RUMOR: Horford is the guy Durant wants to be teammate in Boston

[mr. dee]

http://www.hofmag.com/nba-trade-rumors-2016-kevin-durant-wants-al-harford-boston-celtics/156553

We have some leverage to lure Horford. Seems like IT and him are good friends and show some flashes of chemistry during the all-star weekend. Maybe Danny should pry Horford for a verbal agreement and structure the contract later after they successfully recruited Durant.

[Rondo9]

How reliable is this source?

[saltlover]

There's no "structure" to offer Horford.  You simply offer him the max for four years.  Easy-peasy.  If he agrees, you keep him on the line as you call KD.  KD can be on a team with three all-stars in the easier East, that has a nice cast of role players too.  Probably need to find a cheap big somewhere, however, as the roster would be a little shallow there.

[saltlover]

How reliable is this source?

Probably not reliable.  The writer quotes back to celticslife that assumes Horford is on the list.  Very much a game of telephone.  He is not "THE GUY".

That said, IT did say that a player at the All-Star game was asked him a lot about Boston.  It's not a stretch to think that player was Horford, given that he's a pending free agent.  It's also been said for a bit that Horford and Durant have talked about playing with each other in the past.

So while the article is just a game of telephone citing back to the same source about the list, which never mentions Horford (or any other player), it is not unreasonable to believe that Horford is on said list.

[meangreenmachine]

Obviously we would pull the trigger on this, but I think it would be a terrible setback if we signed Horford to a max deal only to see Durant return to OKC. We would need them both to sign on the exact same day like Bosh and James did in Miami in 2010.

[saltlover]

Obviously we would pull the trigger on this, but I think it would be a terrible setback if we signed Horford to a max deal only to see Durant return to OKC. We would need them both to sign on the exact same day like Bosh and James did in Miami in 2010.

It wouldn't be a setback.  If Horford signs and KD doesn't, we're still a better team.  It'd be the same team as last year, with Horford replacing Sullinger, and a #3 pick to give some playing time too.  That's still an upgrade, and the #2 team in the East potentially.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

There's no "structure" to offer Horford.  You simply offer him the max for four years.  Easy-peasy.  If he agrees, you keep him on the line as you call KD.  KD can be on a team with three all-stars in the easier East, that has a nice cast of role players too.  Probably need to find a cheap big somewhere, however, as the roster would be a little shallow there.

We can draft as many as we need and let them duke it out as we'd still have #3 and the other picks or if we want someone who can produce ASAP, roll with Amir or trade the picks for someone (who? no idea).

[saltlover]

There's no "structure" to offer Horford.  You simply offer him the max for four years.  Easy-peasy.  If he agrees, you keep him on the line as you call KD.  KD can be on a team with three all-stars in the easier East, that has a nice cast of role players too.  Probably need to find a cheap big somewhere, however, as the roster would be a little shallow there.

We can draft as many as we need and let them duke it out as we'd still have #3 and the other picks or if we want someone who can produce ASAP, roll with Amir or trade the picks for someone (who? no idea).

Any team with KD and Horford means no Amir, Sully, or Zeller.  They're all too expensive after giving out two max deals.  Maybe Poeltl would fall to 16 or something.

[EvilEmpire]

Im sure Durant has also passed this onto the Thunder and all they have to do is move Kanter to free up the cash needed to sign Hortford. Would the Celtics take Kanter if they could not get Hortford?

Trade Amir to Thunder for Kanter then Thunder opt out of his contract

[meangreenmachine]

Obviously we would pull the trigger on this, but I think it would be a terrible setback if we signed Horford to a max deal only to see Durant return to OKC. We would need them both to sign on the exact same day like Bosh and James did in Miami in 2010.

It wouldn't be a setback.  If Horford signs and KD doesn't, we're still a better team.  It'd be the same team as last year, with Horford replacing Sullinger, and a #3 pick to give some playing time too.  That's still an upgrade, and the #2 team in the East potentially.

