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NBA Trade Rumors: 15 Teams That Should Trade For Al Horford

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) shows emotion after a made shot against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Pacers 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) shows emotion after a made shot against the Indiana Pacers in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Pacers 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 7, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) shoots as Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) defends during the third quarter of the game at Wells Fargo Center. Atlanta won the game 126-98. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Philadelphia 76ers

Let’s not beat around the bush: Jerry Colangelo was brought in to ensure “trust the process” hadn’t turned into “trust me, in 15 years we’ll be good, I swear.” Colangelo has already made moves to help this young group of first round draft picks and D-League level talent grow, including bringing back Ish Smith and Elton Brand.

Following that line of thinking, it’s only a matter of time before one of the Nerlens Noel–Jahlil Okafor–Joel Embiid trio is on the way out. Noel and Okafor don’t play well together since neither one can spread the floor, and Embiid probably has the highest ceiling of the three.

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    • But Embiid’s extensive injury and concerns about his rehab efforts are bothersome, and Colangelo’s comments about making this team competitive sooner than people are expecting have to start somewhere. Al Horford is the kind of perennial professional the Philadelphia 76ers would be lucky to build around, even at 29 years old.

    Losing Embiid would be a blow, but at this point there’s zero guarantee he even comes close to reaching his NBA ceiling — or seeing his career last beyond five years, for that matter. For the Hawks, this is the kind of move that would make sense if the front office wants to blow it up and start from scratch.

    However, there’s no guarantee that’s what Atlanta wants to do, especially since trading for Embiid is a calculated risk given the fact that he has yet to play a single game almost two years into his NBA career. From Philly’s standpoint, trading him wouldn’t make much sense unless they completely gave in to the sinking fear that he’ll never be healthy enough to become the player they hoped for.

    It’s also worth noting that trading a player with that much upside, who has yet to prove himself, would be completely irresponsible for the Sixers — especially considering the player they’d be getting in return is almost guaranteed to flee elsewhere in free agency.

    Next: No. 5

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