When the Philadelphia 76ers brought in Al Horford on a 4-year $109 million deal in the offseason of 2019, the team was expecting to have one of the top defenses in the league and be able to bully teams on offense. So far, only one of those thoughts has come to fruition.
Philadelphia’s new jumbo starting lineup gives up just 97.5 points per 100 possessions per Cleaning The Glass thanks to Horford and Joel Embiid protecting the rim, but offensively they struggle averaging just 106.7 points per 100 possessions. That lack of offensive production comes from a lack of spacing on the floor and it makes the Horford fit awkward on this team.
With the NBA in the middle of a financial crisis due to the lack of games and the suspension of operations over the novel coronavirus, the league is discussing ways to ease the tax burden on some teams for the 2020-21 season. Per ESPN’s Bobby Marks, a new amnesty clause has been proposed that would allow teams to waive any player currently in a long-term contract and completely eliminate their cap hits off team payroll.
Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype has identified Horford as the main candidate for the Sixers to use this potential amnesty clause on. Gozlan writes:
Perhaps the most controversial selection, but if an amnesty clause happens the Sixers should use it on Horford. They don’t need to do it immediately as they should try to trade him first. But if they cannot, they should use it on him either next summer or the one after. The Sixers are already heading into next season $8 million over the luxury tax for a $13 million luxury tax payment. Wiping his $27.5 million cap hit won’t give them cap space this summer, but it would give them more flexibility and $19 million below the tax.
It isn’t like Horford has been a complete disaster in Philadelphia. He has been marvelous on the defensive end and he has been a positive influence off the court as well, but his fit on offense has been awkward and the Sixers need to do something to shed some salary. Another option could be Tobias Harris as well, but Harris offers up a skill that the team needs right now and that is shooting and offensive creativity off the dribble. [lawrence-related id=31477,31469,31460]