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

[Slax]

I'm just surprised it's so low. Historically, Al has prioritized the bag

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His past free agency decisions were made at points when the bag was worth a hundred million dollars and he didn't already have $250M in career earnings under his belt. Definitely a pleasant surprise to see a large hometown discount, but I wouldn't characterize Horford as having been unusually money-motivated in the past, just made the completely normal decisions most guys make in their primes.

[Parasite]

No brainer extension. Al well worth this price and it allows them to pay Grant what he’s asking

Im sure I’m in the minority here but can someone make a compelling case for why we should pay Grant? Im clearly missing something but I’m just not seeing it. I think he is eminently upgradable.

Oh and grats to Al!

[hugepatsfan]

No brainer extension. Al well worth this price and it allows them to pay Grant what he’s asking

Im sure I’m in the minority here but can someone make a compelling case for why we should pay Grant? Im clearly missing something but I’m just not seeing it. I think he is eminently upgradable.

Oh and grats to Al!

He's absolutely upgradable. But what players are realistically available as an upgrade? And what are our realistic means to obtaining that player?

We have no cap space to sign free agents.

We don't have a trade package to really land a "premium" player.

We don't have a ton of expendable salary to match in a trade. Any deal acquiring the player you upgrade Grant with would likely require opening up a roster hole elsewhere.

[SuperDeluxe]

No brainer extension. Al well worth this price and it allows them to pay Grant what he’s asking

Im sure I’m in the minority here but can someone make a compelling case for why we should pay Grant? Im clearly missing something but I’m just not seeing it. I think he is eminently upgradable.

Oh and grats to Al!

He's absolutely upgradable. But what players are realistically available as an upgrade? And what are our realistic means to obtaining that player?

We have no cap space to sign free agents.

We don't have a trade package to really land a "premium" player.

We don't have a ton of expendable salary to match in a trade. Any deal acquiring the player you upgrade Grant with would likely require opening up a roster hole elsewhere.

Also, it looks like that locker room loves Grant. He seems to be one of those glue guys (on top of being a pretty good player).

[jordb2k7]

No brainer extension. Al well worth this price and it allows them to pay Grant what he’s asking

Im sure I’m in the minority here but can someone make a compelling case for why we should pay Grant? Im clearly missing something but I’m just not seeing it. I think he is eminently upgradable.

Oh and grats to Al!

You're not completely wrong but the avenues that we have to getting another guy like that are extremely limited. He's in a bit of a slump at the moment but he will snap out of it. This is a team that's trying to win a title(s) you have to utilize every resource and aspect to do that. Letting Grant leave for nothing who has already proven he's a rotational player on a finals team is not a smart move. Sure there are better players out there but Grant fits with what we do well.

[Elrod is Back]

Grant is a good player and getting better every season. He will always be 6-5 or 6-6 on his tippy toes, and he is a below average rebounder. Those factors probably limit his upside. But he is a superb defender, a good 3 point shooter, and he is beginning to take people off the dribble as they try top stop his 3. He also is starting to show the passing ability he we known for at Tennessee.

Oh yeah, most important: his intangibles are off-the-charts, he is a winner.

[BK_2020]

No brainer extension. Al well worth this price and it allows them to pay Grant what he’s asking

Im sure I’m in the minority here but can someone make a compelling case for why we should pay Grant? Im clearly missing something but I’m just not seeing it. I think he is eminently upgradable.

Oh and grats to Al!

He's absolutely upgradable. But what players are realistically available as an upgrade? And what are our realistic means to obtaining that player?

We have no cap space to sign free agents.

We don't have a trade package to really land a "premium" player.

We don't have a ton of expendable salary to match in a trade. Any deal acquiring the player you upgrade Grant with would likely require opening up a roster hole elsewhere.

It depends on what is meant by "pay" Grant. If it's 18-20 per as some people have surmised his value, then the Celtics are better off just signing someone for the tax payer minimum or getting a TPE somehow. If it's the MLE give or take a little then I think you do the overpay and give Grant the over-the-cap-contender premium.
As for what players are available to upgrade on him, Grant's such a fungible player that that's really hard to answer. Would we skip a beat if we had Dean Wade instead of Grant? Probably not.

