The Philadelphia 76ers are going through the ups and downs of being labeled a title contender. The offseason brought changes to a roster that was eliminated in the second round for two straight years. One of the new so-called “missing pieces” was Al Horford.
While Horford has earned the status as a capable veteran, his time with the 76ers has been a bit rough. Horford's numbers are not in a serious decline but his shooting percentage (.451) is the worst of his career. While he has struggled some, the 76ers need him to become the dominant player they pay him to be.
With Joel Embiid out, the 76ers went gone 6-3. during the month of January, he's averaged 13.0 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 46.1 percent. While the team has played well, fans are still waiting for Horford to explode. Maybe that's not his game anymore. But then we can see flashes where he can take over the paint and we're left wondering just how dangerous this team can be when they're clicking on all cylinders.
But here's the drawback for the Philadelphia 76ers and Al Horford. It comes down to money.
This past offseason, Al Horford and the 76ers agreed to a 4 year $109M deal and the 76ers figured they found their missing link. What it boiled down to was basically a swap for Jimmy Butler who could have signed the same deal and ran it back with a team that came so close in 2019.
With the NBA trade deadline approaching, its time for Horford to make a stand. If he continues to slip and the team continues their up and down run, then there is a chance Elton Brand could put Horford on the trade block.
One glaring issue here is that huge contract. Are there any teams willing to bail the 76ers out of the hole they could find themselves in? I double that but it has to be explored. The Horford and Embiid pairing is not working. On paper, the 76ers have a NBA title worthy team. But on the floor, it's been a bit disappointing.
The record will indicate they're better than the Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers and others but can they turn it when the bright lights are shining, the clock is winding down and big stop or shot has to be made?
This is one of the reasons Brand wanted Al Horford so bad. Horford wants to win. In Boston, he saw that chance dwindling and saw that the 76ers were on the come up.
With the recent loss of SG Josh Richardson and Embiid back, it's time for Horford to show that he can be trusted. The City of Philadelphia is starving for a 76ers parade down Broad St. None of this is possible without Horford. Can he stay consistent?
If he fails, then Horford can still help the team win a championship via trade. The return package the team can get for him can be a massive one. Brand is not concerned about future draft picks. The core of the 76ers is already in place. What they're looking for now are those missing pieces to win. A few names that come to mind are CJ McCollum of the Blazers, Kevin Love of the Cavaliers, and Zach LaVine of the Bulls?
Each of those teams is looking to unload huge contracts but are they willing to take on another three years of Horford's contract?
But all is not lost. While Al Horford has to play better, it's also up his teammates and coach Brett Brown to get him in a better position to excel. The 76ers offense is built on the success of perimeter play and that alone is why Horford numbers are down. He's averaging 11.4 shots per game but four of those are from three-point territory.
Brown has to make sure that he gives Horford and Embiid enough room for them to coexist in the paint. There should be no team averaging more rebounds than the 76ers, and yet. they're ranked 11th in the NBA in that department.
Defensively, they're 2nd in the league but their scoring has them near the bottom of the league (23rd) at 108.5 points per game. Much like with Butler last year, the Philadelphia 76ers playoff success will fall on the shoulders of the new guy and that's Al Horford. Can he handle the pressure?
If he can't get it together before the trade deadline, Brand may be forced to cut his losses.
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