Al Horford: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent Center
Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford is set to be one of the most intriguing unrestricted free agents on the market this summer.
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Rockets Reportedly Interested in Signing Horford
Monday, May 16
The Houston Rockets have reportedly made signing Horford their top priority in free agency this offseason, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.
Horford, 29, averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 32.1 minutes per game this season. He started all 82 games for the team. In 10 postseason games, Horford averaged 13.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest.
While Horford is sure to be coveted in free agency, he has given more than a few indications that he would like to return to the Hawks, as Zach Klein of WSB learned after the team's season ended:
He's also clearly fond of the city.
“I’ve set up here with my family," he told Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We all live here. We live here in the summer. We live here year-round. I’m very grateful for all the people here. They have taken me in from the very first day, even though I was a Gator. They loved me. I really love the city.”
Nonetheless, money will play an issue, and if the Hawks aren't willing to pay what other teams might offer, Horford will likely depart. The Rockets—who may lose Dwight Howard to free agency if he doesn't exercise his player option—are expected to be aggressive this offseason and could offer Horford big money to replace Howard at center.
That could coincide with general manager Daryl Morey pursuing sign-and-trade deals for Blake Griffin, Jimmy Butler or Carmelo Anthony, according to Deveney, if those players are ultimately made available. And Morey is also interested in signing Ryan Anderson during free agency.
Horford would be an interesting signing for the Rockets, and while he'd be a downgrade from Howard—who averages significantly more points, rebounds and blocks per game in his career—it's hard to imagine him having worse chemistry with James Harden. But the Hawks are sure to play a major part before all is said and done, and it would hardly be surprising to see him return to Atlanta.
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