I trust Mannix more than I trust A. Sherrod... but just barely. Looks like a lot of conjecture and rehashing old rumours.
Also, I am concerned about how Horford will hold up. This is the 4th consecutive year that his rebounds per 36 have gotten worse, and he's played less than 30 games in 2 of the last 4 seasons. He's a competent player and addresses a need, but isn't exactly a world beater and is getting up there in age. I'd like to have him but a wouldn't break the bank. Sullinger, Lee, and one or two mid-level first rounders.
I tend to agree, to be honest.
Even when he was in his absolute prime, Horford was never a 'no brainer' All-Star selection. All of his life he has been treading a very fine line between being an All-Star, versus just being a really good starter.
Since that time he has declined and has gone through a bunch of injuries, and while he is still a "very good player", he's no longer the "fringe all star" he was in his prime.
Add to that the fact that he is 30 (meaning he has no upside, and you can expect a very hard sharp decline some time in the next 2-3 years), that he is on the last year of his contract (so there is a risk of him walking after the season), and that he would likely not re-sign for any less than a max contract (which would be over $20M per year over probably 4 or 5 years) and you have yourself quite a significant risk here.
Even in the best case scenario (where you get him without giving up too much, and he does agree to re-sign) you are still taking a very big risk signing a banged up 30 year old former fringe all-star to a huge four year contract...during a time where every team will have cap space and will improving their rosters.
Question becomes - is it worth it?
Does Horford improve the team enough to justify taking that risk?
By that what I mean is, does he make you an overnight contender?
Because right now we are a #3 seed in the Eastern conference, which is about as close to 'contender' as you can get without actually being one. So IMHO no deal is really worth making unless:
1) It makes us an instant contender
2) It improves us significantly in the long term
3) It creates enough draw to attract other big name free agents
I like Horford a lot, but I honestly don't think that this type of deal achieves any of the above. I don't think this deal pushes is up to a top 2 seed, personally. I think it improves us sure, but only enough to create a big more distance between us and #4...which I don't feel is enough to justify the risk.
I also don't think Horford is a high enough profile player to give us any significant boost in "free agent attract-ability". He's been In Atlanta for years and they best player they got out of it was Paul Millsap. No disrespecting to Millsap, but he's not exactly Demarcus Cousins or Paul George.
I feel that it is a "high risk, modest gain" move. Wouldn't HATE the deal if we did it, but don't love it either.
Topic: Mannix: Al Horford is a legitimate possibility for the Celtics. (Read 9998 times)