The Downfall of the Celtics – Al Horford Decides to Leave

According to the latest news from NBA insiders, Al Horford will not continue his career in Boston Celtics, despite having one more year on his contract.

The strong center will decide against his $30.1 million option for the upcoming season and plans to find his luck somewhere else.

It is a massive shock for all the fans and experts because nothing indicated that something like this might happen. During the previous days, news appeared about talks between Horford and Celtics, which concerned his extension, and even longer stay in Massachusets than planned with the first contract.

But suddenly everything stopped.

Major change in the Al Horford situation:
Per source close to Horford, his side is no longer discussing a new 3-year deal to stay with the Celtics. He is expected to sign a 4-year free agent contract elsewhere…
Story to come.

— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) June 18, 2019

When Steve Bulpett revealed that Big Al isn’t’ willing to negotiate a new deal with the Celtics, and that he plans to leave, the internet exploded. Immediately, the speculations about his future appeared, and all sorts of guessing. Some are suggesting that Horford already has some four-year $100 million offers, but nothing is certain yet.

For the time being, nobody knows what forced Horford to make such a decision. He was one of the most appreciated players in Boston, loved by the fans, and the guy who was seen as a foundation for Celtic’s championship team.

There are several possible motives for his departure, and we will mention just a few of them.

The first is bad chemistry. We all saw that during the previous season. Things weren’t going well for Brad Steven’s boys. Kyrie was often arguing with the younger core of the team, and eventually, the Celtics were trashed in the playoffs against the Bucks in a bit humiliating way.

The situation was near explosion several times during the season, but it somehow maintained under control. Things really began to fell apart during the series with Milwaukee and reached its peak when Terry Rozier spoke openly about what is going on in the organization and the locker room after that.

The second possible reason for Horford’s decision to leave is Kyrie Irving’s jump from Boston. Uncle Drew didn’t even properly say goodbye to his former club, but instead just chose not to mention the Celtics anymore. Several sources among which Marc Stein also, indicate that Irving might commit his future to the Brooklyn Nets.

Kyrie Irving presumed to be Brooklyn-bound and now @SteveBHoop says Al Horford is leaving. Not the off-season anyone envisioned for the Celtics

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 18, 2019

Horford probably assessed that the Celtics’ chances for winning the title are much lower without him and decided to search his luck somewhere else. Though, the stats are suggesting that Boston played much better without Kyrie, and that can’t be denied. Two seasons ago they reached the Eastern Conference finals, and in the latest campaign, Celts were 12-3 without him.

With 33 years, former Florida Gator knows that he doesn’t have too much time to waste to win the championship ring. During his 12-year sting in the NBA, Horford was 5-time All-Star and once All-NBA and All-NBA Defensive. Previously he won back-to-back NCAA titles.

Al Horford suddenly being actually available in free agency, and not just opting out to do a team-friendly deal with Boston, is a significant, game-changing presence on the market. He will have any number of suitors. If this doesn’t change, a gutting loss for the Celtics.

— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) June 19, 2019

Despite all the personal achievements, he never got the chance to fight for the ring, although his teams were regularly participating in the playoffs. In 12 years played, Horford only once missed the postseason. However, the ring was always out of his reach.

There is no doubt that his qualities will be valued at the market, and we can expect very soon that many teams start chasing the No.3 overall pick from the 2007 NBA Draft.

As for Celtics… An interesting summer is ahead of them, and don’t be surprised if some radical changes take place there. For now, it seems that the young core managed to eliminate the elders. We’ll see what happens next.