Brooklyn Nets rumors: Al Horford linked to Nets after opting out in Boston

The Brooklyn Nets could be a destination for another Boston Celtics free agent, as big man Al Horford reportedly could have interest after opting out.

After weeks of speculation over the Brooklyn Nets being linked to Boston Celtics free agent Kyrie Irving, reports out of Boston indicate another soon-to-be-former Celtic could be on his way to the borough.

Al Horford, a former All-NBA selection and a five-time All-Star, declined his $30.1 million option for next season with the Celtics and talks on a new deal with Boston quickly collapsed, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.

Horford has played the last three seasons in Boston after signing with them as a free agent during the summer of cash in 2016 following a nine-year run with the Atlanta Hawks.

That’s where the link to the Nets come from, as well, with A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston reporting Wednesday morning that Horford could be looking for a reunion with Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson, who was an assistant with the Hawks during Horford’s time there.

A team to keep an eye on in the Al Horford sweepstakes is the Brooklyn Nets, league source says. The #Nets are a team on the rise, Al's close ties to head coach Kenny Atkinson and the team's cap space mentioned as the main reasons.
— A. Sherrod Blakely (@ASherrodblakely) June 19, 2019

While Horford may not fit the age profile for the Nets’ young core, the 33-year-old’s game certainly would fill some holes in Brooklyn’s frontcourt rotation.

Last season, his 12th in the NBA, Horford averaged 13,6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 blocks in 29.0 minutes per game, shooting 53.5 percent overall and a respectable 36 percent on 3.0 3-point attempts per game, as well as hitting 82.1 percent at the foul line.

More from Nothin' But Nets

Horford expanded his shooting range in his final season with Atlanta, taking 3.1 3s per game and hitting 34.4 percent and improved that percentage to a career-high 42.9 percent on 3.1 long balls a night in 2017-18 with the Celtics.

In three years with Boston, Horford hit 38.2 percent from deep on 3.2 attempts a game.

He was a double-double player with the Hawks in 2012-13, averaging 17.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, but his board numbers have been on the decline the last several seasons.

But Horford would provide some steady veteran leadership and an additional rim protector while sliding into a hybrid stretch 4-5 role alongside young Jarrett Allen.

How important was Horford to the Celtics? Jalen Rose of ESPN’s Get Up called the veteran Boston’s most important player.

Brooklyn had a difficult time on the interior at times, allowing an NBA-high seven 20/20 games to opposing centers in 2018-19.

Horford can create from the post, averaging 4.6 assists per game over the last three seasons in Boston, and he is solid in the pick-and-roll.

As the roll man, Horford averaged 1.15 points per possession, shooting 54.8 percent and ranking in the 63rd percentile, per stats.NBA.com.

That compares favorable to Allen, who was in the 66th percentile, averaging 1.17 points per possession out of pick-and-roll sets. Allen was the roll man 3.7 times per game, where as Horford was in that role 4.0 times a night for the Celtics last season.

Horford has quietly put together the best NBA career of any of the players from Billy Donovan‘s back-to-back NCAA championship teams at the University of Florida in 2006 and 2007. In addition to his All-Star credentials, Horford was a first-time All-Defensive selection in 2017-18 at age 31.

He was the third overall pick by the Hawks in the 2007 NBA Draft and has averaged 14.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game over 12 NBA seasons, never averaging less than double-figure scoring in a season.

He also recovered from tearing pectoral muscles in both sides of his chest, injuries that sidelined him for 55 games in the lockout-shortened 2011-12 season and for 53 games in 2013-14.

According to Bulpett’s report, Horford wasn’t unhappy in Boston or with the Celtics as an organization, but as he gets into the twilight of his career, Horford is looking for a situation where he can win.

In 12 seasons, Horford has been to three conference finals, but has never appeared in an NBA Finals.

Next. 10 best rookie seasons in Nets' history. dark

And, from a purely snarky point of view, it might be kind of fun for Nets fans to see the Celtics get ripped apart. It would prove again that life can be nothing more than a flat circle.

Home/Nets Rumors