The Boston Celtics are hoping to sign Al Horford this summer to help recruit top free agent Kevin Durant.
The Celtics have yet to make a notable signing this summer, but the team is hoping for a splashy free agency as they attempt to land Al Horford, one of the top big men still available in the market.
With the Atlanta Hawks acquiring Dwight Howard to a three-year deal, it is almost certain that Horford joins another team this summer, and the Celtics appear as the frontrunner to land the 30-year-old center, according to the CSNNE's A. Sherrod Blakely. But the Celtics' pursuit of Horford may just be the tip of the iceberg, as Boston plans to sign the All-Star big man to help lure Kevin Durant to Beantown, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.
The Celtics have the ideal factors to land two max contract players in free agency, with the team having a very flexible cap space. Boston also has intriguing key players to surround the likes of Horford and Durant, immediately making them as legit title contenders.
However, the Celtics face a huge stumbling block in pulling off the most intriguing signing of this year's free agency.
Despite the Celtics making a "strong presentation" to woo Horford, there are plenty of other options for the free agent center, with the Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards and OKC Thunder also in the mix to sign him.
Interestingly, the Thunder could also pull off a similar attempt to what the Celtics are hoping to do this summer.
Many reports have surfaced that the Thunder are clearing some cap space to make room for Horford and Durant, which leads to speculations about OKC placing Enes Kanter on the trading block. If Durant stays with the Thunder even on a short-term deal, there is no doubt it would help OKC reunited Horford with college coach Billy Donovan.
The Thunder also have an intriguing roster of key players ready to help Horford and Durant win their first NBA championship, including star point guard Russell Westbrook. There is also an immediate connection between Horford and Donovan as the two have worked together during their times in Florida.
It is undetermined whether the Celtics or Thunder could get a scary frontcourt duo of Horford and Durant, with other teams also hoping to sign the two aforementioned stars. But it seems only the two teams have a shot in pairing Horford and Durant for next season.