Woj - Horford Decision Expected Saturday Evening (ATL upping offer)

[PaulP34]

I hope Al Horford signs n that brings over Kevin Durant but I'm not getting my hopes up. I predicted the opposite but I won't cry if I'm wrong

[Kane3387]

This really worried me. There's no reason for him to consider Washington over Boston unless more talent is going to Washington. I'm worried Durant is secretly considering going to Washington and Horford is considering following him.

Just like the Thunder, they'd have to dump Gortat and somebody else to make the money work. Unlike the Thunder, that would not leave them with a functional team.

Is there a good source you're looking to for salaries? The places I'd checked still had Beal on as a cap hold. I don't know if they agreed in principle or actually signed the dang thing. If Horford and Durant agreed to share the $49M that the Wizards have in space, they could do it, or pretty easily trade someone like Oubre into someone else's cap.

Just looking on BBR. Although having double checked, they're still at 55m with the Beal cap hold so would have to dump Gortat to make things work.

Thanks for looking it up. I'm still worried, but knowing there are more hoops for them to jump through helps.

This makes me think they have plenty of cap room.


http://hoopshype.com/salaries/washington_wizards/

[Robb]

Durant has made it known he won't consider Washington.  Too many people wanting something from him according to Woj (recent podcast)

I understand. Panic isn't rational and this WAS consideration just raised the thought in my mind.

[PaulPierce34G]

This really worried me. There's no reason for him to consider Washington over Boston unless more talent is going to Washington. I'm worried Durant is secretly considering going to Washington and Horford is considering following him.

I don't think they can afford both.

I think he is just biding time, seeing what else is going on around him.  I don't quite understand the potentiality of going to Washington either (outside of being able to play the 4 spot), but I'm just going with that he is simply "playing the game." 

I've been a member of this board for about 8 years and if there's one thing I came to learn from it...it's to take all reports on ESPN, SI, Twitter, whatever, with a grain of salt.  I remember being a teenager and getting all gung-ho over reports, but I soon learned that a lot of these leaks are plans and done intentionally for various reasons.  I am going to say that I believe he is strongly considering Boston and is perhaps using Washington as a pawn.  It definitely isn't money, but probably doesn't want to make it look as if he is saying to Boston, "I definitely want to sign, but let me see what's going on with this and that first."  That's just how I take it. 

[hodgy03038]

If it's simply Al deciding if he wants to be a starting center or a starting power forward my guess is he might prefer the latter. That does not make me happy.

[walker834]

Weird thing is Sherrod said this same thing last night and was laughed at.  Woj says it and it's fact.  Didn't know the other team was washington though.  But Sherrod basically reported last night Boston had emerged as a frontrunner and OKC was a darkhorse.  Washington is the other frontrunner and Atlanta is the other darkhorse I guess.

[Bobshot]

More optimistic today after hearing this. Can't see him choosing Wizards over Celtics. Still concerned about OKC. It would be nice if he picks Celtics while they are meeting with Durant.

"Kevin: we just heard Horford is signing with us."

[Bobshot]

If it's simply Al deciding if he wants to be a starting center or a starting power forward my guess is he might prefer the latter. That does not make me happy.

Makes no difference on Celtics. 4-5 is the same. They need both, anyways.

[hodgy03038]

More optimistic today after hearing this. Can't see him choosing Wizards over Celtics. Still concerned about OKC. It would be nice if he picks Celtics while they are meeting with Durant.

"Kevin: we just heard Horford is signing with us."

I wish I knew why you can't see him picking WAS over BOS. I wish I had your confidence. WAS has a better supporting cast and he gets to play the 4 instead of the 5.

[oldtype]

Weird thing is Sherrod said this same thing last night and was laughed at.  Woj says it and it's fact.  Didn't know the other team was washington though.  But Sherrod basically reported last night Boston had emerged as a frontrunner and OKC was a darkhorse.  Washington is the other frontrunner and Atlanta is the other darkhorse I guess.

Well, he's Sherrod though.

[oldtype]

More optimistic today after hearing this. Can't see him choosing Wizards over Celtics. Still concerned about OKC. It would be nice if he picks Celtics while they are meeting with Durant.

"Kevin: we just heard Horford is signing with us."

I wish I knew why you can't see him picking WAS over BOS. I wish I had your confidence. WAS has a better supporting cast and he gets to play the 4 instead of the 5.

WAS has a significantly worse supporting cast other than their best player being better than our best player. They also have zero flexibility to add additional talent. He can come here and just play whichever position he wants. It's not like we have a superstar power forward or anything.

[jpotter33]

I mean, we simply swept them over four games last season and made the playoffs when they didn't. We're clearly the better team, so there shouldn't be much to decide on.

[oldtype]

I mean, we simply swept them over four games last season and made the playoffs when they didn't. We're clearly the better team, so there shouldn't be much to decide on.

Seriously. If Washington is a better situation than us than so is Sacramento, New Orleans, and every other team that got one foundational star and then screwed up everything else. If that's the case then I'm all for trading everyone on the roster and trusting the process.

[cltc5]

Overpaying for two more wins. Typical ainge move

[hodgy03038]

More optimistic today after hearing this. Can't see him choosing Wizards over Celtics. Still concerned about OKC. It would be nice if he picks Celtics while they are meeting with Durant.

"Kevin: we just heard Horford is signing with us."

I wish I knew why you can't see him picking WAS over BOS. I wish I had your confidence. WAS has a better supporting cast and he gets to play the 4 instead of the 5.

WAS has a significantly worse supporting cast other than their best player being better than our best player. They also have zero flexibility to add additional talent. He can come here and just play whichever position he wants. It's not like we have a superstar power forward or anything.

Significantly worse?

Wall vs IT
Beal vs AB
Porter or Oubre vs Crowder
Morris vs Sullinger
Gortat vs Amir

I realize many of these parts may not be on either team now but how is that significantly worse?