NBA Rumors: Celtics Feel They’ve ‘Got A Real Chance’ To Sign Al Horford

Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

After dismantling the Kevin Garnett-led Boston Celtics, the storied NBA franchise has quickly rebuilt the team with promising young talent and a head coach that has exceeded expectations. Although the Celtics may need a few more years to reach title contender status once again, Boston is on the right path with a motivated general manager paving the way.

Heading toward the NBA trade deadline last month, Danny Ainge was ready to make a splash with the team’s general manager armed with numerous draft picks. Ainge attempted one of many big names around the league like Al Horford, Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, and DeMarcus Cousins, but came up short with time expiring at the deadline.

This summer, Ainge will get back to work once again with his sights set on bringing in an All-Star-caliber player that can help take this team to the next level in the Eastern Conference. Horford may be the player most likely to come to Boston in NBA free agency, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:

Part of the reason, sources tell me, that Boston didn’t make an immense offer to Atlanta for Al Horford was – because Horford is a free agent this summer – Boston feels like it’s got a real chance to get Horford in free agency.

With the Atlanta Hawks seemingly ready to break up their talented core of veteran players, Horford could be on the move this summer. The Florida product will have no shortage of suitors with the veteran forward set to become a hot commodity on the open market.

Horford has gone on record saying that he wants to play in a major market and Boston, among a few other destinations, fits the bill. It isn’t beyond the realm of possibility that Horford stays in Atlanta, but the writing appears to be on the wall that he’s looking to move on in hopes of a signing a lucrative long-term deal with a team on the rise.