With the Oklahoma City Thunder appealing to younger players on the night rotation, five-time All-Star center Al Horford will no longer be in for games this season, sources told ESPN.
Horford, 34, plans to stay with his teammates in Oklahoma City and train in the team’s facilities, but will not play the last 28 games for the Thunder, sources said.
Since Horford arrived on a truce from the Philadelphia 76ers, he has been considered an important presence and influence on the Thunder’s young and rebuilding roster, and the organization was keen for Horford to stay with them while the two sides worked on this. Decision, sources said.
After the season, Horford has two more years and $ 53 million left on his contract. Thunder’s general manager, Sam Presti, has vowed to work with Horford and his agent, Jason Glushon, to trade the center with a team better suited for this later phase of his career.
By not participating, Horford will be protected from injuries that make moving in the off-season difficult. Horford has averaged 14.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season. After joining the 76ers in 2019 on a $ 109 million four-year deal, Horford was traded to the Thunder during 2020 draft night in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder recently lost starguard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for an extended period of time with plantar fasciitis. It was inevitable that Horford would finally close this season, but Gilgeous-Alexander’s loss accelerated that timeline, sources said.
The Thunder could have three first-round picks in the 2021 NBA draft, based on a series of protection and pick-change scenarios. The Thunder was surprisingly competitive with such a young and incomplete roster, currently level with the New Orleans Pelicans at 19-25.
Oklahoma City has 17 first-round picks and 17 second-round picks under control through the 2027 NBA draft.
This is Horford’s fourteenth NBA season, with stops in Atlanta, Boston and Philadelphia. He has averaged 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his career and has been an All-Defensive team option twice.