Al Horford Press Conference

[Vermont Green]

I also can't see why the Celtics would just buy him out.  That would make no sense.  But I wonder if a restructure could be possible.  He is guaranteed $27.5M + $14.5M (Total $42M).  Would he be willing to restructure to say 3 years at $16 per or something like that (Total $48M)?

I guess if he is released and paid $14.5M next season, he could sign for more in 2022-23 and then in 2023-24.  I don't know, he probably makes more just playing out this contract, certainly if he gets the last year guaranteed, but it would be nice to figure out a way to get some flexibility.

Tom Brady would restructure.

not sure the league allows players to void an existing contract that has no option to sign a different contract but even if it did, the point of getting Al's contract is the ability to waive him after this year so that the lower guaranteed portion allows the C's to take a shot at a good FA in 2 years.

I am not sure that is only point or even the main point.  They have that option, which is nice, but $14.5M of dead money is a lot for a team.  I am sure I don't understand the rules around restructuring contracts but if we cut him, he will have made $42M from us and then can sign with another team for 1 or 2 years or whatever.  I expect that if he does continue playing, it will be for a contending team on a low, cap friendly contract.  It may only be something like 1 year, $3M.  In that case, he ends up with $45M over 2 seasons, not $55M over those two seasons that his original contract would have paid.

I am saying split the difference.  He is never going to see that full $55M.  He could take the $42M and retire and if that is what he wants to do.  Celtics likely have no problem with that.  He can take the buy out and play 1 or 2 more seasons (ring chase) but those are probably more like $3M per year contracts (gets him up to $48M if he plays two seasons).  Or if he knows he wants to play at least 3 more seasons, he could restructure and kind of stretch out with us.  It would be more guaranteed money but less overall money.

[BoulderMike]

In basketball, restructuring contracts is not permitted, per the collective bargaining agreement.  That means Horford plays next season for Celts unless they have a shot at free agent Beal (which would justify exercising the out clause).

[Walker Wiggle]

In basketball, restructuring contracts is not permitted, per the collective bargaining agreement.  That means Horford plays next season for Celts unless they have a shot at free agent Beal (which would justify exercising the out clause).

What would be allowed, however, would be for the Celtics exercising their option on Horford, then signing him to a vet minimum contract, such that he'd be on the roster for something between $14.5m and $26.5m. Right?

[nickagneta]

If I have read things correctly, after Al helps the Celtics win #18 next year, his last year gets fully guaranteed, right?

Guess that would make things easier. We will all be drunk over our victory of another world championship and will think it quite okay with running Al back at $26.5 million in an attempt to go back to back.

Al Horford contract situation solved.

[BoulderMike]

If we exercise his buyout, we can’t resign him for a period of time (which I believe is 12 months).

[liam]

If I have read things correctly, after Al helps the Celtics win #18 next year, his last year gets fully guaranteed, right?

Guess that would make things easier. We will all be drunk over our victory of another world championship and will think it quite okay with running Al back at $26.5 million in an attempt to go back to back.

Al Horford contract situation solved.

TP

[Surferdad]

I also can't see why the Celtics would just buy him out.  That would make no sense.  But I wonder if a restructure could be possible.  He is guaranteed $27.5M + $14.5M (Total $42M).  Would he be willing to restructure to say 3 years at $16 per or something like that (Total $48M)?

I guess if he is released and paid $14.5M next season, he could sign for more in 2022-23 and then in 2023-24.  I don't know, he probably makes more just playing out this contract, certainly if he gets the last year guaranteed, but it would be nice to figure out a way to get some flexibility.

Tom Brady would restructure.

not sure the league allows players to void an existing contract that has no option to sign a different contract but even if it did, the point of getting Al's contract is the ability to waive him after this year so that the lower guaranteed portion allows the C's to take a shot at a good FA in 2 years.

