With Al Horford opting out of his deal with the Boston Celtics and the latter reportedly unwilling to give the 33-year-old a lengthier deal, NBA free agency just got a bit more interesting with a new big man available to teams on rebuild mode. And per latest reports, there are at least three teams interested in getting the five-time NBA All-Star.

According to The Ringer, it is the Dallas Mavericks who are considered favorites to snag the former Celtics big man. However, that still depends on what the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers have to offer. Further, this will inadvertently depend on how their pursuit of Kawhi Leonard turns out.

Of the two Los Angeles-based squads, the Lakers need to act quickly if they are serious in their pursuit. At the top of their list is to reshape the parameters of the Anthony Davis trade with New Orleans so that they can create the necessary capacity for the $32 million-plus in salary cap space once the free agent moratorium ends on July 6, ESPN reported. The Lakers are looking to add a third superstar in the mix to join LeBron James, Davis, and Kyle Kuzma. Failure to tilt their finances could weigh heavily since they do have to get role players and reserves for the 2019-20 NBA season.

As far as the Mavericks are concerned, they can easily clear cap space and give Horford a four-year $100 million deal. If successful, they can move on and sign restricted free-agent Kristaps Porzingis. Together with another rising star in Luka Doncic, Davis and Porzingis could form a deadly triumvirate that offers plenty of options both defensively and offensively.

The Clippers could easily get Davis as well and remain in the hunt for Kawhi Leonard. The team salary budget is pretty flexible – meaning the Clips can clearly accommodate max contract deals of the two NBA All-Stars.

Aside from the Clippers, Lakers and Mavericks, more teams are expected to enter the fray. As mentioned in a previous post, the Brooklyn Nets and the New Orleans Pelicans could enter the fray seeing how both teams are in need of big men up front. Horford has made the NBA Eastern Confernce finals 11-times and brings numbers that can help any ballclub – a reason why multiple teams are expected to scamper for his services and probably offer him that desired contract the Boston Celtics were unwilling to give.

AL Horford
Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics looks on during the second half of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2019 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, May 6, 2019. Getty Images/Maddie Meyer
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