NBA Free Agency: Al Horford Destined for Detroit?

NBA Free Agency is set to kick off at 12:00 midnight and the Detroit Pistons are one of many teams looking to make some moves.

The biggest free agent name to be linked to the Detroit Pistons thus far is current Atlanta Hawk, Al Horford. Horford looks to be a good fit in Detroit, as he fits the mold that head coach Stan Van Gundy is looking for at power forward — big.

The current power forwards listed on the team’s roster are Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Aaron Bynes, and Henry Ellenson. Horford is larger than both Harris and Morris, and the later two are not quite ready to play at a starting level.

With so many teams looking to break out their pocket books this year due to the NBA’s salary cap increase, courting a big-name free agent is tougher than in years past. Horford has also been linked as going back to Atlanta (if he doesn’t mind remaining a center), as well as to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat (among others). The tax-free state of Florida is always appealing to athletes who possess large contracts and the Thunder are already contenders entering the 2016 season.

With several other major franchises also floating around with Horford’s name in the free agent rumor mill, it seems initailly as though him landing in the Motor City would be a long shot at best. ESPN’s Marc Stein doesn’t think so though, as he mentioned on the Dan Le Batard Show Thursday morning:

"Le Batard: “I, Marc Stein, will have more conviction telling you that I believe that Al Horford will end up in blank.”Stein: “Wow. Uh. Al Horford…”Le Batard: “Oh, for the love of God, Stein.”Stein: “DETROIT. I don’t know why, I feel like Detroit has a real chance here.”"

Perhaps this is all speculation — or perhaps Stein knows something we do not? Oklahoma City is currently trying to bring one of their franchise players back in Kevin Durant and may not be able to free up the necessary cap space to land Horford. The Heat are in a similar situation with Dwyane Wade.

Next: Detroit Pistons: Players to Target in Free Agency

If Horford does indeed make his way up to Detroit, the team would instantly move that much closer to contending with the defending champion, Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference.