Al Horford "Fountain of Youth" Thread

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Hey, I'm gonna say this one time, and one time only:

Al Horford slander will not be tolerated. I'm blocking you if you say anything bad about Al taking more money. It might not be obvious now, but he did us a favor. Without him opting out, we don't get Kemba. And that contract he just signed is going to screw the Sixers.

Besides, Al has already been replaced by a younger version.

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[wco81]

Celts didn't draft him.

He played just a couple of seasons in Boston.

So I don't understand this betrayal business or how dare he goes to a rival.

We don't know how far apart Ainge's offer was from what he accepted from Philly.

[jirrit]

He played in Boston and he was a well appreciated member of our crew. He now chose to leave us for another team who offered better money etc. No hard feelings whatsoever but we have the same rights as him. He fully deserves to pick his own destiny, we fully deserve to dislike his decision to chase something we're chasing too, at a place he knows we dislike.

[Bleeding Green]

Celts didn't draft him.

He played just a couple of seasons in Boston.

So I don't understand this betrayal business or how dare he goes to a rival.

We don't know how far apart Ainge's offer was from what he accepted from Philly.

I will never begrudge a player taking more money. Would disgust me if he stayed in Boston on a smaller deal actually.

If he picked up his option, Celtics wouldn't have Kemba. I dunno, I think I like the current trajectory of the roster better now.

[KIRAG]

no hate on Horford for choosing what he thinks is best for his family long term. He probably knows Danny will trade him eventually to perhaps a team he has doesn't even want to play for so he just wants to be a step ahead and control his destiny and career.

Having said that, I so want the Cs to beat the Nets and the sixers in the playoffs to prove we don't need him and Kyrie to win the East.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

no hate on Horford for choosing what he thinks is best for his family long term. He probably knows Danny will trade him eventually to perhaps a team he has doesn't even want to play for so he just wants to be a step ahead and control his destiny and career.

Having said that, I so want the Cs to beat the Nets and the sixers in the playoffs to prove we don't need him and Kyrie to win the East.

We can beat the Nets, IMO. Sixers? Not with our current set of bigs (or lack thereof).

[claycarver]

Horford's the kind of guy, if you hate on him it really just says bad things about you.

[KIRAG]

no hate on Horford for choosing what he thinks is best for his family long term. He probably knows Danny will trade him eventually to perhaps a team he has doesn't even want to play for so he just wants to be a step ahead and control his destiny and career.

Having said that, I so want the Cs to beat the Nets and the sixers in the playoffs to prove we don't need him and Kyrie to win the East.

We can beat the Nets, IMO. Sixers? Not with our current set of bigs (or lack thereof).

Embiid's health could be key. Al can't do it all.

[robbie84]

I posted this in the trade thread, but it got me thinking about Horford becoming an expiring next season.

The question is, what is the long term fit for these guys? Once Horford expires, who replaces Him?

What if Grant Williams continues to play/shoot like this all year?
Do we insert him next to Timelord to replace Horford?
Or do we go small and use Grant at the 5, putting someone like Jerami Grant next to Grant Williams as our two 'bigs' using Horford's salary and assets to get a better scorer at the 4? Can we beat a team like the 76ers or Lakers with enough offense to mitigate Embid or Davis scoring 40 points, 15 rebounds in a 7 game series etc?
Or do we let Grant Williams go, and insert Jerami Grant next to Rob Williams?

What's people's thoughts on our future in the paint?

[Fencer reregistered]

We need at least one more "real center" to timeshare with Rob.

[Hal14]

his contract doesn't expire till offseason of 2023. we're a year and a half away from having to make that decision.

a lot can happen between now and then..

One thing I am pretty certain of, though - when his contract is up at the end of 2022-2023 season, he'll retire. I think he wants to prove he's still got some game left, he's still got some gas left in the tank - he wants to finish out his contract. But after that I think he retires. i suppose he could sign a 1 yr deal for the veteran minimum either here or somewhere else, but I doubt it..

[darrendaye]

Sign Jalen Smith, hoping he's Christian Wood 2.0?

[dans1230]

I think Grant has proven his shot making is legit. Add that to his defensive versatility and you have the perfect player between Tatum and Williams in the starting lineup.
Horford has looked good defensively this year but offensively he has brought nothing. His shooting numbers are poor and he hasnt initiated offense like he did before and like i expected. Hes more productive than Kemba so im not complaining, but i think id prefer to see him coming off the bench as a 4/5.
We threw a good amount of money at Rob Williams so i guess hes the future, youll have to pay Grant soon enough so hopefully the answer to your question is inhouse.

[Celts17Pride]

I think Grant has proven his shot making is legit. Add that to his defensive versatility and you have the perfect player between Tatum and Williams in the starting lineup.
Horford has looked good defensively this year but offensively he has brought nothing. His shooting numbers are poor and he hasnt initiated offense like he did before and like i expected. Hes more productive than Kemba so im not complaining, but i think id prefer to see him coming off the bench as a 4/5.
We threw a good amount of money at Rob Williams so i guess hes the future, youll have to pay Grant soon enough so hopefully the answer to your question is inhouse.

I like Grant Williams but if Grant Williams is in your starting lineup then your team is going nowhere. Grant Williams is a limited bench player.

[Hal14]

I think Grant has proven his shot making is legit. Add that to his defensive versatility and you have the perfect player between Tatum and Williams in the starting lineup.
Horford has looked good defensively this year but offensively he has brought nothing. His shooting numbers are poor and he hasnt initiated offense like he did before and like i expected. Hes more productive than Kemba so im not complaining, but i think id prefer to see him coming off the bench as a 4/5.
We threw a good amount of money at Rob Williams so i guess hes the future, youll have to pay Grant soon enough so hopefully the answer to your question is inhouse.

