston.
One of his references was a comment heard on a Zach Lowe podcast mentioned that Durant wants to play with Horford. Both Lowe and Wojnarowski are trusted as credible sources. Simmons had strong resistance with podcast companion Joe House who said Durant going to Boston was ludicrous.
This is one scenario worth watching, but bottom line is that Horford to Celtics is a safe bet, but Durant may be too much of a stretch. Still, crazier things have happened in the NBA.