I am not sure that is only point or even the main point.  They have that option, which is nice, but $14.5M of dead money is a lot for a team.  I am sure I don't understand the rules around restructuring contracts but if we cut him, he will have made $42M from us and then can sign with another team for 1 or 2 years or whatever.  I expect that if he does continue playing, it will be for a contending team on a low, cap friendly contract.  It may only be something like 1 year, $3M.  In that case, he ends up with $45M over 2 seasons, not $55M over those two seasons that his original contract would have paid.

I am saying split the difference.  He is never going to see that full $55M.  He could take the $42M and retire and if that is what he wants to do.  Celtics likely have no problem with that.  He can take the buy out and play 1 or 2 more seasons (ring chase) but those are probably more like $3M per year contracts (gets him up to $48M if he plays two seasons).  Or if he knows he wants to play at least 3 more seasons, he could restructure and kind of stretch out with us.  It would be more guaranteed money but less overall money.

When Horford was here before, C's were not willing to pay for a long-term deal for a guy who is on the downside of his career.  In particular, I suppose that they were not willing to give him big money for the last 2 years of such a deal.  Given that, the optics of now actually paying him $42M for the last year (the $14.5M would be paid without him playing for the C's) are really bad, IMO.  Paying him $55M for two seasons of work is better than $42M for one.

[Silas]

If I have read things correctly, after Al helps the Celtics win #18 next year, his last year gets fully guaranteed, right?

Guess that would make things easier. We will all be drunk over our victory of another world championship and will think it quite okay with running Al back at $26.5 million in an attempt to go back to back.

Al Horford contract situation solved.


TP

Why not he did it in college.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I also can't see why the Celtics would just buy him out.  That would make no sense.  But I wonder if a restructure could be possible.  He is guaranteed $27.5M + $14.5M (Total $42M).  Would he be willing to restructure to say 3 years at $16 per or something like that (Total $48M)?

I guess if he is released and paid $14.5M next season, he could sign for more in 2022-23 and then in 2023-24.  I don't know, he probably makes more just playing out this contract, certainly if he gets the last year guaranteed, but it would be nice to figure out a way to get some flexibility.

Tom Brady would restructure.

not sure the league allows players to void an existing contract that has no option to sign a different contract but even if it did, the point of getting Al's contract is the ability to waive him after this year so that the lower guaranteed portion allows the C's to take a shot at a good FA in 2 years.

I am not sure that is only point or even the main point.  They have that option, which is nice, but $14.5M of dead money is a lot for a team.  I am sure I don't understand the rules around restructuring contracts but if we cut him, he will have made $42M from us and then can sign with another team for 1 or 2 years or whatever.  I expect that if he does continue playing, it will be for a contending team on a low, cap friendly contract.  It may only be something like 1 year, $3M.  In that case, he ends up with $45M over 2 seasons, not $55M over those two seasons that his original contract would have paid.

I am saying split the difference.  He is never going to see that full $55M.  He could take the $42M and retire and if that is what he wants to do.  Celtics likely have no problem with that.  He can take the buy out and play 1 or 2 more seasons (ring chase) but those are probably more like $3M per year contracts (gets him up to $48M if he plays two seasons).  Or if he knows he wants to play at least 3 more seasons, he could restructure and kind of stretch out with us.  It would be more guaranteed money but less overall money.

When Horford was here before, C's were not willing to pay for a long-term deal for a guy who is on the downside of his career.  In particular, I suppose that they were not willing to give him big money for the last 2 years of such a deal.  Given that, the optics of now actually paying him $42M for the last year (the $14.5M would be paid without him playing for the C's) are really bad, IMO.  Paying him $55M for two seasons of work is better than $42M for one.

I think they were willing to pay him if Kyrie remained. I think they were willing to pay him, once we found Kemba, but they weren't going to pay him if he was going to be "by himself" so to speak (I think we had to do some math crunching regardless since I think we were hard capped with the S&T). I mean, from what I recall, Boston fans were OK with him leaving until we managed to land Kemba, then we wanted to retain everything we could within our power. At least that's how I recall it.