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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 17, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Pau Gasol (16) being defended by Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

14. Chicago Bulls

Would Taj Gibson and promising rookie Bobby Portis be enough to entice the Hawks into an Al Horford trade? Maybe, maybe not. The Chicago Bulls might need to throw in some sort of draft compensation here, but both sides would be getting a little bit of what they need.

If the Hawks are intent on remaining competitive, adding Taj Gibson to the frontcourt would ensure they have a committed defender and midrange shooter through the 2016-17 season. If Atlanta is more focused on building for the long-term, Gibson provides a veteran presence while Portis represents the future with his Kevin Garnett-like intensity and stretch-4 potential.

For the Bulls, trading away an early fan favorite like Portis would hurt, but they’d assemble quite possibly the league’s most versatile frontcourt between Pau Gasol and Al Horford, who could interchange between the 4 and the 5 as needed. Re-signing Horford this summer would cost Chicago a pretty penny, but it’s a more favorable alternative to spending that money on the injury-prone Joakim Noah.

However, Gasol also hits free agency this summer and with Jimmy Butler out for the next 3-4 weeks, the Bulls — losers in 13 of their last 18 games — may be closer to blowing it up than they are to making a long postseason run. If the front office feels the same, trading Portis is the last thing they’d do.

It’s also worth noting that the Hawks are in the same boat, and if their front office decides to blow things up, a trade with one win-now player and one rookie might be too balanced to make sense.

Next: No. 13

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