Boston Celtics Should Sign Al Horford

The Boston Celtics have so many options in this offseason and it’s not so easy to figure out what their moves are going to be. Apart from all these draft picks and the numerous trade rumors, they also have to consider all the talented free agents of this summer as many of them could potentially become valuable parts of their roster.

The Celtics should try to find guys who are not only talented, but also have the right attitude and character to fit in their system and philosophy. One of the guys that Boston should really look into, in their effort to to strengthen their frontcourt, is Al Horford.

More from Hardwood Houdini

The first thing that comes to mind about Celtics signing Horford is that the 30 year old is a great example of a player that fits in Boston’s culture and its unselfish team basketball. He has shown great attitude and professionalism so far in his career and that makes him something more than a great player on the court: an outstanding guy for the locker room.

There have been many rumors in the past about Horford and the Celtics and that makes perfect sense, as Al would be a great addition to almost every NBA team, but Boston in particular seems to be the greatest fit both for him and the team. He is a 6’10” player who is able to do many things very well. He is very mobile for his size and he can run the floor very fluidly. He has some nice post moves and has great presence in the paint and he seems very crafty and with a nice touch.

One of his biggest pros as a frontcourt player is that he can be a threat from the perimeter too. He can space the floor with his jumpers and is also quite comfortable creating offense away from the basket. These characteristics are very important for today’s game and it will be very beneficiary for Brad Stevens if he had a Center like Horford who can space the floor effectively. As we have seen, Stevens relies his offense on spacing the floor as much as possible, so adding a center who can do that would be of great importance.

Apr 16, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) moves the ball against Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) during the second half in game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Horford’s experience under Atlanta’s head coach Mike Budenholzer would a be a big plus too because that guarantees that he is a well-coached player, who is coming from a similar environment and style of play. The Hawks, like the Celtics, rely on a team-oriented basketball with constant motion in their offense and this is something that can help Horford in his adjustment in Boston.

Besides his smooth jumper, his teamwork and his offensive ability, the Dominican center is a more than reliable defender. He is not a top rim protector with 1.5 blocks per game, but his agility and his quick feet along with his IQ allow him to contribute in various ways in team defense. It’s a fact that Horford and Paul Milsap were responsible for Atlanta’s great defensive performance, especially in the paint this season as the Hawks ranked 2nd in DefRtg and allowed opponents to shoot just 55.5 percent within five feet of the basket (3rd in the NBA).

The main consideration about adding Horford is his age and how injury prone he is. His rebounding problem comes second. At the age of 30, Horford might have his best years behind him, but surely he is far from over. He has never been the go-to guy in his career but this is not something the Celtics will ask from him to become.

Next: Are the Celtics' Assets Overrated?

Brad Stevens has created a team who relies mostly on defensive efficiency and on a unselfish style of play with lots of ball movement and motion off the ball. Taking all these into account, as well as Horford’s character and versatility, the Dominican seems not only as a guy who would fit right away, but also someone who could help Boston improve and take the extra step.