I like Grant Williams but if Grant Williams is in your starting lineup then your team is going nowhere. Grant Williams is a limited bench player.

He's on track to be the next PJ Tucker / Jae Crowder type. They were the 2 starting PF's in the NBA finals this past year. Both of them have been starters for quite some time now.

I'm not ready to say Grant should be a full time starter right now at this second - I think you keep bringing him off the bench this season but if he keeps improving, he could earn the starting PF spot at some point next season - and he's already under contract for next season anyways..

If Grant is giving you good, tough, switchable defense. Doing the little things, playing hard, setting screens, hitting 40% from 3 and hovering around 10 PPG (he's currently at 12.2 PPG per 36 mins this season), then that's a damn solid 5th starter.

[Celts17Pride]

I think Grant has proven his shot making is legit. Add that to his defensive versatility and you have the perfect player between Tatum and Williams in the starting lineup.
Horford has looked good defensively this year but offensively he has brought nothing. His shooting numbers are poor and he hasnt initiated offense like he did before and like i expected. Hes more productive than Kemba so im not complaining, but i think id prefer to see him coming off the bench as a 4/5.
We threw a good amount of money at Rob Williams so i guess hes the future, youll have to pay Grant soon enough so hopefully the answer to your question is inhouse.

I like Grant Williams but if Grant Williams is in your starting lineup then your team is going nowhere. Grant Williams is a limited bench player.

He's on track to be the next PJ Tucker / Jae Crowder type. They were the 2 starting PF's in the NBA finals this past year. Both of them have been starters for quite some time now.

I'm not ready to say Grant should be a full time starter right now at this second - I think you keep bringing him off the bench this season but if he keeps improving, he could earn the starting PF spot at some point next season - and he's already under contract for next season anyways..

If Grant is giving you good, tough, switchable defense. Doing the little things, playing hard, setting screens, hitting 40% from 3 and hovering around 10 PPG (he's currently at 12.2 PPG per 36 mins this season), then that's a damn solid 5th starter.

Jae Crowder is more of s SF and the Bucks were going to the Finals regardless if Tucker was on their team or not. Tucker was awful in the playoffs.

[Hal14]

I like Grant Williams but if Grant Williams is in your starting lineup then your team is going nowhere. Grant Williams is a limited bench player.

He's on track to be the next PJ Tucker / Jae Crowder type. They were the 2 starting PF's in the NBA finals this past year. Both of them have been starters for quite some time now.

I'm not ready to say Grant should be a full time starter right now at this second - I think you keep bringing him off the bench this season but if he keeps improving, he could earn the starting PF spot at some point next season - and he's already under contract for next season anyways..

If Grant is giving you good, tough, switchable defense. Doing the little things, playing hard, setting screens, hitting 40% from 3 and hovering around 10 PPG (he's currently at 12.2 PPG per 36 mins this season), then that's a damn solid 5th starter.

Jae Crowder is more of s SF and the Bucks were going to the Finals regardless if Tucker was on their team or not. Tucker was awful in the playoffs.

Crowder is too slow to play SF. He's tough, strong, physical dude. He's 235 lbs which is the weight of a PF or a C in today's game. How many SFs can you name in today's NBA who are 235 lbs or more? He's been suns starting PF for the past 2 years and the year before that he was miami's starting PF when tbhey went to the finals too.

As for your comment about Tucker, that's your opinion. You ask most Bucks fans, they would tell you Tucker brought a dog mentality to that team, a toughness, grittiness, and his defense against Durant was a huge reason they beat the nets in the playoffs. You can't ask for much more from a 36 yr old. Bottom line, he's been a good starting PF for several yrs on some VERY good teams.

[robbie84]

Has Grant's play earned him Horford's spot? Or is a
Smart
White
JB
JT
Timelord

Lineup the future?

[LewisnotMiller]

I think Grant has proven his shot making is legit. Add that to his defensive versatility and you have the perfect player between Tatum and Williams in the starting lineup.
Horford has looked good defensively this year but offensively he has brought nothing. His shooting numbers are poor and he hasnt initiated offense like he did before and like i expected. Hes more productive than Kemba so im not complaining, but i think id prefer to see him coming off the bench as a 4/5.
We threw a good amount of money at Rob Williams so i guess hes the future, youll have to pay Grant soon enough so hopefully the answer to your question is inhouse.

I like Grant Williams but if Grant Williams is in your starting lineup then your team is going nowhere. Grant Williams is a limited bench player.

He's on track to be the next PJ Tucker / Jae Crowder type. They were the 2 starting PF's in the NBA finals this past year. Both of them have been starters for quite some time now.

I'm not ready to say Grant should be a full time starter right now at this second - I think you keep bringing him off the bench this season but if he keeps improving, he could earn the starting PF spot at some point next season - and he's already under contract for next season anyways..

If Grant is giving you good, tough, switchable defense. Doing the little things, playing hard, setting screens, hitting 40% from 3 and hovering around 10 PPG (he's currently at 12.2 PPG per 36 mins this season), then that's a damn solid 5th starter.

Agreed.
He's a role player, but plenty of role players have started for good teams, long as the role fits with the starting groups needs.

Turn the corner three into a three from anywhere, get just a touch more switchy/impactful on defence, become a plus rebounder.

He's shown signs of these improvements, so I think he's a chance.

[LewisnotMiller]

Has Grant's play earned him Horford's spot? Or is a
Smart
White
JB
JT
Timelord

Lineup the future?

I dunno how successful situational starting/finishing lineups have been, really, but that's my initial thought, with White/Williams swinging.