Al Horford’s time with the Celtics appears to be coming to an end

Throughout much of the last several weeks, the focus around the Boston Celtics has been on the pending free agency of Kyrie Irving.

However, things have shifted a bit in the other direction with All-Star big man Al Horford deciding on Tuesday to decline the final year of his four-year deal worth $30.1 million for the 2019-20 season, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

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All-Star center Al Horford of the Boston Celtics will decline to exercise his $30.1 million option for the 2019-20 season and become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell ESPN.

This has changed a bit of the dialogue around the entire situation in Boston as it had been anticipated that Horford would pick up that option on the contract given the amount and his declining production.

However, this now lends to the belief that he may have another deal elsewhere already in a bit of a handshake deal. There have been rumblings that he has a four-year contract with another team in place once he becomes a free agent.

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In his first three years with the Celtics, Horford has been a huge piece of the puzzle behind his strong play on both ends of the court. His potential departure will leave a huge hole in the frontcourt for Boston.

What this also underlines is that the Celtics may have to undergo several major roster changes this offseason by bringing other talents to replace both Irving and Horford if they both do decide to depart. Nonetheless, only time will tell what will happen with Horford’s future with the team in the coming weeks.