Al Horford should channel Chris Paul’s OKC Thunder experience

With Al Horford headed to the OKC Thunder, he should look to channel a similar season to what Chris Paul just experienced.

When Paul George requested a trade from the OKC Thunder last offseason he could not have known that he was making the organization stronger. The Thunder bought in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and Chris Paul, losing Thunder favorite Russell Westbrook as well.

These three players were amazing last season and were a big part of the reason the Thunder made it to the fifth seed. However, it was the play of Chris Paul which had everyone talking. He is a future hall of fame inductee who was coming off a bad time with the Houston Rockets.

Now that he was on a team that he could run, Paul returned to his All-Star form. His contract was a millstone at the start of the season. However, at the end of the season, the OKC Thunder had suitors lining up for him. It was a joy to watch Paul be on a team that valued him rather than another superstar.

Why is the Al Horford story similar to Chris Paul’s with the OKC Thunder?

Al Horford is another talented player who was in a bad fit last year. He was blamed for the Philadelphia 76ers not being as good as they perceived themselves because the team and fans would not blame their two superstars.

Horford is a five-time All-Star whose leadership and play have been lauded on the other two teams that he played on. He was part of arguably the most successful era for the Atlanta Hawks and a vital piece for the Boston Celtics for three years prior to joining the 76ers.

More from Thunderous Intentions

• Stealing one player from every Southwest Division team for the OKC Thunder
• Should the OKC Thunder chase after a disgruntled hometown hero?
• 3 OKC Thunder players who can step up in Aleksej Pokusevski’s absence
• Aleksej Pokusevski sidelined approximately 6 weeks with ankle injury
• Damian Lillard does not fit with the OKC Thunder

To say that he was to blame for the 76ers going backward last year is like blaming Paul for the Rockets not making the finals. It is an easy out and is simply wrong. The 76ers made a mistake by signing him and then playing him out of position all year, simple as that.

As a result, though, Horford’s trade value is at an all-time low and is looking at trying to have a redemption year with the OKC Thunder. Steven Adams is the starting center so Horford will most probably have to do this from the bench.

If the Thunder re-signs Nerlens Noel again then this is going to be a pretty crowded space. However, the quality of Horford is certainly going to shine through, he will find a way to show that he is not a spent force in the NBA.

Like Paul, Horford is an incredibly strong locker room presence. If he is shown respect by the organization, he will be a culture setting figure which is crucial for a team going through a rebuild. There is a good chance the OKC Thunder will want Horford to set an example for the ten players under 24 on the squad.

While it is unlikely Horford is going to have the same on-court impact this season that Paul did last season. he is a star of this league looking for a shot at redemption. He has a bevy of younger frontcourt players the Thunder would like him to mentor, similar to Paul with the backcourt last year.