$26 million man

[Moranis]

Moranis, do you think Boston's chances of getting that #1 to sign here, or want to be traded here, are higher or lower with Al Horford on the roster?


And what if this next summer passes and the Celts don't have "the guy," a.k.a. "potential MVP candidate" on the team?  What if Demarcus signs a $200 million extension per the new CBA, Griffin re-signs in LA for a similarly inconceivable amount, and the Celts are left out in the cold?

In that case, would you want the team to have a fire sale?  Unload anybody over 25 who isn't under contract beyond 2020?

To me, heading into next season with Isaiah Thomas, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, and Al Horford on the roster is a pretty great starting point.  That group never wins a title without at least one more All-Star caliber player.  But with the right supporting cast that group could win a lot of games and give us a nice show in the playoffs.  I believe it. 

There has to be some value in that, right?  Unless it's championship or bust, in which case yeah, we're probably treading water hoping for a miracle here.

I'm a championship or bust guy.  I think it was Who that laid it out pretty well in that other thread.  The team either needs to be a real contender, have a player (or players) that could be the centerpiece of a contender, or be in full on rebuilding mode.  None of those apply to this team.  I think signing Horford was a glorified treading water move, which would have been fine if he wasn't given the full 4 year max. 

Boston won 48 games and lost in the 1st round of the playoffs last season and yet still garnered interest from Durant and Horford.  Had Horford not been signed, I don't think Boston would have been in much worse shape this season depending of course on other moves.  That 26 million (it was really a lot more than that b/c Boston didn't need to bring back Johnson, Jerekbo, or Zeller) could have been used to put together a much deeper overall roster without the major long term commitment someone like Horford brings, which might have actually helped Boston's record a lot more than Horford does.  And here's the thing, Boston really can't trade Horford (b/c of what his signing represented and meant), but could have traded role players, even newly signed ones if it didn't work out. 

If instead of Horford and Gerald Green, Boston had signed Gerald Henderson (9 m), Bismack Biyombo (17 m), and Marreese Speights (1.4 m), what would the record be right now?  What if instead of Zeller, Johnson, and Jerekbo, Boston had added JR Smith (12.8 m) and Al Jefferson (10.2 m).  Or any combination of other players that would have addressed better the teams actual flaws, which signing Horford did not do. 

At the end of the day, Horford is a very good player and Boston's best all around player, but his signing just didn't make sense given the current and potential future make-up of the team.  I'd have rather had Boston spend that money else where. 

[PhoSita]

Personally, I really like the four man grouping of IT, Bradley, Crowder, and Horford.  I want to see what those guys can do as they gain more experience playing with one another.  I feel they each have at least 3-4 seasons playing at a high level before they hit a major drop-off point, and the team should be able to retain them during that time without absolutely breaking the bank.

Add to that the fact we've got Smart, Rozier, Brown, and two likely top 10 picks coming in the next couple years, and I'm excited to see what this team can be.

Olynyk may or may not be a cap casualty.  Amir, Jerebko, Zeller, and Green are probably gone after this year.  Young will definitely be gone.  Jackson and Mickey may or may not be NBA players.  Yabu and Zizic are question marks (I feel pretty good about Zizic, though).

That core group, though, should have Brad excited.  I think the best thing you can do if you can't acquire an MVP-caliber player is put together a 4 or 5 man group that is versatile, talented, and fits together nicely, and then give them lots of time to play together and see what they can accomplish.

[GratefulCs]

I've been viewing this topic while at work today, and i'm just baffled at people's dislike toward Horford

I could be wrong, but maybe it's the same people who said we would never sign a big free agent

Ha

Anyway, we gave up nothing but cap space to get him, and he makes our team flow


If you can't appreciat what horford brings to the table, then i don't know what you can appreciate

[PhoSita]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

[kozlodoev]

The Horford signing was fantastic. I'm not really sure how anyone can be upset with signing him. He isn't a number one but he is a perfect compliment to whatever star we end up cashing in our assets on.

16 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, 2.3 blocks (6th in the league), 48% from the field, and 34% from 3 is pretty legit in terms of big men.

Not sure? Let me help you (see highlight above).

Nothing like paying max salary to a starting C that's unable to crack 7 rpg...

