Horford gives his first detailed interview since FA, talks about why he left

[nickagneta]

I'll also say, while I don't think Al is an all-star anymore or worth 30 million a year the next three years, if was back with us we would be a contender with him in place of Kanter.

Kemba
Brown
Tatum
Hayward
Horford

That team is basically what last year's team was supposed to be, without the chemistry issues potentially, an improved hayward, and some improvement from Brown and Tatum.

If Horford was still here, the Celtics could probably still have been able to sign Kanter, just at the $1 million less room exception. Maybe that $1 million would have been a back breaker and Kanter wouldn't have signed, but then again, maybe it wouldn't have.

[Chief]

My guess is that Philly will regret years 3 and 4 of that contract.

[hpantazo]

It sounds like his heart is still in Boston, and he would have stayed if either the money or the chance to contend were there when he made his decision.

Basically, he says if Kyrie had stayed it wouldn't have changed things much for him, as that group had major issues and wasn't going to contend, but if he knew Kemba was coming it would definitely have changed things.

I found this really interesting. Kyrie must have been a real negative influence on the team in the end.

al’s perspective on this much debated topic carries quite a bit of weight in my view, as he seems to be a straight shooter (pardon the pun), and a genuinely decent human being.

after deflecting a bit when asked about kyrie, al’s direct affirmation that knowledge of kemba’s arrival would have been “totally different” was as much an indictment of kyrie as it was an endorsement of kemba.

if you don’t want to read the full interview, here’s the pertinent quote, which is one of the more damming appraisals of kyrie’s negative impact on the c’s culture that i’ve read, particularly due to the source.

As far as on the court, it’s certain Horford wasn’t interested in playing another hand from the same deck. I asked him if his decision would have been different if Irving had remained.

“I’m not sure that has anything to do with it for me,” Horford said. “I just think that if Kyrie would have stayed, I don’t know if it would have worked. There would have had to be some major changes as far as players, because it was just clear that the group that we had just wasn’t going to be able to coexist.”

And what about if he’d known Kemba Walker was coming. Horford paused.

“I don’t want to get caught up in the past,” he said, “but, yeah, that would have been totally different.”

Yeah, but he signed with Philly when Kemba to Boston was very real, as others have shown above. So something’s off...

Not quite the straight shooter you might think he is

From his interview, he implied that he had already committed to Phili by then and couldn't go back on his word. Which, imo, confirms that Phili tampered.

[nickagneta]

Celtics tampered with Kemba. Last offseason was the season of tampering.

[SparzWizard]

Lol so Horford left because of Kyrie possibly staying.

OK bye bye

[fairweatherfan]

My guess is that Philly will regret years 3 and 4 of that contract.

Probably, but I doubt they regret Year 1 unless he tears a pec again.

It's tough, I wish Al so well but his team so ill. The basketball gods will find a way to make it come true.

[Celtics4ever]

I think Al was a classy guy and thoroughly enjoyed his time as a Celtic.   Ainge should have told him.


This just goes to prove that Kyrie was a huge problem.

[saltlover]

Celtics tampered with Kemba. Last offseason was the season of tampering.

It was, but the Hornets and Celtics worked out a double sign-and-trade during the tampering period, so neither side can complain.

[Moranis]

I'll also say, while I don't think Al is an all-star anymore or worth 30 million a year the next three years, if was back with us we would be a contender with him in place of Kanter.

Kemba
Brown
Tatum
Hayward
Horford

That team is basically what last year's team was supposed to be, without the chemistry issues potentially, an improved hayward, and some improvement from Brown and Tatum.

That team isn't a contender.  Just like last year's team was not.  It lacks top end talent.  It has a SF starting at 3 positions on the floor.  The bench is still weak.  That team would be better than what the current team is, but it is quite simply not a contender.

[slamtheking]

I'll also say, while I don't think Al is an all-star anymore or worth 30 million a year the next three years, if was back with us we would be a contender with him in place of Kanter.

Kemba
Brown
Tatum
Hayward
Horford

That team is basically what last year's team was supposed to be, without the chemistry issues potentially, an improved hayward, and some improvement from Brown and Tatum.

That team isn't a contender.  Just like last year's team was not.  It lacks top end talent.  It has a SF starting at 3 positions on the floor.  The bench is still weak.  That team would be better than what the current team is, but it is quite simply not a contender.

they'd be underdogs for sure but they'd be in the running for top team in the East and have a good shot at getting to the finals.  That assumes the lockerroom mess is cleared up by Kyrie leaving, Hayward is back to old Hayward now that it's been 2 years since the injury and Tatum/Brown take those next steps in their development.

The bench would still be a weak spot assuming that by keeping Horford they don't get Kanter.  I actually think that if they kept Al, they'd have kept Baynes as well so perhaps with those 2, we're the team to beat in the East.

[johnnygreen]

I just don't see Philly being a contender come playoff time. Yes, their starting line-up is big. However, Al Horford shouldn’t be their best outside shooter. Losing JJ Reddick will hurt more than what Philly gains in replacing him with Al. Embiid and Horford will face constant double teams down low because no one will fear getting burned by a wide open 3 point attempt.

[nickagneta]

Celtics tampered with Kemba. Last offseason was the season of tampering.

It was, but the Hornets and Celtics worked out a double sign-and-trade during the tampering period, so neither side can complain.

I was just pointing out that even the Celtics tampered when it was mentioned Al's words only prove Philly tampered. So did the C's. So did everyone else. That's all I am saying there.

[gpap]

Doesn't add up.

If I recall, the Celts needed Horford's cap hold freed up to give Kemba the max.

[gift]

Yeah it's pretty telling that Horford says Kyrie coming back probably wouldn't change anything, but Kemba coming in probably would. Even a guy who is not on the team this year is low-key comparing Kemba to Kyrie favorably.

[Moranis]

Doesn't add up.

If I recall, the Celts needed Horford's cap hold freed up to give Kemba the max.

Boston could have theoretically kept Horford and then sign and traded for Walker.  Boston just had to remain below the tax line to do it, so something like Rozier (sign and traded) plus Smart, probably would have worked financially.  Still might have even been able to add Kanter depending on what Horford's contract actually looked like.

So is a Walker, Brown, Hayward, Tatum, Horford with Kanter, Theis, Langford, etc. a better team.  Probably, but it still isn't a contender, so I again am not sure what the point of all those moves would be.  Of course I have no idea why Boston signed Walker and kept Hayward, if the goal is to build a contender around Tatum.