Yeah, but it would be a setback in 2-3 years when we still have max money tied up in an on-the-decline Horford without a Durant to offset those costs. I would rather not tie up max money on a big man in his 30s unless it means bringing a superstar with him. If that is our only shot at an upgrade this offseason, I would rather roll the dice with Howard than Horford. I've got a feeling Howard will be the exception to the rule in that he will be dominant up through his mid-30s...

[saltlover]

Im sure Durant has also passed this onto the Thunder and all they have to do is move Kanter to free up the cash needed to sign Hortford. Would the Celtics take Kanter if they could not get Hortford?

Trade Amir to Thunder for Kanter then Thunder opt out of his contract

No, even if the Thunder were to trade Kanter for nothing, and release Anthony Morrow's non-guaranteed deal, they'd still be over about $9 million cap space short.  They'd have to either move Ibaka, or about three other players.  Only option they'd have is a sign-and-trade with Atlanta, if Atlanta wanted Kanter.

[saltlover]

Obviously we would pull the trigger on this, but I think it would be a terrible setback if we signed Horford to a max deal only to see Durant return to OKC. We would need them both to sign on the exact same day like Bosh and James did in Miami in 2010.

It wouldn't be a setback.  If Horford signs and KD doesn't, we're still a better team.  It'd be the same team as last year, with Horford replacing Sullinger, and a #3 pick to give some playing time too.  That's still an upgrade, and the #2 team in the East potentially.

Yeah, but it would be a setback in 2-3 years when we still have max money tied up in an on-the-decline Horford without a Durant to offset those costs. I would rather not tie up max money on a big man in his 30s unless it means bringing a superstar with him. If that is our only shot at an upgrade this offseason, I would rather roll the dice with Howard than Horford. I've got a feeling Howard will be the exception to the rule in that he will be dominant up through his mid-30s...

Horford could still bring Durant next year.  No one likes playing with Howard, on the other hand.

Besides, in 3 years the  Horford contract will feel like chump change, the way salaries are going.  No reason not to do it.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Unfortunately, there is nothing NEW to see here--just referencing what we heard a few days ago.

[alldaboston]

How reliable is this source?

Probably not reliable.  The writer quotes back to celticslife that assumes Horford is on the list.  Very much a game of telephone.  He is not "THE GUY".

That said, IT did say that a player at the All-Star game was asked him a lot about Boston.  It's not a stretch to think that player was Horford, given that he's a pending free agent.  It's also been said for a bit that Horford and Durant have talked about playing with each other in the past.

So while the article is just a game of telephone citing back to the same source about the list, which never mentions Horford (or any other player), it is not unreasonable to believe that Horford is on said list.

It's just reporting old news that we've heard before.

Zach Lowe reported many months ago that Durant would like to play with Horford.

[EvilEmpire]

Im sure Durant has also passed this onto the Thunder and all they have to do is move Kanter to free up the cash needed to sign Hortford. Would the Celtics take Kanter if they could not get Hortford?

Trade Amir to Thunder for Kanter then Thunder opt out of his contract

No, even if the Thunder were to trade Kanter for nothing, and release Anthony Morrow's non-guaranteed deal, they'd still be over about $9 million cap space short.  They'd have to either move Ibaka, or about three other players.  Only option they'd have is a sign-and-trade with Atlanta, if Atlanta wanted Kanter.

So the NBA salary cap is going to be in the neighborhood of 90mil next year

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2016/4/15/11440212/nba-salary-cap-2016-92-million-free-agency

and the current salaries on the books for the 2016-2017 Thunder is only 66 million

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/oklahoma_city_thunder/

so the Thunder dont need Atlanta or the Celtics if they are willing to go over the cap which I'm guessing they are but if they want to free up cap space Amir for Kanter still does the trick since Hortford max contract will be 107 mil for 4 years. KD's max contract will be 5 for 143 mil if he decides to take a full 5 yr deal. Next years Thunder payroll with both players would be 116 mil and if they moved Kanter for Amir (then cut Amir) it would be 99 mil