Al Horford (Photo : Twitter)
Al Horford is one of the top free agents in the 2016 offseason. Since LeBron James is not considered as a 'real' free agent, Horford is arguably second only to Kevin Durant.
Horford, like Durant, will enter his tenth season and he has loads of experience as he played with the Atlanta Hawks his entire career-a team that has perennially reached the playoffs.
So why would Horford want to leave? The playoffs are simply not the end-goal of his career and in this season, the Hawks may have reached their ceiling. They peaked in the 2014-15 season where they had the best record in the East but still fell to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
There have been plenty of rumors involving Horford linking him with different teams like the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and even the LA Lakers. His ability to play consistently at on both ends of the court while shifting from center to power forward is what makes him a prime commodity.
If Horford wants to go deeper into the playoffs, he should join a stronger team. That's not an easy feat as the Hawks are not a bad team. But there is a team that has the promise of getting stronger-and that's the Boston Celtics. Celtics Life had a "blueprint" for the Celtics to lure Kevin Durant and that involved Horford.
Step one would be the Celtics trading for Jimmy Butler. They have the assets to pull that off in theory. Next is signing Al Horford which would eventually lead to signing Kevin Durant.
Wishful thinking? Not exactly as recent rumors seem to have the Atlanta Hawks seemingly planning on life without their starting center as talks of a trade for Philadelphia 76ers Nerlens Noel emerge. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE believes that it helps the Celtics' chances of signing Horford as the question was raised: Why would the Hawks trade for Noel if they believe Horford will return?
The Celtics are one of the teams that was rumored to pursue a deal for either Noel of Jahlil Okafor but if the Hawks and Sixers deal push through, the Celtics should focus on Horford as he has size, versatility and experience-"everything the Celtics need."
Blakely does not believe the Celtics end their quest with Horford but adding him is a step in the right direction.
