NBA Rumors: Thunder to go after Al Horford along with Kevin Durant
According to a report, the Oklahoma City Thunder could also chase Al Horford to entice Kevin Durant to staying with the team.
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We’re less than 24 hours away from free agency beginning in the NBA and the rumors have been on a roll. The big prize that everyone is focusing on in free agency is Kevin Durant and that means that every team that is lucky enough to make a pitch to Durant will have their chance to do whatever they can to entice him to stay.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will get the first crack at talking to Durant and they’re seen as the favorite to re-sign him because they can offer him the most money. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Thunder are going to do more than just offer him more money to try and keep him to stay.
Windhorst in his latest article, states that Thunder are trying to move as much salary as possible in trades with other teams, that they’re believed to be going all in on Al Horford, who is seen as the second biggest prize in free agency.
"As they prepare to make their pitch to Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been making calls around the league looking to clear a massive amount of salary-cap space in a move rival executives believe is an effort to go after free agent Al Horford in addition to Durant, multiple sources told ESPN.com.Horford played for Thunder coach Billy Donovan at the University of Florida, where they teamed up to win two national titles, and they remain close. The Thunder have an opening at power forward after trading Serge Ibaka to the Orlando Magic last week."
He brings up a great point about Horford playing for head coach Billy Donovan. However, the Thunder are going to have to clear a lot of cap space to fit two max contracts on the roster in Durant and Horford.
The article notes that would likely mean trying to get a team to take on the contract of Enes Kanter. Considering the season he just had, that shouldn’t be too difficult of a task for a team in need of a big man.
Free agency isn’t here yet, but the moves teams are trying to line up sound insane.
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