Al Horford is coming to the Boston Celtics.
After reports that Horford was leaning toward returning to the Atlanta Hawks leaked out Saturday night, it seems the free agent forward’s decision stopped on a dime and spun the other direction.
Horford broke the news himself on Twitter.
Celtic Pride!!!!!! 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
— Al Horford (@Al_Horford) July 2, 2016
An important note: There are 18 shamrocks in that tweet. The Celtics will be chasing championship banner No. 18 with Horford.
Yahoo! Sports’ The Vertical reported Horford will receive a max contract from Boston, while ESPN reported the Hawks just wouldn’t ante up the money needed to keep the four-time All-Star — who took less overall to join the Celtics.
Al Horford plans to sign a four-year, $113M deal with the Boston Celtics, league sources tells @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2016
Sources: Tremendous momentum for Hawks in final hours, w/ Horford returning and giving Hawks chance. In end, Hawks, Horford $6M total apart.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2016
The move is a major coup for the Celtics, who have pulled out all the stops — including New England Patriots four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady — in their pursuit of Kevin Durant and reportedly still were meeting with him as this news broke.
UPDATE (12:04 a.m. ET): Jason Glushon, Horford’s agent, confirmed to ESPN that his client agreed to a four-year, $113 million max deal with the Celtics, with a player option after the third year. ESPN also reported, via league sources, that the Hawks’ final offer to Horford was five years and $136 million — less than a max deal.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
