Oklahoma City Thunder: An Al Horford trade benefits both the Thunder and Celtics

Why would Boston trade Al Horford?

If Kyrie Irving elects to re-sign with the Celtics and stay around long-term, then the obvious choice for Boston is to keep Al Horford and run the team back next season. A Horford trade only makes sense if Irving chooses to pack up and move elsewhere.

In that scenario, Boston is left with a plethora of young, promising players… and Horford.

Don’t get it twisted: Horford is a great player — he’s a five time All-Star! — but a soon-to-be 33-year-old center is probably not the best fit alongside a core of players below the age of 25. Simply put, the timelines just don’t match up.

Even though an Irving-less Boston team would be built around youth, Horford’s experience, role as a defensive anchor and solid screen-setting are all invaluable traits. In any possible trade the Celtics would want someone who could replicate those skills, while matching up with the age of the younger core and having the ability to stay in Boston long-term.

For the Celtics, a Horford trade — in the event of Irving’s departure — doesn’t signify a rebuild. Rather, it turns the team from being in “win now” mode to an approach of longevity. With the right trade, Ainge could keep a core of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart and the returns of a Horford trade together for the foreseeable future.