What is Al Horford’s contract and how will it help the Celtics this offseason?

The Boston Celtics were able to shed some cap room, gaining more flexibility for the NBA offseason by trading away Kemba Walker. It wasn’t free, though.

The Celtics traded Walker, who had over $60 million left on his contract over the next two seasons, to the Thunder in a salary cap dump. In exchange, they’ll have to take on Al Horford’s remaining deal, as well as send a first-round pick to Sam Presti, who hoards them for a living. Boston also acquired Moses Brown in the deal.

If that sounds like a lot to dump a former All-Star point guard, the. you haven’t been watching much Boston Celtics basketball of late. Walker is constantly hampered by injury. His contract isn’t abysmal, per say, as he’s still capable of averaging near 20 points a night when healthy. But for the Celtics to continue building around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they had to made this move.

Al Horford contract

Horford’s contract has just over $40 million guaranteed for the next two seasons. Ironically enough, it’s a deal he originally signed with Boston.

Next season, the big man will make $27 million guaranteed, and in 2022-23, he’ll make just over $14 million guaranteed. That number will increase based on team success, so if the Celtics make or win the NBA Finals, Horford can make as much as $26.5 million. That would put Brad Stevens in a pickle.

Speaking of Stevens, this is his first trade as Boston Celtics general manager.

Who is Moses Brown?

Brown is a 7-2 center who could slide right into the Celtics rotation. He’s the main player of value acquired by Boston in this deal, as Horford doesn’t really fit well on this team.

At just 21 years old, Brown went undrafted in 2019, but has made his presence felt in a brief NBA career so far. In fact, he scored over 20 points against the Celtics just last season.

Obviously, Stevens took note.