Al Horford recently turned 39 years of age and will be a free agent this summer. There will be plenty of suitors for the veteran if he decides to come back for another year. Horford has played 18 years in the league, won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024, and will have to make a big decision this summer. According to Ian Begley of SNY, the New York Knicks should be interested in Al Horford if he comes back and thinks about leaving Boston.
Eastern Conference Rival Shows Interest in Al Horford
The New York Knicks will be one of the favorites for the championship title next season and adding Horford will improve their odds. They could certainly use another bench player who can contribute quality play. Last season, Horford averaged nine points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and almost a block in 27.7 minutes of action. He is still a good player who can defend and shoot.
The problem for the Knicks is they will have limited resources to offer. Right now, they have a projected salary of $199 million for the 2025-26 season. That puts them over the first apron, meaning they can offer only the veteran minimum, or the tax-payer mid-level exception at $5.685 million. Horford earned $9.5 million last season, but in the right spot, he might be willing to take a pay cut.
The Role of Karl-Anthony Towns
The Knicks have one advantage in trying to lure Horford away from the Celtics. Karl-Anthony Towns and Big Al are good friends thanks to their days playing for the Dominican Republic. KAT has praised Horford multiple times as the person who paved the way for Dominican players to enter the NBA and achieve their dream of playing in the league. Before the All-Star Game this season, Towns again talked about how valuable Horford was for the Dominican Republic.
Knicks Offseason Priorities and Al Horford
For next season, the projected first apron is at $195 million, while the second apron is at $207 million. The Knicks’ first order of business might be to decline P.J. Tucker’s team option, which will give them a bit more breathing room. They can also decline the team option on rookie Ariel Hukporti, giving them more flexibility.
If they use the mid-level exception to sign free agents before clearing some room, they will be hard-capped at the second apron. Teams above the second apron are limited in what they can do in trades, reducing the Knicks’ chances of making a move in the summer or at the trade deadline.
The problem for the Knicks right now is that they do not have a coach who will construct the roster per his preferences. Signing Horford would help the team and improve their bench contribution. But what happens if the new coach has other preferences? New York tried to hire a coach right after they fired Tom Thibodeau, but failed. Their ongoing search for a head coach makes roster construction a bit more challenging. Coaches nowadays want to have a say in team construction so that they can execute their vision and play style.
The post Eastern Conference Rival May Have Interest in Al Horford appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.