NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Should Trade For Al Horford

1. Boston Celtics

If there’s one team that could use Horford more than any other, it’s the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics are a star away from being a legitimate contender, and Horford seems like the perfect fit. The entire Boston offense is centered around ball movement and disciplined execution of plays, something that Horford is absolutely familiar with.

But his ability to operate as a single part in an offensive unit is only half of it; Big Al is a stud in the face-up game, and can bang around down low too. When the Celtics aren’t playing well offensively, it can generally be attributed to their outside shots not falling. Unfortunately, with no real inside scorer, most of Boston’s pass-generated looks come from the perimeter.

Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder are decent slashers, but inside scoring comes much easier from interior specialists like Horford than it does from perimeter players.

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Horford isn’t the type of player to dominate the ball, either, which is huge for Boston. Thomas is the bread-and-butter of the offense, but he finds shots without having to constantly hold on to the rock, which keeps the Celtics’ attack fluid. Horford would be in that same boat.

Though Horford isn’t a top-tier shot blocker, he would fill the Celtics’ void for a rim protector. Amir Johnson has been holding down the fort thus far, but his offensive inconsistency has made it hard to give him consistent minutes, especially since Kelly Olynyk is playing so well offensively.

In order to acquire Horford, the Cs would have to throw a lot at Atlanta. Avery Bradley is a nice piece for Boston, but is certainly dispensable, and would be an excellent fit for the Hawks. His shooting ability is continuing to improve, and he’s knocking down 36 percent of his long range attempts this year, impressive, considering he takes almost six threes per game. His defense, of course, remains top-notch as well.

The verdict is still out on Jared Sullinger as a future star (though it doesn’t seem likely at this point), but at the very least, he’s a walking-double-double and a threat for a 20-point, 20-rebound game on any given night. His lack of speed is a tough selling point, but he puts his thick frame to good use on the offensive glass, and can hit the outside shot — albeit, not consistently.

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If Atlanta were hesitant to part with Horford, Boston could throw in one of the countless first rounders that they have over the next few seasons. The 2016 Brooklyn pick would be a little too steep of a price, but Boston could toss in their own pick or Dallas’ first-rounder for 2016 to sweeten the pot. If Atlanta is really looking to start a youth movement and enter a rebuild, draft picks are the ultimate asset.

Again, it’s not guaranteed that Horford will be dealt. If he is, though, Boston should be at the top of the waiting list.