Kevin Durant might not be the only priority for the Oklahoma City Thunder in free agency.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Thunder are also preparing a run at power forward Al Horford, a four-time NBA All-Star who won a National Championship with head coach Billy Donovan at the University of Florida.
Oklahoma City has obstacles to clear first, however.
Per Windhorst, the Thunder have been contacting teams with cap space in an effort to dump Enes Kanter or Kyle Singler. The club needs to clear money off the books to set aside enough cash to pursue both Durant and Horford in free agency.
The Thunder traded starter Serge Ibaka to Orlando for guard Victor Oladipo during last week’s NBA draft, opening up a hole at power forward.
Over nine NBA seasons, Horford has averaged 14.3 points and 8.9 rebounds, while shooting 53.5 percent from the field and 74.3 percent from the free throw line. He was named an All-Star in 2009-10, 2010-11, 2014-15 and 2015-16. Last season, the 30-year-old averaged 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.5 blocks over a full 82-game season.
CBS Sports ranked Horford as its fourth best free agent, behind Durant, LeBron James and Andre Drummond. According to Marc Stein of ESPN, Horford is expected to draw serious interest from a number of teams, including the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics.
Signing Durant and Horford would give the Thunder an imposing starting five, with Russell Westbrook and Oladipo at guard and emerging center Steven Adams working alongside Durant and Horford.
Free agency begins July 1.
