Al Horford spent the past three seasons with the Boston Celtics and was widely expected to re-sign with them over the summer, so his decision to join the division rival Philadelphia 76ers took many by surprise.

Not Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, however, who said he was not taken back by Horford's free-agent choice, adding that he will always wish the veteran big man well, according to Jay King of The Athletic.

The 76ers were offering more money and an extra year than the Celtics, so Horford felt that Philadelphia's four-year contract was his best option.

Brown and the C's will see Horford in their first game of the season, as they will open up their 2019-20 campaign against the Sixers next Thursday.

Of course, Brown is currently negotiating a deal with Boston himself, as the two sides are trying to come to terms on a contract extension before the Monday deadline.

The Celtics were rumored to have offered Brown four years and $80 million, but the 22-year-old is seeking more.

Brown, who played his collegiate basketball at the University of California, was originally selected by Boston with the third overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft.

He is coming off of a 2018-19 campaign in which he played 74 games and averaged 13 points and 4.2 rebounds over 25.9 minutes per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the floor, 34.4 percent from three-point range and 65.8 percent from the free-throw line.

Brown's so-so numbers were partially skewed by a horrendous first month of the season, as the Marietta, Ga. native did not really get going until the beginning of December.