Al Horford says the possibility of teaming up with Joel Embiid on the Sixers “got me really excited.”

Horford signed a four-year, $109 million contract with the Sixers. The All-Star big man has had a lot of battles with Embiid over the past few seasons. Now, the two stars will wreck havoc together in Philadelphia.

“I’ve always been a fan of Joel and everything he brings,” Horford said, via Tom Moore of the Bucks Country Courier. “There were some great battles. The possibility of teaming up with him got me really excited about how good we can be defensively. Working together, we can do some special things.”

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This past season with the Boston Celtics, Al Horford averaged 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists while shooting 53.5 percent from the field, 36.0 percent from beyond the arc and 82.1 percent from the free-throw line. Horford has defended Joel Embiid better than a lot of other big man have over the past few years, so the Sixers and Embiid are thrilled Horford is in Philly now.

The Sixers rebounded well after losing Jimmy Butler to the Miami Heat and J.J. Redick to the New Orleans Pelicans. Philly acquired combo guard Josh Richardson from the Heat in the sign-and-trade deal for Butler and signed Horford. Many believe the East runs through the Sixers now.