Celtics encouraged by meeting with free agent Al Horford
1:13 PM CT
Chris Forsberg
ESPN Staff Writer
WALTHAM, Mass. - The
Boston Celticswill make their pitch to free-agent
Kevin Durant on Saturday evening, but their warm-up appears to have gone well.
The Celtics emerged encouraged after meeting with free-agent forward
Al Horford on Friday night, a league source confirmed. The Vertical reported Saturday that the Celtics and Wizards had emerged as frontrunners for Horford, while the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Horford had informed the Hawks that he would make a decision on his future by Saturday evening.
Isaiah Thomas has repeated that the team needs more established talent to make the jump to legitimate contender.
Thomas is part of Boston's recruiting contingent on the Horford and Durant visits. Thomas has been in touch with both players via text message trying to sell them on Boston and has hinted that Horford in particular is interested.
"I just reached out to [Horford]," Thomas told reporters on Thursday. "I got his number and reached out to him saying, 'I'm interested in playing with you. I just want to put that in your ear. I know the Celtics would love if you came and are a part of the organization. Good luck with the process.' And things like that. And then he texted me back, he said, 'I'm a fan of how you guys play. I'm a fan of your game and would love the opportunity, but we'll see what happens.' The time is crazy for those type of guys right now so you never know what would happen but guys know about Boston. Guys are definitely talking Boston. And that's a good thing."