Did Horford ask Thomas about joining Celtics?

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TORONTO – Isaiah Thomas has seen first-hand what playing for the Boston Celtics can do for an NBA player’s career.

He’s made no secret about wanting more star-studded, All-Star caliber talent to join him.

The first-time All-Star is used to being the one making the pitch.

But this weekend, Thomas said he was approached by a player inquiring about Boston.

Thomas declined to identify the player, but it’s believed to have been Atlanta’s Al Horford who was a last-minute replacement for the All-Star game.

Horford is among the players on the Celtics’ radar as a player of interest leading up to next week’s NBA trade deadline.

When asked if Horford was interested in Boston, Thomas smiled, “I didn’t say that.”

Horford, who cut short a trip in Mexico to join the East All-Stars here in Toronto, isn’t paying much attention to the trade speculation that’s surrounding him currently.

“I’m going to continue doing what I do,” he said. “I can’t control the speculation that’s going on. My focus is on this [All-Star Game] and once I finish this, get back to practice and getting back to work.”

The 30-year-old veteran has spent his entire NBA career with the Hawks who selected him with the third overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft.

A four-time All-Star (2010-2011, 2015-2016), Horford understands that Atlanta’s potential interest in trading him has little to do with his production.

He is in the final year of a five-year, $60 million deal which will pay him $12 million this season. Horford will become an unrestricted free agent this summer and there’s no guarantee he will want to re-sign with Atlanta or that the Hawks will want to pay him what will likely be a near-max contract.

By trading him now, Atlanta will get something in return for him as opposed to him walking this summer and winding up with nothing.

“For me, I ask for guidance but at the end of the day I understand the business of everything,” Horford said. “I know how everything works. For me, I need to stay diligent, keep doing what I do and whatever happens, happens.”

Still, if the rumors persist and take on a more serious tone in the coming days of the trade deadline, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Horford and his representatives to speak with the Hawks (if they haven’t already) to get a clearer idea of where he stands with the organization now and going forward.

“They haven’t given me a sense of anything,” Horford said. “I haven’t spoken to anybody[about possibly being traded].”

 

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