Could the New York Knicks poach veteran Boston Celtics big man Al Horford?
Could the New York Knicks poach veteran Boston Celtics big man Al Horford? At least one prominent NBA analyst seems to think there is a chance. Speaking on a recent episode of the "Hoop Collective" podcast, senior ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps suggested that the University of Florida alum could seriously consider decamping to the Knicks this offseason given Horford is a free agency with a murky future with Boston after the Achilles tendon tear to star Celtics forward Jayson Tatum threw a monkey wrench into Boston's short-term contention window.
"Al Horford is a free agent," said Bontemps. "I don't think at this point it makes a lot of sense for ... Horford to be back in Boston. Maybe he will be, but given where things are with the Celtics, I think he's now much more in play than he might have been a month ago."
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"Horford is a longtime friend of (Karl-Anthony Towns and) has played with him with the Dominican National team for a long time," added the ESPN analyst. "If they go get Al Horford this summer, who I think would be an unbelievable fit on this Knicks roster."
"(...) That's a team that could beat the Pacers next year," suggested Bontemps. "That's a team that'll be in the mix in the East."
While Horford would be within his rights to pursue another title with a team on the come-up during a season Boston is almost certainly going to take a significant step back, it seems unlikely he would make a move akin to what Ray Allen did during the 'Ubuntu'-era Celtics in the early 2010s, when the UConn alum decamped to the rival Miami Heat.
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The context may be different, but given that precedent and Horford's exit to the Philadelphia 76ers at the end of his first stint in Boston, we'd be surprised if the Dominican forward left Boston for New York, if at all. Another ball club out west -- or perhaps his near-hometown team, the Detroit Pistons -- could be a different story, however.
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Could the Knicks poach veteran Boston Celtics big man Al Horford?
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