The Celtics feel there was tampering involved in the departure of Al Horford to rival Philadelphia, according to Brian Windhorst. The ESPN analyst said as much on a Hoop Collective Podcast (hat tip to NBC Sports Boston’s Justin Leger).
“What happened with Horford, again from what I’m told, really upset the Celtics,” Windhorst said. “They were thinking they were going to be able to negotiate with him, talk to him about a new contract, and all of a sudden it was like he already knew what his market was and he was out of there.”
The Sixers inked Horford to a four-year deal that can be worth up to $109MM.
We have more on the Celtics:
- Swingman Javonte Green is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Celtics, with a partial guarantee in the first year and a non-guaranteed second year, Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe tweets. The news that Green was signing with Boston surfaced on Thursday. Green, who has played overseas since going undrafted in 2015, averaged 10.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.8 APG, and 1.8 SPG in 22.6 MPG over five Summer League games at Las Vegas this month.
- The Celtics will have an open competition for the final roster spot, Himmelsbach reveals in the same tweet. Players with partial guarantees and their two-way contract players will try to earn that spot. Guards Max Strus and reportedly Tremont Waters are their two-way players.
- Kemba Walker received the max allowed for a free agent from an opposing team but the opportunity to join a contender seeking a point guard tipped the scales to Boston, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer relays. “It really came down to my happiness and how I want to compete night-in and night-out,” Walker said. “It’s a winning organization, and I want to win. That’s what it’s all about. Throughout my basketball career as a pro, I haven’t won consistently, and I want to get a taste of that.”
Danny Ainge sucks! Like he didn’t tamper with Kemba Walker! Pompous ass!
Spoken like a true sixer fan. Worry about Ben Simmons lack of shooting.
honestly of all the FA signings this off-season I’d say that Kemba Walker is the LEAST likely to have involved tampering. He didn’t sign anywhere close to the start of FA so it’s pretty clear not all (if any) of the details were worked out before the no-tampering period ended
I don’t think there was any tampering, but Kemba was one of the first big FAs to sign. You are incorrect that he didn’t sign anywhere close to the start of FA.
Man y’all balling be wack. See what I putting down? Dis man’s be crazy he ballin good but this them NBA the be ballin fur sheet!!
Anyone here able to translate for me? I have no idea what he just said.
I’ll try.
“Gentlemen, your basketball skills are less than adequate. Observe what I am typing. This individual is certifiable, plays the sport well, but then again, these are those NBA folks and they definitely have skills.”
Huh??
Try speaking like an adult!
Ainge didn’t tamper with Walker, Jason Tatum did.
First it was Kemba/Kanter as their top targets, now it’s whining about Horford moving on. Celtics just trying to cover for a bad offseason.
It wasn’t a bad off-season. They lost al horford but had a great draft.
I get that NBA teams want to control players while they’re under contract, but:
1. Horford’s contract basically ended the day the Celtics were eliminated in the playoffs. He should be free to job hunt at that point.
2. If a guy’s agent can’t nose around and ask teams about “hypothetical” scenarios, what’s the point of having an agent?
3. Players are able to talk freely to other players. Agents are always talking to front offices about clients on the team. Front offices are free to talk to other front offices. Word gets around.
The NBA should drop the pretense when it comes to this idea of “tampering” and instead automatically reduce the contract value of any player (or agent) that requests a trade. That way, players will have good reason to keep quiet about trade requests, and put their wallet where their mouth is when they do.
Clearly don’t understand the rules.
It’s agreed upon in the CBA(by owners and NBAPA), when players are allowed to talk with other teams. So the agent and the FO should follow that. And if they want to get rid of that, well there’s always the next CBA.
And the players would NEVER agree to number 3.
Not number 3, but your final paragraph about a lesser contract for talking about a trade
Oh, I understand the rules just fine. The point is that the rules are unenforceable, which is what I said if you read between the lines.
As to what the players would or wouldn’t agree to, what special insights do you have that make you so certain? If the automatic reduction was balanced with an automatic trade bonus, it’s a win win.
Even Adam Silver has come out and stated that they shouldn’t have rules that they can’t enforce..lol
So, yes, Jason, you’re def. correct..
1. Al Horford became a free agent when he opted out of the final year of his contract, not when the Celtics were eliminated in the playoffs
2.That’s what the NBA calls tampering. If Horford’s agent talked to the Sixers before June 30 about how much they would offer him, that’s tampering because they are enticing a player who’s still under contract to opt out of his contract. An agent putting out feelers with management from other teams while a player is under contract is the exact definition of tampering according to the NBA.
3. Players are always talking to players. Yes. Agents always talking to front offices about their clients still under contract IS TAMPERING ACCORDING TO THE NBA.
Very well explained! Thanks for sharing.
