Al Horford, four-time NBA All-Star and major contributor to the Atlanta Hawks’ shocking 2014-2015 regular season, has decided to play for the Boston Celtics next year on a four-year deal worth $113 million.
Horford’s signing, which in and of itself is a big deal since many experts have for a while considered Boston one or two stars away from being a title contender, can also be seen in the context of something much greater.
The pursuit of Kevin Durant.
The Celtics have only bolstered their already strong case for snatching Durant away from Oklahoma City with the addition of Horford.
In a weaker conference with a youthful, gritty, defensively-oriented team, Durant would surely excel.
Without the final major signing of an elite player this offseason, which Boston’s front office has to be seeing this deal as a stepping stone to, the Celtics probably see a slight improvement from last year, but nothing to be marveled at.
Durant is expected to have his final meeting, with Oklahoma City, in Sunday night.
Sources say he will make his decision sooner rather than later.
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