NBA Rumors: Horford Joining Sixers Could Be Costly For Celtics

The Al Horford sweepstakes are off and running with several teams expected to try and convince the 33-year-old veteran to sign on the dotted line. After opting out of his deal with the Boston Celtics, the third overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft is expected to get that coveted contract elsewhere and reward his next team in the process.

As mentioned in a previous article, there are already several teams expressing interest in the 6-foot-10 cager. The list includes the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers - Western Conference teams aggressively on the rebuild mode and linked to high profile players ever since last NBA season. However, there are more teams expected to give chase to Horford - possibly from the Eastern Conference. One team expected to do so would be the Celtics Atlantic Division rival - the Philadelphia 76ers.

In a report from NBC Sports, the Sixers are one of several teams interested in the five-time NBA All-Star. Seeing how Horford has made the NBA playoffs 11 times in his 12-year pro career, the interest hardly comes as a surprise. But with the Sixers, it will be interesting how he would fit in with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and the rest. But the thought of having a certified power forward alongside the Cameroonian center and possibly Jimmy Butler (assuming he stays) would instantly boost the stock of Philly. Worse, it would be bad news for the Celtics who find themselves scampering for talent with multiple players leaving the franchise.

Horford is looking for a long-term deal after declining the $30.1 million option with the Celtics. Last NBA season, he averaged 13.6 points and 6.7 rebounds - numbers that may not necessarily convince teams to hand him a max contract. But then again, two-time NCAA champion does plenty of the little things that basketball fans fail to notice. It is his ability to match up defensively against anyone and at any position that makes him a valuable asset - a department the Sixers were missing badly during the 2018-19 NBA season.

If not playing alongside Embiid, Horford could also be the right one to spell the Cameroonian who has been hampered by injuries the past seasons. The veteran can easily fill in the void when needed, meaning Philly will have fewer excuses should their main center is not around. Now, and similar to other teams, it all depends on how much money the Sixers are willing to offer Horford and if it is the best one on the table.