Celtics center Al Horford hopes to stay with the Celtics past this season and could take more of a team-friendly number on a new deal, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald writes, citing a league source.
Horford has a player option worth $30MM+ for the 2019/20 season. He could choose to opt in and become a free agent next summer, opt out and negotiate a new contract, or opt out and sign with another team for his 12th NBA season.
“I’ve enjoyed being in Boston,” Horford said after the team’s Game 5 loss to Milwaukee, according to Bobby Manning of SB Nation. “I just have to wait and see what we’re going to do as a team, and the steps that management’s going to be taken forward.”
Horford appeared in 68 games with Boston on the year, averaging 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 blocks per contest. He remains a key cog in the team’s gameplan on both ends of the floor.
Whether Horford stays with the Celtics could largely depend on where Kyrie Irving chooses to go in free agency, as well as whether Boston chooses to pursue an Anthony Davis trade with the Pelicans.
There’s more tonight out of Boston:
- Frank Urbina of Hoops Hype examines the potential landing spots for Irving, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Urbina lists the Lakers, Clippers, Nets, Knicks and Celtics as possible destinations for Irving, one of the most talented free agents on the open market.
- Brad Stevens needs to take this summer to do some soul searching on how to move forward after a disappointing 2018/19 season, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes. The Celtics were eliminated in five games to the Bucks last round and now head into the offseason with uncertainty surrounding their roster, but the team has a talented coach in Stevens who could benefit from looking back on why the campaign went wrong.
- David Aldridge of The Athletic examines where the Celtics can go as a franchise heading into the summer. The team has an array of future assets, current stars and competitive roster that general manager Danny Ainge could work with for next season and beyond.
I think it’s only fair to ask is Kawai Leonard the greatest of all time? My top 5 is currently:
1. K. Leonard
2. M. Jordan
3. H. Olojuwon
4. Shaq
5. Bob Cousy
Hands down the best player in the history of the NBA. Huge gap between him and Jordan. I think the NBA should change their logo to a silhouette of Leonard.
I love your sarcasm!
Just wait until jake layman gets his footing watch out guise
The entire league has already been virtually promised to KL! Shortened form: NBA2K (The NBA to Kawhi)
If Brian Scalabrine isn’t on the list I’m
Not interested
White Mamba!!
You are nuts !
It should have been him winning the medal of freedom tbh
Where is Terry Duerod on your list?
Shouldn’t Brian Scalabrine be on there somewhere?
Dude what are you on? I could do with some of it right now!
The comment is for rycm131
What the Boston writer calls “soul-searching” is apparently recognition that the staff is a)too analytics-heavy and needs an ex-jock to get personal with the players, and b)needing someone Irving will listen to.
The staff could not right the ship. Also some players resent Hayward.
IMO if they ditch Tatum, Brown will grow properly, and the staff will not need to hire a babysitter. The Irving problem may take care of itself.
celtics draft shud be interesting – fully expect danny ainge to light up the phones
Ainge has created a very unstable culture in Boston. Building a winner is about A LOT more than draft picks and signings.
This team was tight before Irving. When he is gone it will come back. I saw many times Gordon was open and no pass to him. He is resented for sure. Will NO take him in a trade is the question or do you trade Brown and Tatum for AD. This is Ainge’s last chance IMO. But he does have Memphis pick next year that could be no.1.
But those assets!!!!
Waiting for the Woj tweet saying BOS offered what they called their best offer of Smart+20+22 for Davis