The 2-time NBA All-Star Al Horford made his preseason debut for the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday after being sidelined for 10 months due to a torn right pectoral muscle. Prior to the injury, Horford was dominating the paint for Atlanta, averaging a career-best 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season. The Dominican big man might not be part of the team this season, however, as he has apparently been in the trade block since the 2013-14 season despite the injury.
Zach Lowes of Grantland has the report on Horford:
It happened in stealth mode last season, when the Hawks reached out to a select group and made it known that Horford could be had for the right price - including an unprotected 2014 first-round pick, per several league sources. Nothing materialized, and Horford is ready to return from another torn pectoral muscle. ....
If the ownership situation changes before the deadline, there's no telling what stance the Hawks might take with Horford, Jeff Teague, or anyone else. Teams will inquire about Horford either way.
Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball talks believes that the teams in which the Hawks have been in contact with were probably contenders or are one player like Horford's caliber away from entering into contention. While majority of the worst teams in the NBA have the assets to trade for the Hawks all-star big man, many of them are currently on rebuilding mode and are not an ideal match for the 28-year old Horford's career arc.
But Horford is back in full health now and the person responsible for trading him last season, general manager Danny Ferry, is on an indefinite leave of absence. This could mean that Horford is temporarily out of trade discussions or that the price for him may be completely different now.
The NBA is short of quality big men and Horford is an All-Star caliber Center/Power Forward currently on a team-friendly contract so its interesting to see if the Hawks will continue to pursue their plans on shopping him for assets especially given the fact that numerous teams will surely show interest on him this season now that he is healthy and in his prime.
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