Al Horford‘s future remains a mystery. The veteran big man is still available as an unrestricted free agent. The 2024 Boston Celtics champion is taking his time before making a decision on what comes next in his career.
Horford has three options available to him. He can re-sign with Boston, retire, or move elsewhere to continue hunting for another championship. According to a July 6 report from Marc Stein, Horford is widely expected to land with the Golden State Warriors.
“While having the full non-taxpayer midlevel would theoretically provide the Nuggets with the financial flexibility to offer a richer Year 1 salary to Boston Celtics free agent Al Horford that Golden State can pitch, I continue to hear that Horford is destined to land in the Bay Area,” Stein reported. “That’s despite the fact that the Warriors currently have only the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel to offer him.”
Horford has been linked with multiple contending-level teams since the offseason began. It’s also looking increasingly unlikely he returns to the Celtics for another season. Brad Stevens has overseen a significant talent drain in recent weeks, resulting in Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet all heading elsewhere.
Celtics Urged to Target Damian Lillard
Losing Horford feels like a foregone conclusion for the Celtics. However, Stevens and the front office must still find ways to improve the current roster. In a recent edition of NBC Sports Boston’s “Early Edition,” Celtics insider Gary Washburn urged the franchise to target Damian Lillard. The 9-time All-Star was recently waived and stretched by the Milwaukee Bucks.
“It’s cheap,” Washburn said. “$5.6 million mid-level, two years, because he’s already getting paid by the Bucks. So money is not an issue. You sit him for this year…You have two All-NBA players coming back along with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and then whoever’s center. Two All-NBA players, three All-Stars, and a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in you’re starting five, and you come back to try to win another title in ’26-’27.”
Lillard is expected to miss the 2025-26 season due to an Achilles tendon injury. Therefore, Boston would be committing two roster spots to All-Star talents who won’t play next season. Due to Lillard’s injury, age, and potentially questionable fit next to Tatum and Jaylen Brown, there’s no guarantee Boston makes a run at him in free agency.
Celtics Have a Busy Summer Ahead
Despite a flurry of moves when the offseason began, the Celtics likely have some moves up their sleeves. They recently signed Josh Minott to a two-year contract, putting the franchise marginally above the second luxury-tax apron. Stevens will likely want to duck the second apron before the season begins.
Furthermore, the current roster looks disjointed. There’s limited depth in the frontcourt, and Anfernee Simons doesn’t project to be the two-way talent Joe Mazzulla covets.
Therefore, it’s likely Stevens has one or two more moves to make before the end of the summer. Not only will he want to get the Celtics under the second apron, he may want to add some more balance to the current roster. After all, the upcoming season may be a reset year, but the Celtics still need tradable pieces to bounce back when Tatum returns in ’26-’27.
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