1. What are you, a lawyer? Everyone knew he was opting out for a bigger payday. It was rumored for months.
2. An agent can’t talk to a team his client plays for? Re-read what I wrote, and understand that agents have multiple clients.
3. Duh. But it happens all the time because of the way things are structured.
All I can figure is that you don’t realize agents have dozens of players they represent, all on different teams. Agents are talking to front offices all the time *under the guise of following the rules*, but they’re clearly not doing that.
If you’re saying tampering rules should be eliminated, then you’re not considering the can-of-worms aspect.
Also as a practical matter, it is management who actively wants tampering rules and they are one of the two parties negotiating the CBA. It’s not some commissioner commandment or archaic tradition.
Maybe management can be divided (into execs and owners) and conquered, but that would require some machiavellian maneuvering, and by who?
Wrong on bulletin point number one. He was still under contract until he opted out, which was not immediately following the Celtics elimination.
Danny Ainge threw up on himself and is trying to cover up for being an imbecile and not getting any major FA or trading for a top 5 player!! They had the most assets and would not trade for Kahwi or AD!! Good luck with Kemba and Turkeys Most Wanted!!
Thanks Knicks fan!
Well the Sixers could give the Celtics Ben Simmons to make up for this injustice
That would fix everyone’s wagon
Watching Ben Simmons try to shoot is like watching a baseball pitcher try to hit.
It’s more like watching a pitcher hit in the AL, because it just doesn’t happen..lol
Exactly!
They all tamper in some regards. I guess the question is whether they spoke to him while he was still under contract. He didn’t exercise his player option with (what was reported) the understanding he was getting 4 years and 112 or something similar. That’s where the problem lies for Boston- there really shouldn’t be a scenario where a team is poaching a player who is still under contract.
I don’t get it, Kemba was rumored to be signing with the Celtics before the moratorium even began.
The Knicks were the biggest tampering team of them all. They tampered with every top free agent out there. This is how it went. “Oh the Knicks are on the phone? Tell them there’s a moratorium and I can’t speak with them til June 30th. Now stop bothering me. I’m on an important call with the Nets!”
Good one. Hysterical. Truly.
It’s the NBA. Everybody tampers
Kemba didn’t join a contender, don’t know why he’s so excited.
Because he just left Charlotte to play on a much better team maybe?
“Maybe the real issue here is that nobody wants to play in that racist dump of a city. Just looking at Boston’s streets on TV and I can basically smell the urine and vomit in the air.” -Kyrie Irving
Sounds like he is trying to get draft compensation. Very New Englandy type of move. Exactly what the Patriots tried with the Texans. Sounds like a crybaby move, looks like a crybaby move, because it IS a crybaby move. I’m telling Mom on you.
Every team tampers, how do we know contract details the second the moratorium is up?
In the NFL, typically draft compensation is given up when you attempt to hire personnel under contract with another team….doesn’t work that way in the NBA so not sure what you are getting at. Also, during the moratorium you can agree to deals…you sign them once the period is up….idiot
Doc Rivers got the Celtics a 1st. Jason Kidd got the Nets two 2nds. Those deals happened when both coaches were under team control so it actually does work that way in the NBA. You see, Ainge has been there before, draft compensation is possible (though it’s usually agreed upon by both teams prior i.e GSW and BKN for DLo or for a coach under contract i.e Doc to LAC for 1st).
The Celtics should be satisfied with fleecing the Sixers in not one, but two trades (and I’m a Sixers fan). But it is the height of hypocrisy that they fawn all over AD ALL SEASON then cry foul when they couldn’t hold onto Horford.
It did seem strange that Horford went from a near lock to exercise his option, then likely to accept a multi-year deal with the C’s to all of a sudden it was known he was looking at a 4 year $100M+ deal with a mystery team…
Not sure what Ainge’s complaint is.
First, it’s not tampering for an agent to gauge the market value of his client, even while he’s still under contract. In fact, if his client has a player option, it’s his job to do this prior to the exercise date.
Not sure when Ainge first approached Horford, but it’s irrelevant whether Horford learned his market value before that or after it, as he was going to learn it prior to the exercise date and prior to doing a re-worked deal with the Celtics. Sounds like Ainge was late in approaching Horford and/or didn’t want to pay market (the latter is understandable, but nothing to whine about).
Meanwhile, on a local radio show, Ainge said that the reason Horford moved was to predominately play the 4 not the 5. The Celts traded Bynes and while they have 3 more prospect-centers, Horford would be headed there because Haywd & Tatum will be the starting forwards.
Anyway that’s why he left, fit, not because of tampering. Plus 2) less himself, Philly would have somewhat shorter odds for the finals than Boston. And then there’s 3), Brand’s bracing big boy bonus bet, the $12mil at the end.
I don’t think we know Boston’s would-be offer to compare it.