Thunder and Sixers officially complete Al Horford-Danny Green trade
It has taken some time, but Al Horford is finally officially a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
On Tuesday, the Thunder and Philadelphia 76ers completed a trade that will see the two veterans swap places. Green, who was acquired by the Thunder in the trade that saw Dennis Schroder sent to the Los Angeles Lakers, was sent to Philadelphia along with Terrance Ferguson and Vincent Poirier.
In exchange, the Thunder receives Horford and a 2025 protected first-round pick, as well as the draft rights to Theo Maledon (selected with the 34th pick of the 2020 NBA Draft) and Vasilije Micić (selected with the 52nd pick of the 2014 NBA Draft).
The deal was reportedly agreed to on Nov.18; however, because the Thunder were aggregating Green with other players and a trade restriction in his contract, the sides had to wait until Dec. 8 to make the trade official.
Now, Horford joins George Hill on the rebuilding club as elder statesmen who could either be jettisoned for additional assets or counted on to provide leadership and help the team’s young nucleus continue to develop good habits.
Horford – who played for the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics before signing with the Sixers last summer – just completed the first season of a four-year, $109 million pact. He will earn $27.5 million and $27 million for the 2020-22 seasons, respectively.
Although considered the centerpiece of the trade, the Thunder also added draft capital to its already impressive war chest. The pick received by Oklahoma City is reportedly top-six protected in 2025, top-four protected in both 2026 and 2027. If not conveyed by 2027, the pick will become a second-round pick in the 2027 draft.
Also landing in Oklahoma City as a result of the trade is Theo Maledon, a 19-year-old French point guard who cut his teeth playing professionally at the age of 16. Former San Antonio Spur point guard and three-time NBA champion Tony Parker, who has similar roots, says that Maledon should have been a Top 10 selection in the 2020 draft.
Time will tell. After an underwhelming first year in Philadelphia, Horford will head to Oklahoma City with the French rookie. The two will likely join the team this week and should be made available at some point thereafter.