Al Horford (Appreciation) Thread – (Signs with GSW 9/28/25)

[zoyathedestroya]

I couldn't think of a close comparison. CP3 and Lebron are still getting paid near-max/max at their age but they're the 2nd best player on their team at worst (CP's injuries in playoffs make this questionable). Andre Iguodala got $32M from Miami for his age-36 and age-37 seasons. He helped them get to the Finals in 2020 but he's a bit player at that stage of his career.

With cap rising, both years would be no higher than 7.5% of the salary cap. Unless Horford suffers a major injury, Cs wouldn't be able to get a player with the type of production/impact he could still bring even at 37 & 38. MLE has landed us Kanter, Thompson, Gallo, Baynes (?) in recent past. So who would you rather have? It's a position of need too. Great signing, Brad!

[RickyDizzle]

I have been saying across a bunch of threads that if we can get Grant and Al next year into Al's salary slot from this year (26.5 mil) we'll be golden. Now with Al taking 10 mil, that would give us 16.5 mil starting salary for Grant, that seems about right honestly. If he was an UFA, some dumb team might sign him for 80 mil over 4 years or something, but I think we are underrating how slow the market develops for RFA. Think we just tell him we value him, give teams signs that we will match, and just let him go sign an offer sheet and hope its 4/70 or less. 16 mil, 17 mil, 18 mil, 19 mil = 70 mil... thats probably about the maximum that I would match, but RFA sometimes is very slow to develop especially when other teams think the incumbent will match.

[zoyathedestroya]

Reports say Celtics didn't even offer Grant 15M a year. It could be an Evan Turner situation where they tell him to try and get a bigger bag somewhere else. If not, he is welcome to come back to the team.

[sam_I_am]

Love this signing. Team friendly and Al can retire a Celtic. At some point he can slide into back up role if he slows down.

[Triple7]

After his contract, Al would have played more years than KG as a celtic. If he wins a title with us, i would put him ahead of KG on the all time celtics.

No no no no no.

Lmao idk how I missed that comment.... I love me some Al.......but to say you would put him over KG if he wins a title is laughable.

Lol. KG is a timberwolve at heart. He’s just like Lebron going to the lakers to ring chase.

[Fierce1]

No no no no no.

Lmao idk how I missed that comment.... I love me some Al.......but to say you would put him over KG if he wins a title is laughable.

Lol. KG is a timberwolve at heart. He’s just like Lebron going to the lakers to ring chase.

I don't know about that.

KG bleeds green.

It's just unfortunate that he was already in his 30s when he got traded to Boston.

[Triple7]

Lmao idk how I missed that comment.... I love me some Al.......but to say you would put him over KG if he wins a title is laughable.

Lol. KG is a timberwolve at heart. He’s just like Lebron going to the lakers to ring chase.

I don't know about that.

KG bleeds green.

It's just unfortunate that he was already in his 30s when he got traded to Boston.

Nah. I don’t know about that. Probably mixture of green and blue lol. The dude even retired a timberwolve lol.

[Captain_Caveman]

Reports say Celtics didn't even offer Grant 15M a year. It could be an Evan Turner situation where they tell him to try and get a bigger bag somewhere else. If not, he is welcome to come back to the team.

He's restricted and they can just match any offer sheet if they choose.

[Captain_Caveman]

KG slander on a Celts forum is ban-worthy lol.

[zoyathedestroya]

Reports say Celtics didn't even offer Grant 15M a year. It could be an Evan Turner situation where they tell him to try and get a bigger bag somewhere else. If not, he is welcome to come back to the team.

He's restricted and they can just match any offer sheet if they choose.

Yep. Grant seems to be looking for a bigger payday from the way he talked about it a few weeks ago. Cs won't outbid themselves. If $$ isn't there or if another team's offer isn't outrageous, he'll be back in green.

[Darthlukey]

No no no no no.

Lmao idk how I missed that comment.... I love me some Al.......but to say you would put him over KG if he wins a title is laughable.

Lol. KG is a timberwolve at heart. He’s just like Lebron going to the lakers to ring chase.

Ummm, Bron went to miami to ring chase. And back Cavs to ring chase. And then to Lakers to ring chase. Dont for one second think that every year of his career post the 2010 ECSF isnt tainted by taking the easy path whenever possible

[zoyathedestroya]

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[ParticleMan]

Amazing news. Al is worth that much even if he's just in the locker room and playing backup minutes. And Playoff Al is a thing. Well done Brad, and thank you Al.

As for Grant, C's are doing the right thing. I don't think he's worth more than 15 per. This team maximizes his ability. Some similarities to the Jae Crowder situation. Everyone loves Grant but that's not worth paying that much for, especially in an already solid locker room.

[zoyathedestroya]

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[BostonCouchGM]

Love it. After Tatum and Pritchard he's my favorites Celtic. I said when they made that atrocious White trade that they they're signaling they're "going for it" and this team as it is, will be that team expected to win it or not. We're locked in essentially unless we package some of these young players for one more 3 and D wing but I can't see that happening with the uncertainty surrounding Jaylen. I just can't see them going that extra step and completely mortgaging their future by trading away the good, cheap young guys and/or picks. That would be too reckless. I think ownership knows or at least suspects Jaylen is moving on so this is their best shot at a championship by keeping this core together for this and next season. After that it's anyone's guess but at least they'd have the young guys, Tatum, Timelord and picks if he left.

[Bohemian]

Love it. After Tatum and Pritchard he's my favorites Celtic. I said when they made that atrocious White trade that they they're signaling they're "going for it" and this team as it is, will be that team expected to win it or not. We're locked in essentially unless we package some of these young players for one more 3 and D wing but I can't see that happening with the uncertainty surrounding Jaylen. I just can't see them going that extra step and completely mortgaging their future by trading away the good, cheap young guys and/or picks. That would be too reckless. I think ownership knows or at least suspects Jaylen is moving on so this is their best shot at a championship by keeping this core together for this and next season. After that it's anyone's guess but at least they'd have the young guys, Tatum, Timelord and picks if he left.

Have you been watching the Celtics this year? Just wondering.

[Hal14]

Love this signing. Team friendly and Al can retire a Celtic. At some point he can slide into back up role if he slows down.

I think part of the agreement with him signing for $10 mil a year is that he likely moves into a backup role starting next season.

$10 mil a year on a contender - that's typically a key bench player. A starter on a contender is going to make more than that - unless it's a dude on a rookie contract.

I mean, we're already sitting him out anytime it's a back to back. The next logical step from here is a bench role, to help him keep his minutes to a manageable amount. I'm thinking next season he's a 15-20 MPG guy. But we'll see..

[zoyathedestroya]

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[timpiker]

This is great news. I think Grant may have overplayed his hand.

Now the Celtics are in a position to match any deal for Grant Williams that isn't absurd. Al's extension puts them in a good spot. Celtics probably want to get him at $12 per but if some team gives him $16-17 per the Celtics can easily match if they want to match.

Grant made the right move not extending. He won’t get less, he’ll likely get 15-18M. I mean Philly just gave an ancient PJ tucker 30M and he’s 38 by the second round. Rare mold of player.

Next summer, we'll see if the C's OR Grant made the right move. I remember Horford getting that crazy offer Philly, so you just never know. I like Grant a lot, but as we've seen so far this year, he is NOT as important to this team as he was last year. We'll see how the year plays out. I have no idea how much he was offered nor how much he was asking.

[zoyathedestroya]

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