Al Horford is about to be seeing a whole lot of green in more ways than one.
According to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Saturday, Horford has agreed to a four-year, $113 million deal with the Boston Celtics.
Al Horford plans to sign a four-year, $113M deal with the Boston Celtics, league sources tells @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 2, 2016
Horford himself confirmed the news on his Twitter account with a Celtics-themed tweet:
Celtic Pride!!!!!! ??????????????????
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) July 2, 2016
The Celtics had emerged as a frontrunner for Horford earlier in the day. Wojnarowski also reports that the All-Star center entertained an eleventh hour push from the Hawks to re-sign him but ultimately turned it down when the two sides couldn’t come to a middle ground.
Sources: Tremendous momentum for Hawks in final hours, w/ Horford returning and giving Hawks chance. In end, Hawks, Horford $6M total apart.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 2, 2016
Hawks believed Horford's heart was with them, would accept last offer. Horford dropped demand of full 5-year max but sides never closed gap.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) July 2, 2016
As an efficient, unselfish big man who plays with toughness on the inside and can stretch a defense out to 16+ feet with his midrange jumper, Horford is a tremendous get for Boston. After rotating through a cast of unspectacular, largely single purpose-serving characters in the frontcourt for the last couple of seasons, the Celtics finally get the reliable interior presence they need in order to forge a real, clear identity as a team.
Having Horford in tow could also be a huge boost to the Celtics’ pursuit of Kevin Durant. The C’s can now pitch Durant on being the final piece of the puzzle in a starting five alongside Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Horford with prized youngsters Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown coming off the bench and head coach Brad Stevens steering the ship. That’s gotta be one helluva selling point.
