Boston Celtics: 5 Reasons Why Al Horford Can Transform The Celtics

Oct 6, 2016; Greensboro, NC, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) huddles with teammates during a timeout in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Greensboro Coliseum. The Celtics won 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Greensboro, NC, USA; Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) huddles with teammates during a timeout in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Greensboro Coliseum. The Celtics won 107-92. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

Building Block

When he signed on the dotted line with Boston this summer, Al Horford became the biggest free agent the Celtics had signed for quite some time. Still, it’s no secret that they’re still hoping to attract bigger names to Beantown in the coming years.

In spite of a cap and roster flexibility that’s been the envy of many teams around the NBA in recent years, a wealth of draft picks and young talent often holds very little value in pitching to the league’s very best players.

It might get you a meeting with Kevin Durant, but as the Celtics found out this summer, it’s generally not going to be enough to trump the appeal of a franchise who is already much further down the path to championship success.

With the addition of Horford, the Celtics now have the kind of player who can push them to the precipice of the big time again. Horford alone won’t make the Celtics champions, but he could very well act as something of a tipping point.

Next time the Celtics send a crew to pitch for a marquee free agent, they won’t even need Tom Brady. The NBA’s most successful franchise, with one of the league’s best young coaches, now comes equipped with a four-time All-Star. Boston basketball is ready to speak for itself again.

Next: Ranking The Top 10 NBA Centers In 2016-17

The Horford signing won’t do it all in one fell swoop, but it could certainly signal the beginnings of the latest era of Celtic dominance.