Al Horford is drawing interest from several teams ahead of the official start of free agency, and it has been reported that he will not return to the Boston Celtics after he opted out of the final year of his contract with the team. But now that the Celtics are said to have a handshake agreement in place to sign Kemba Walker, might Horford want to stick around?
According to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, there are some NBA executives who believe the Celtics are the “mystery team” that is expected to try to sign Horford. That would require some creative salary cap gymnastics, but it is apparently possible.
There are some league executives that believe the "mystery team" for Al Horford is…the Boston Celtics.
But keeping Horford's rights would require a number of complicated maneuvers, including a double sign-and-trade involving Kemba Walker and Terry Rozier. It wouldn't be easy. https://t.co/dCfSQcaEc4
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 30, 2019
If the Celtics can make it work financially, it makes plenty of sense. Horford has, by all indications, enjoyed his time in Boston playing under Brad Stevens. Many expect the team to be even better next season with Walker in and Kyrie Irving out, so staying put may give Horford just as good of a chance at contending for a title.
Horford is 33 and this will likely be his last big NBA contract, but there have already been hints that he is not going to sign with the highest bidder. Perhaps he will give Boston a discount if he believes in what Danny Ainge is trying to build.
