The Atlanta Hawks have had an all-time offseason and it does not appear to be over. With two open roster spots and one available two-way spot, GM Onsi Saleh needs to have a few more tricks up his sleeve to improve the team's depth. The newly-acquired Kristaps Porzingis is injury-prone, so Atlanta could benefit off of bringing in a skilled, experienced big man to play behind him and Onyeka Okongwu.
The center market is rather dry, but there are still a few veterans who would make sense for Atlanta to take a look at. The most intriguing available option is no stranger to the organization. Al Horford, one of the greatest Hawks of all time, could find himself returning to where it all started for his final NBA season.
According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN, the Atlanta Hawks are among the four teams "interested" in the 5-time NBA All-Star. He is reportedly mulling several options, with one of those being retirement. Atlanta is viewed as a long shot destination for Horford due to them already having two starting-caliber centers in the rotation, but other factors could lead to the veteran big man choosing the underdogs.
At 39-years-old, Horford's legacy speaks for itself. He won a championship with the Boston Celtics just two seasons ago to add on to his stacked resume. In Atlanta he was an All-NBA player and made the All-Star game four times.
His exit from the organization, however, was controversial and a return would be as well. Not long after signing a deal with the Boston Celtics, Horford's dad made disrespectful comments regarding the difference between Boston and Atlanta fans. This resulted in Horford being booed in his first game back in Atlanta as a member of the Celtics.
Hawks fans should put the past behind them and welcome Horford back.
Horford has become a better defender with age, as weird as that sounds. His outside shot and ability to stretch the floor have also reached career-highs in the past few years. In two of his last three seasons with Boston, Horford has shot over 40% from deep on respectable volume.
He has been a reliable option for the Celtics when they have had to go extended periods of time without Kristaps Porzingis, something that could carry over in Atlanta. Boston would not have won the championship two seasons ago if it was not for Horford's veteran leadership and true reliability on both ends of the floor. Porzingis and Horford also have similar play styles, which would reinforce the five-out and defense-first identity of the new-look Hawks.
Another interesting wrinkle in Atlanta's Horford interest is that they are the only team outside of Boston who could offer him a no-trade clause in a contract. Once a player has been with an organization for four years and has spent at least eight seasons in the league, that team has the ability to include a no-trade clause in any offer for said player.
Joining this young, competitive Atlanta Hawks team on a one-year minimum to rebuild the burnt bridge with the city could be a poetic finish to an incredible Hall of Fame career. A reliable, experienced veteran as a third big could be the missing piece to a Finals run in the wide-open Eastern Conference.