Sixers trade Al Horford to Oklahoma City Thunder
By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
Al Horford’s decision to ditch the Celtics for the rival 76ers last year has already come back to bite the 34-year-old veteran, who on Wednesday was shipped to Oklahoma City along with a first- and second-round pick for Danny Green.
The Sixers are trading Al Horford and a first-round and second-round pick to the Thunder for Danny Green, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 18, 2020
The deal also included the rights to Vasilije Micic going to the Thunder, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Woof, what a mess.
While you can’t fault Horford for seeking another big-money deal before 2020 (Horford’s decision to opt out of Boston and move to Philly netted him an extra $70 million plus), this was a straight-up disastrous fit for both sides, and ended with the Sixers having to attach a first-round selection to the deal just to rid themselves of the final three years of the deal.
Appearing in 67 games for the Sixers last season (and with 61 starts, which was his lowest total in any healthy season in Horford’s career), the 6-foot-10 big averaged just 11.9 points per game, the third-lowest single-season average of his career, and lowest since 2008-09. Horford also shot a career-worst 45 percent from the floor during his lone season with the Sixers, which ended with a four-game sweep at the hands of the Celtics.
And in addition to adding Horford, the trade continued to build the Thunder’s just plain absurd draft-pick treasure chest, with the Thunder possibly possessing a staggering 18 first-round picks through 2026.