I'm guessing you must not be a big fan of Marc Gasol then, also. He's averaging about the same or less rebounds than Horford. Thing is, Horford can also play PF, and probably should. Whereas Gasol is strictly a C.

Not only is Marc Gasol the better player of these two, but he also isn't paid $26 million. And he's a year older.

[GratefulCs]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

TP

[kozlodoev]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

TP

Well, if I paid the price of a Tesla to get an Accord, I'd be mighty annoyed too.

[Csfan1984]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

A fully loaded Accord for the price of a Benz lol

[Moranis]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

That may be the position of some, but not me.  I knew exactly what Horford was and he is performing exactly like I expected him to perform.  I just don't think his signing made sense for Boston as was constructed at the time he signed.  If Boston had actually landed Durant, then you wouldn't see me in this thread (and other threads) complaining about Horford, because he is the exact type of player you want around Durant.  But Boston didn't land Durant so I would have rather seen the Horford money used elsewhere on multiple players and with shorter contracts.

[GratefulCs]

I forgot


Did the salary cap go up or not?


It's not like we paid 26 mil for evan turner


It's the way the NBA is now

PLUS it's not our money, guys

So we desperately wanted big free agents to sign here. We get the 2nd best free agent. Pay him accordingly, and then complain about it



Enjoy it!! It was a gift!

"Ho ho ho, merry everyone"

[GratefulCs]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

That may be the position of some, but not me.  I knew exactly what Horford was and he is performing exactly like I expected him to perform.  I just don't think his signing made sense for Boston as was constructed at the time he signed.  If Boston had actually landed Durant, then you wouldn't see me in this thread (and other threads) complaining about Horford, because he is the exact type of player you want around Durant.  But Boston didn't land Durant so I would have rather seen the Horford money used elsewhere on multiple players and with shorter contracts.

we needed to land horford to ave ANY chance of getting durant, though

[Moranis]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

That may be the position of some, but not me.  I knew exactly what Horford was and he is performing exactly like I expected him to perform.  I just don't think his signing made sense for Boston as was constructed at the time he signed.  If Boston had actually landed Durant, then you wouldn't see me in this thread (and other threads) complaining about Horford, because he is the exact type of player you want around Durant.  But Boston didn't land Durant so I would have rather seen the Horford money used elsewhere on multiple players and with shorter contracts.

we needed to land horford to ave ANY chance of getting durant, though

Who knows if that is true.  They came in at the same time.  Isn't possible that Durant didn't want to play with Horford?  Or maybe would have preferred a different PF/C?  Or would have rather gone through the year without anyone and then had Boston go after a different PF/C next summer (like say Griffin or Cousins)?

At the end of the day, when Durant said no, signing Horford just didn't make much sense for the team as it was then constructed.  His contract was too large and too long for what he provided and added to the team. 

[86MaxwellSmart]

Celtics are just starting to be the team they should be. I'm very happy with paying Horford the money--instead of giving it to someone like Evan Turner, Or like the Lakers did for Mozgov. Someone was gonna get big money here.

[BitterJim]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

TP

Well, if I paid the price of a Tesla to get an Accord, I'd be mighty annoyed too.

You're not paying a Tesla price for an Accord, though, it's just that some people are paying Accord price for a Tesla.  There's a max price you can pay for a car (which is roughly the price of an Accord, maybe even less), and there's only so many Tesla's in the NBA.  Just because that guy down the street gets a nicer car for the same price doesn't mean that you got a bad deal.

That's like buying a $5 scratch ticket and then being mad that you won $20 because your brother won $50

[PhoSita]

I suppose people are reacting to Horford the same as if they had been promised a car for Christmas and walked into the driveway expecting a Tesla, and what they see sitting there instead is a fully loaded Honda Accord. 

An excellent, well-built, reliable car that can do most anything you want from a car, including driving fast and overtaking other cars on the highway.  It's just not exactly a sports car or a high end luxury vehicle, and it won't turn any heads.  It'll just do everything you need it to, and it'll do it really well (except transporting furniture, that is).

TP

Well, if I paid the price of a Tesla to get an Accord, I'd be mighty annoyed too.

Except in this instance there's an artificial cap on the price of cars so that anything nicer than a used Civic is basically at the maximum.  In this market, there's a severe shortage of Teslas, Beamers, and Benz's.

Thus, getting a fully loaded Accord is pretty good.

Boy these analogies get strained fast.