If the Boston Celtics truly wanted to bring five-time All-Star Al Horford back to the team, they only had to look at how they managed to land him in the first place.
Horford, who joined Boston in 2016 after the Atlanta Hawks didn’t open up their wallets up by just $6 million dollars, ultimately left the Celtics for the same reason, instead choosing to ink a new deal with the Philadelphia 76ers for four years and $109 million.
Despite eleventh-hour overtures by the team upon working a sign-and-trade involving Terry Rozier heading to the Charlotte Hornets in order to facilitate taking on star point guard Kemba Walker, Boston’s beloved big man had little interest in cutting the team a discount.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Philly’s deal — while not fully guaranteed — offered a base of $97 million with up to $12 million in championship bonuses.
Meanwhile, the Celtics offered an unknown but lesser amount of guaranteed money in a four-year deal.
Boston may still link the Walker-Rozier sign-and-trades to other moves currently underway or being considered before the July 6th date where such signings can become league-official. However, in the interim, the team needs to find ways to sign at least one big man to help fill the significant hole in Boston’s frontcourt Horford will leave.
