Celtics’ lack of Al Horford stunted their growth and competitiveness.

The wing of Celtics fans who mocked Ben Simmons would have laughed uncontrollably if there had been a photoshop of Al Horford wearing 76ers blue last year. It’s Joel Embiid who’s laughing now.

It’s possible that Horford’s absence will only fully appreciate his worth to the Celtics. Last season, he limited Embiid to 19 of 52 (36.5%) shooting in one-on-one situations. He will enter games in Boston from the visitor’s locker room the following season. Horford has a four-year contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that is designed to last.

Within a week, the story that “Horford’s taking a pay cut” had turned into “he’s leaving,” only for the team to falter in a last-ditch effort to keep him. The declaration that he would rush to Philadelphia was a spear through Boston’s head because of that misplaced optimism. Following the hint of a comeback with Kemba Walker, Philadelphia was the obvious choice.