Could the LA Clippers be Al Horford’s mystery team?

There’s been plenty of buzz about Al Horford’s free agency this summer, and rumor has it a mystery team has an offer for him. Could it be the LA Clippers?

There’s been buzz for well over a week regarding Al Horford‘s upcoming free agency this summer. After opting-out of his deal with the Boston Celtics, the two sides were reported to be moving on from each other. Not long after that, it was floated on Twitter that Horford had his desired offer waiting for him from a “mystery team” with the space to sign him. Could that team possibly be the LA Clippers?

For a while, the answer that question seemed to be no. Instead, it was the Sacramento Kings that emerged as the favorite to land Horford, and as early as this morning, it was reported the Kings were said to have significant interest in signing him to his desired deal. But moments later, a supporting rumor stated that while the franchise is set on adding him, they were also of the belief that he’d be going elsewhere this summer.

All the while, that “mystery team” has presumably been in pursuit of Horford, and must be in excellent position if the Kings don’t feel confident about their chances of signing the former Celtics big man.

A few teams make sense in that situation — one of which could be the LA Clippers, who are expected to have interest in pairing Horford with another star. Most recently, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler have all been tied to the Clippers in one way or another.

Horford would arguably be the best pairing for Leonard, the Clippers’ top free agent interest. He plays a complementary style of basketball that would allow for Leonard to play his own game without interfering with him, while other options could get in his way.

Another team that makes sense for Horford is the Dallas Mavericks, who have reportedly been in on him ever since it was announced that he and the Celtics would be parting ways. Those rumors have appeared to cool off a bit lately, but it’s entirely possible that the Mavericks are keen on keeping this move under wraps until we pass the 6:00 PM start time.

In addition to the Clippers and Mavericks, the Philadelphia 76ers have been reported as being a potential suitor for Horford. But with free agent decisions to make of their own involving Tobias Harris and Butler, they might not be able to submit an offer in time to woo him from a different team.

I would expect the Clippers to be hesitant about committing to Horford on a four-year/$100 million deal, especially since his game should decline a bit by the time those final two years roll around. But if the franchise feels confident about their odds of landing Leonard or another star, Horford is as good a teammate as they come and a very solid complementary star.

If the Clippers aren’t the mystery team and don’t intend to sign Horford, expect them to keep their sights set on adding some combination of Leonard, Durant or Butler.