NBA teams are preparing to steal Al Horford from the Celtics (again)

Boston Celtics, Al Horford, NBA free agency, NBA rumors | Alex Goodlett/GettyImages

The playoffs are right around the corner, and internally, the Boston Celtics are locked in. In the midst of a seven-game winning streak, the Celtics are playing the best basketball of the season and are the hottest team in the Eastern Conference. Unfortunately, the rest of the league has its eyes on Boston’s impending offseason decisions.

The Celtics have been a second-apron team for two straight years, and it feels inevitable that they will have to dip under that mark next season. That means a seismic trade is right around the corner, but that’s not where Boston’s tough roster decisions start and end.

Their big man rotation could be in flux, too.

Teams could try to sign Al Horford away from Celtics this summer

Most notably, Al Horford will be a free agent this summer. If Boston makes it back to the Finals, Horford will be 39 years old by the time their postseason run wraps up. Yet he’s still playing high-level basketball.

It seems like a no-brainer for the Celtics to simply re-sign Horford, and based on his love for the city, he probably isn’t in any rush to leave. However, that won’t stop other teams from trying.

According to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, other teams around the NBA are gearing up to try to steal Horford from the Celtics this summer, a la the Philadelphia 76ers in 2019.

“The ageless Al Horford will be another player to monitor in this discussion as well,” Fischer wrote. “After a tremendous campaign helping to offset Porziņģis’ various absences, Horford will be the one rotation Celtic entering free agency this summer.

“Replacing this season’s $9.5 million salary with a minimum contract next season would certainly help with Boston’s tax bill, too, but you can certainly understand why the Celtics do not relish that thought. Boston, mind you, has lost Horford in free agency before and more than one rival cap strategist out there has indicated that the 38-year-old could well attract offers starting at the projected $6 million taxpayer midlevel exception.”

So far this season, Horford is averaging 8.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while shooting 41.8% from the floor and 35.6% from beyond the three-point arc.

It makes sense that other teams around the league are preparing to show interest in Horford, considering how effective he’s been in the latter stages of his career. Hearing that teams will throw him offers starting at around the $6 million range is rather unsurprising, but for a Celtics team that is already poised to have some tough financial decisions, it’s less than ideal.

That said, the decision is ultimately up to Horford, and based on his love for Boston, the Celtics should be in a good position to keep him around.