[KamikazeK]

Grant is a good player and getting better every season. He will always be 6-5 or 6-6 on his tippy toes, and he is a below average rebounder. Those factors probably limit his upside. But he is a superb defender, a good 3 point shooter, and he is beginning to take people off the dribble as they try top stop his 3. He also is starting to show the passing ability he we known for at Tennessee.

Oh yeah, most important: his intangibles are off-the-charts, he is a winner.

I do think some people are selling him a little short, but he needs to improve on his consistency. There are too many games where he just disappears.

[BillessuR6]

Excellent! Was hoping for 2 year 20 mio...
Spot on!

Al is a really important player on and off the court for this team. Going forward his leadership role will be even more imporant...

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[Hal14]

This is great news for everyone involved and the fans. Hopefully he is a part of the Celtics until and after he retires.

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Yeah, I could see him being an assistant coach for us after he retires.

[Captain_Caveman]

I like it, but not sure how much of a discount this is. Homie would have been a 37yo FA this summer and wasn't getting three years guaranteed or significantly higher than a non taxpayer MLE.

[Captain_Caveman]

No brainer extension. Al well worth this price and it allows them to pay Grant what he’s asking

Im sure I’m in the minority here but can someone make a compelling case for why we should pay Grant? Im clearly missing something but I’m just not seeing it. I think he is eminently upgradable.

Oh and grats to Al!

He's absolutely upgradable. But what players are realistically available as an upgrade? And what are our realistic means to obtaining that player?

We have no cap space to sign free agents.

We don't have a trade package to really land a "premium" player.

We don't have a ton of expendable salary to match in a trade. Any deal acquiring the player you upgrade Grant with would likely require opening up a roster hole elsewhere.

On top of that, we have super shaky depth up front moving forward. Rob can't be counted on to be an iron man, and Horford turns 37 in June.

[zoyathedestroya]

Read on Twitter

That smile alone is well worth the TP-MLE.

[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.

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...

Sorry man, didn’t like KG before he was a celtic. Also his comments pre season, that had us 5th in the east behind the Nets, Sixers, bucks and Cavs says a lot in what he thinks of our team. I can’t deny his talent though.

[Triple7]

Read on Twitter

That smile alone is well worth the TP-MLE.

Definitely worth every penny!

[Triple7]

Im sure I’m in the minority here but can someone make a compelling case for why we should pay Grant? Im clearly missing something but I’m just not seeing it. I think he is eminently upgradable.

Oh and grats to Al!

He's absolutely upgradable. But what players are realistically available as an upgrade? And what are our realistic means to obtaining that player?

We have no cap space to sign free agents.

We don't have a trade package to really land a "premium" player.

We don't have a ton of expendable salary to match in a trade. Any deal acquiring the player you upgrade Grant with would likely require opening up a roster hole elsewhere.

It depends on what is meant by "pay" Grant. If it's 18-20 per as some people have surmised his value, then the Celtics are better off just signing someone for the tax payer minimum or getting a TPE somehow. If it's the MLE give or take a little then I think you do the overpay and give Grant the over-the-cap-contender premium.
As for what players are available to upgrade on him, Grant's such a fungible player that that's really hard to answer. Would we skip a beat if we had Dean Wade instead of Grant? Probably not.

Would overpaying Grant have a factor in resigning Jaylen? If that’s the case, i’m fine letting Grant go. The problem we have going forward would be Al will continue to decline due to age. Rob will probably never be fully healthy as he age. (If Rob gets back this season, and he gets injured again, i will never trust he gets healthy fully) we will have a hard time getting a legit big for insurance, if we over pay Grant. 15M per year is fine. Above 17M per is over paying already.

[exculpatory]

Love it.

[Captain_Caveman]

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.

[Tyakack]

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.

[Yinwest]

After that Bucks series, Big Al is a legendary Boston Celtic to me. And now he took less money.