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

[Froob]

Not the only thing extending right now. Great deal for both sides!

[timpiker]

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

[Curmudgeon]

Horford for less than the MLE? Sign me up! Even if he can't walk in year 2 it's a great deaL.

[Ben-N1ce]

very good

[Celts17Pride]

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.

[Froob]

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.

[Hal14]

Looks like Al's going to get at least 2 rings in Boston.

If he keeps playing like he's been playing and gets 2 rings in Boston, he could have a pretty good shot at the hall of fame - especially since the hall has been lowering their standards for letting guys in these past few years.

That would be pretty cool

[GoCeltics123]

**** yeah dude. Thank you Al for taking less and thank you Brad for extending him

[Hal14]

Congrats to Horford on earning that extension. Another great move by Stevens, he really doesn't miss. Interesting that under his tenure, Smart, Timelord and Horford have all signed contract extensions now. Really makes you wonder about how much Grant was asking for that a deal couldn't get done.

Grant was quoted saying something about how his position with the player's association played a role in him holding firm on trying to get more money. Because if he took less, it would set a precedent for other guys getting paid less too.

I think the player's association stuff is getting to his head.

I think it might also be why he chirps to the refs so much, too. He feels like he has the authority to plead his case so frequently with the refs because he's some big player's association executive.

I like what he brings to our team on the court and with how good of a chemistry/camaraderie/locker room guy he is. The guys love him, especially Tatum. But he's gotta get his ego in check or he'll be out of town. Brad is a reasonable guy with these negotiations..

[steefP2]

would be around 7.5% of the cap btw for next year.

[jordb2k7]

IINM, Horford, Hauser, Smart, and Jaylen all have the same agent. Brad should be given his EotY award by now.

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Can someone help explain the Jaylen and All NBA status and how that might impact his extension? I've been worried about him being a flight risk but if he makes All NBA we can extend at a good number this summer? Or is it one of those where it's still better for him to wait and get more?

[Scoonie]

Can someone help explain the Jaylen and All NBA status and how that might impact his extension?

Making one of the All-NBA teams would make him eligible for a five-year "supermax" contract extension, which pays even more than a typical maximum contract (starting salary equal to 30% of the NBA salary cap, with 8% annual increases):

https://franchisesports.co.uk/nba-supermax-explained/

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/08/super-max-candidates-to-watch-in-2022-23.html#:~:text=It%20allows%20players%20with%20seven,with%2010%2B%20years%20of%20experience.

Bottom line, the Celtics can pay him more than any other team he could sign with, he's playing great, and he's on a contending team. He isn't going anywhere!

[Fierce1]

IINM, Horford, Hauser, Smart, and Jaylen all have the same agent. Brad should be given his EotY award by now.

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Can someone help explain the Jaylen and All NBA status and how that might impact his extension? I've been worried about him being a flight risk but if he makes All NBA we can extend at a good number this summer? Or is it one of those where it's still better for him to wait and get more?

What's best for Jaylen is wait to get more.

The extension won't be as big if he waits and he gets the max from the Cs in free-agency.

[playa-hater]

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.

Edit - this is by no means a knock on Al, but what KG done is almost unapproachable. That and KG is my 2nd favorite player all-time. so...

[Tyakack]

[31to6]

LOVE this timing and the stability it buys

Al is an amazing player and can impact the game in so many ways as he ages.

That said, to me I don't think Al can pass KG as an 'all-time Celtic' as someone posted above (2008 KG was just .. beyond words), but yeah three rings would get him into the HOF, right?

[jordb2k7]

Can someone help explain the Jaylen and All NBA status and how that might impact his extension?

Making one of the All-NBA teams would make him eligible for a five-year "supermax" contract extension, which pays even more than a typical maximum contract (starting salary equal to 30% of the NBA salary cap, with 8% annual increases):

https://franchisesports.co.uk/nba-supermax-explained/

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/08/super-max-candidates-to-watch-in-2022-23.html#:~:text=It%20allows%20players%20with%20seven,with%2010%2B%20years%20of%20experience.

Bottom line, the Celtics can pay him more than any other team he could sign with, he's playing great, and he's on a contending team. He isn't going anywhere!

So if I'm understanding, he makes ALL NBA we can offer a super max extension this coming summer. As opposed to waiting for him to hit free agency the following year. I guess it would be interesting if we would super max him.

[Scoonie]

So if I'm understanding, he makes ALL NBA we can offer a super max extension this coming summer. As opposed to waiting for him to hit free agency the following year. I guess it would be interesting if we would super max him.

Correct.

And if he doesn't make an All-NBA team this year, it's quite possible he waits another year to sign an extension to see if he makes an All-NBA team next year.

[threrf23]

I would've given him a third year, just to make a statement. He is genuinely happy to be here, extremely selfless, and his leadership is invaluable to the team. He could sit on the bench all season and $10m per year could maybe still be justified. Yet he remains a top 10-20ish player when he has sufficient legs and energy (usually in short stretches, would be ideal to bolster our front court a slight bit more and rely on him situationally moving forward).

I wasn't a fan of bringing him back in 2019, based on our cap situation, and his legs, and stuff. I feel bad about that now but hopefully it somehow worked out better for both sides in the end.

[Scoonie]

I would've given him a third year, just to make a statement.

If he can still pay at 38 years old, we could always give him one-year contacts after that. I have to think that he has zero desire to play for any other team at this point of his career.