The Celtics are on the cusp of something special. With a talented young core, a treasure trove of assets and an innovative head coach leading the way, they're in position to build on an impressive 2015-16 season in which they finished in a four-way tie with the Heat, Hawks and Hornets for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.
Hoping to accelerate that growth is Al Horford, a four-time All-Star who left the Hawks this offseason to sign with the Celtics. While not the superstar the Celtics are necessarily looking for to take the leap into title contention, Horford has long been one of the best big men the NBA has to offer.