I wrote in February of bringing Al Horford back to Boston, and count me as thrilled that it finally happened. Many NBA analysts are not giving the Celtics sky-high grades for the move, but Al checks most of the boxes for the boost needed by a team that under-performed last season.
The Celtics are trading Kemba Walker, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 draft and a 2025 second-round draft pick to Oklahoma City for Al Horford, Moses Brown and a 2023 second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2021
The move made by current Celtics GM, Brad Stevens, was quick and decisive. The fact that it happened before the arrival of a new head coach is revealing. Horford, at 35 years of age, can still play. The stats from his stint with Oklahoma City last season show it:
28 MPG - 14.2 PPG - 6.7 RPG - 3.4 APG - .9 SPG - .9 BPG - 45% FG - 37% 3s - 82% FT
Al could be looking at similar minutes, and probably similar stats, this coming season with the Celtics. Horford can fit in anywhere. He is a seasoned vet - a gentleman - and could be the only big on the roster that can hit from long range.
Which brings me to newly-acquired Moses Brown. I doubt Moses can take his new team to the Promised Land of an NBA Championship this season, but he is young (21), big (7'2") and nimble. He scores at the rim, protects the paint and gathers a lot of rebounds. What's not to like?
I was sorry to see another gentleman leave Beantown as another arrives, but Kemba Walker had to go. An undersized, aging, score-first, injury-plagued point guard was not going to fit in Brad Stevens schemes. Kemba is a class act.
So, welcome back to Boston, Al. I am hoping that this is not a flip-the-new-guy strategy by the new Celtics GM. My February wish came true.
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