Sources: Thunder prepping for hopeful run at Al Horford, too
As they prepare to make their pitch to Kevin Durant, the Oklahoma City
Thunder have been making calls around the league looking to clear a massive
amount of salary-cap space in a move rival executives believe is an effort to
go after free agent Al Horford in addition to Durant, multiple sources told
ESPN.com.
Horford played for Thunder coach Billy Donovan at the University of Florida,
where they teamed up to win two national titles, and they remain close. The
Thunder have an opening at power forward after trading Serge Ibaka to the
Orlando Magic last week.
Over the last several days the Thunder have sought out teams with open
salary-cap space to possibly absorb Enes Kanter and Kyle Singler, sources
said.
The Thunder have other methods of opening cap space, including waiving
Anthony Morrow, whose contract isn't guaranteed until July 15.
Numerous teams are believed to have interest in Horford, who is regarded as
one of the top free agents on the market. That includes the Atlanta Hawks,
where Horford has played his entire nine-year career and made four All-Star
teams.
Horford averaged 15.2 points and 7.3 rebounds and played all 82 games for the
Hawks last season.
After trading Jeff Teague last week, the Hawks have opened enough cap space
to re-sign Horford and free-agent wing Kent Bazemore and potentially add
another free agent. They have scheduled a meeting with Atlanta native Dwight
Howard, ESPN reported Wednesday.
In conversations with rival teams, the Thunder have indicated they will know
which route they are taking early in July, sources said. Durant is scheduled
to meet with five teams over the first three days of free agency after
meeting with the Thunder on Thursday.
[小整理]
1. 雷霆有意兜售Kanter、Singler來追求完全自由球員Al Horford
2. Horford是雷霆總教練Donovan當年在佛大二連冠的球隊成員，而且一直保持著聯繫
3. Horford本季82場全勤，繳出平均15.2分、7.3籃板的數據
來源：http://goo.gl/IiTTzw
[更新]
ESPN 記者 Zach Lowe twitter
來源：https://goo.gl/evQzsv
Said on post-trade deadline pod KD had named Horford as a guy he wanted to
play w. Didn't see most obvious scenario: OKC trying to get him
KD似乎表態想跟Horford打球，所以OKC努力要得到他