As the Oklahoma City Thunder turns to younger players in the night rotation, All-Star Al Horford’s five-time center pivot will no longer be active in games this season, sources told ESPN.
Horford, 34, plans to stay with his teammates in Oklahoma City and train on the team’s premises, but he will not play in the last 28 games for Thunder, the sources said.
Since arriving from Philadelphia on a nightly recruiting contract, Horford has been considered a significant presence and influence in the young and rebuilt Thunder squad, and the organization has been eager for Horford to remain among them while the two sides worked on this decision, sources said.
After the season, Horford will have two years and $ 53 million left in his contract. Thunder general manager Sam Presti has pledged to work with Horford and his agent, Jason Glushon, in the search for the center of an exchange for a team that best fits this final stage of his career.
Staying out protects Horford from injuries that can complicate the ability to move him in the off-season. Horford has averaged 14.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season. After joining the 76ers on a $ 109 million free agent contract for four years in 2019, Horford was negotiated with Thunder on draft night in 2020.
Thunder recently lost star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a long time with plantar fasciitis. It was inevitable that Horford would be closed this season, but the loss of Gilgeous-Alexander accelerated that schedule, the sources said.
The Thunder could have three first-round choices in the NBA’s 2021 draft, based on a series of protection and choice-switching scenarios. Thunder has been surprisingly competitive with such a young and incomplete squad, currently tied with the New Orleans Pelicans in 19-25.
Oklahoma City has 17 choices in the first round and 17 in the second round under control during the NBA’s 2027 draft.
This is the 14th season of the Horford NBA, including stops in Atlanta, Boston and Philadelphia. He has averaged 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his career and has twice been chosen by the All-Defensive Team.