Another All-Star caliber player is hitting the free agent market, putting the Boston Celtics in a potentially vulnerable position.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke the news on Tuesday morning that Celtics veteran center Al Horford would turn down his player option for next season worth over $30 million. Coupled with Kyrie Irving’s impending departure from Boston, this could be a disastrous scenario if the Celtics and Horford don’t work things out. But most likely, this scenario ends up benefitting the Celtics and Horford.
The reasons for Horford during down the option are obvious. Horford is 33 years old and is still relatively healthy, giving him the opportunity to secure a longer-term deal. As for the Celtics, agreeing to a longer-term deal this season would help them preserve cap space and allow them to pursue real replacements for Irving in free agency.
However, there is a chance that Horford listens to other teams now that Irving is out of the picture. The Lakers currently have a lot of holes on their roster to fill, but Horford would probably be too redundant with Davis and LeBron to commit significant money towards him. Nevertheless, where he ends up is important to NBA landscape at large.
If Horford leaves the Celtics, they will struggle to be a factor in the Eastern Conference. And wherever he goes instantly becomes more viable as a contender.
