Following their second-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors are looking to reload their roster and maximize what could be the final years of the Stephen Curry era. One name that has emerged as a potential target in free agency is Al Horford, who played a crucial role in helping the Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA title.
While the Los Angeles Lakers were previously rumored to be in the mix for Horford, their recent additions of Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes have seemingly cleared the path for the Warriors to make a move.
Curry, currently in Lake Tahoe for the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament, was asked about the prospect of Horford joining Golden State. “He’s a champion, great player. When… if, when all that stuff happens, I’ll talk about it,” Curry said, as reported by Anthony Slater of The Athletic on X (formerly Twitter).
Curry’s comments have fueled speculation that a move may already be in the works. While no agreement has been finalized, Celtics executive Brad Stevens recently suggested that Horford‘s return to Boston appears unlikely.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors is defended by Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics. (Elsa/Getty Images)
“We made offers to both Luke (Kornet) and Al (Horford). We would love to have both of them back. I’d say that’s unlikely,” Stevens said during a press conference. “The only reason I haven’t talked about Al is because it’s not final. I could probably talk about Al my whole press conference and not say enough, but I don’t want to speak in absolute terms until an ultimate decision is made”.
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Despite being 39 years old, Horford continues to play at a high level and could bring valuable experience and versatility to the Warriors’ frontcourt. The former No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game last season while shooting 36.3% from beyond the arc.
Horford was also a steady contributor during Boston’s championship run, averaging 7.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while hitting 36.8% of his three-point attempts throughout the playoffs.
