Philadelphia 76ers center Al Horford makes sense as a trade target for the Chicago Bulls.
Usually, when another team hires a head coach, it shouldn’t make an impact on the Philadelphia 76ers. However, with the Chicago Bulls hiring Billy Donovan per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, it could have major consequences on the Sixers. Not only in their search for their next head coach, but finding potential trade partners this offseason.
The 76ers need to make some major changes to their roster this offseason. One player, in particular, has been most often mentioned as the odd man out and that is big man Al Horford. His age, contract, and poor fit on the roster makes him a prime candidate to be traded.
I have recently written about how the Houston Rockets should want Horford this offseason. However, with the hiring Donovan in Chicago, the Bulls can be added to the shortlist of teams that make sense as a landing destination for Horford.
Sixers: Why Chicago Bulls make sense for Al Horford trade
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Starting with Donovan, the head coach head lead a team with Horford on it to two NCAA championships. It’s not hard not to imagine that if given an opportunity, the two would be happy to reunite.
Donovan’s not the only one in the Bulls’ organization that has a connection to Horford. Chicago’s general manager Marc Eversley was a part of Philly’s front office that decided to give Horford a contract worth over $100 million this past offseason.
It’s true that the Bulls have two young talented big men in Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr., so Horford probably won’t start there. However, it’s hard not to imagine that Horford wouldn’t be the first big off the bench and a great mentor to both young big men.
They also have Otto Porter Jr.’s expiring contract that could make a deal possible. The Sixers may have to include young player(s) and/or draft pick(s) to convince the Bulls to accept any trade with Horford’s bad contract however, the foundation is there to get a deal done.
The hiring of Donovan in Chicago might have hurt the Philadelphia 76ers coaching search, but it may prove useful assuming the Sixers front office wants to trade Horford this offseason.