Philadelphia 76ers: Ranking every player on the roster (April 2020)
6. Al Horford
PRESEASON RANKING: 4
I’m going to defend Al Horford for a second. Bear with me.
Yes, of course, Horford has struggled all season. His season to date transcends the concept of disappointment. It has been flat-out miserable, both for Horford and the fans. He has struggled to find any sort of consistency in a completely alien role next to Embiid and Simmons. Brown has had his work cut out for him, jamming a square peg into a circular hole.
Much has been said about Horford’s poor fit next to Embiid and Simmons, and the damage Horford’s presence has inflicted on both of them. Totally fair. The Sixers should make a strong effort to trade Horford because of it. The opposite, however, is also true. Embiid and Simmons have greatly reduced Horford’s potential to positively impact the game.
At 33, some of Horford’s struggles are rightfully pegged on age. He’s getting older, he has clearly lost a step on defense, and the NBA season is a long and grueling one. He isn’t getting better, and it’s unfortunate the Sixers tied up so much cash in a sinking ship.
Even so, Horford’s resume deserves some level of respect. It’s difficult to chalk up his entire season to the ill-effects of age. Part of it is fit. The Sixers simply lack the personnel to maximize Horford’s unique skill set in the frontcourt. If he was still in Boston, for instance, I would expect the narrative about Horford’s 2019-20 campaign to be drastically different.
Horford is a playmaker at heart. He’s a whip-smart passer who works into the teeth of defenses and picks them apart, subtly and with immense precision. He doesn’t tear it up as a scorer, but he moves the ball, puts himself in the right spots, and helps the offense function as a well-oiled machine — that is, when he’s in a comfortable spot.
The Sixers have forced Horford to resort to spot-up shooting and the occasional post-up. In order to accommodate of Embiid and Simmons’ need to inhabit the paint, Horford has had to clear out and create space. He has seen very few opportunities as a playmaking valve.
So yes, Horford has regressed in a very noticeable way this season, and his drop from No. 4 in the preseason to No. 6 now is an indication of his decline. However, make sure to view his struggles in the proper context. It’s not all directly on him and his tired legs.