No. 4: Al Horford
2017-2018 per game stats: 12.9 PTS, 7.4 REB, 4.7 AST
Of all the players on this list, Al Horford is surely the least glamorous of the bunch. He’s 32 years old, he doesn’t boast flashy numbers, and is rarely regarded as one of the NBA’s top centers.
None of that really matters, though. Because for a Clippers team so predicated on defense, Horford is a perfect fit. The 11-year veteran is a devout symbol of veteran leadership and team basketball that Celtics fans were ready to name Team MVP last season.
Following this season, the LA Clippers will be made up mainly of players below the age of 25 — the lone exceptions being Danilo Gallinari, Lou Williams, and Avery Bradley, who will still only be 28. What’s more, the Clippers will have just four players that have experience in the playoffs.
An experienced guy like Horford could solve a lot of problems for Los Angeles, the first of which has to do with Gortat. The 34-year-old veteran is playing on the final year of his contract, and unless the Clippers strike out in free agency, it’s hard to see him returning.
The next has to do with player development. Horford is a noted mentor, most recently receiving praise from the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns. So not only could Horford be an efficient and effective piece for the next few seasons, but he could also breed the next generation of talented big men in Los Angeles.
Horford is also no stranger to playing with elite talent. Last season was his first with Irving, and he spent multiple seasons alongside Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague in Atlanta.
He wouldn’t just be an important piece now. With Horford, the Clippers would be making a future investment as well.