Al Horford is still an unrestricted free agent. The veteran big man’s contract with the Boston Celtics expired at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Horford has been linked with a move to the Golden State Warriors in recent weeks. However, Mike Dunleavy Jr. has been locked in on the Jonathan Kuminga contract saga, forcing the Warriors to wait for new additions.
However, while Horford’s patience is clearly being tested, he is still expected to land in the Bay Area ahead of the new campaign. Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus recently shared his expectation that Horford will land in Golden State sooner or later.
“The Celtics have pivoted away from contending this season, with Jayson Tatum sidelined due to an Achilles injury,” Pincus wrote. “Al Horford was a valued part of Boston’s championship run, but his time with the team appears to be over. Prediction: Horford signs with the Warriors on a two-year minimum deal (player option on the second season), paying $3.6 million for 2025-26.”
Horford was a key part of the Celtics’ championship-winning roster in 2024. Unfortunately, with Jayson Tatum set to miss next season due to an Achilles tendon injury, Horford’s best chance of competing for another title will likely come with the Warriors’ aging veteran core.
Celtics Front Court Is A Weak Point
Horford isn’t the only member of the Celtics front court to leave the franchise this summer. Luke Kornet signed with the San Antonio Spurs in free agency and Kristaps Porzingis was sent to the Atlanta Hawks as part of a three-team trade.
As such, Neemias Queta is expected to be Boston’s starting big man next season. Luka Garza and Chris Boucher will both play backup while also providing minutes at the power forward positions.
To make matters worse, Tatum’s absence will force Joe Mazzulla to lean on younger talents such as Hugo Gonzalez and potentially Jordan Walsh to round out his front-court rotation. Therefore, it’s fair to be concerned about Boston’s viability at both forward positions and in the middle of the floor.
Jaylen Brown Backed to Shine For The Celtics
In Tatum’s absence, Jaylen Brown will be tasked with leading Boston’s offense. During a recent appearance on NESN’s “Hold My Banner” podcast, former Celtics forward Malik Fitts explained why he believes Brown will rise to the challenge of his increased role.
“He’s Finals MVP,” Fitts said. “I don’t know how you can doubt that. That year that he won Finals MVP, you saw the level at which he was playing. He was playing at a really, really high level. Even the year that I was there, we lost to the Warriors. He was playing at a really high level even then.”
Fitts continued.
“And I never really understood the hatred or any of the bad mouthing that they (some fans) had towards Jaylen. But I am curious to see how he will lead the team while Jayson is out. Personally, I think he’ll handle it well. I think he’s going to lead the team pretty well.”
Brown has emerged as a trusty second option in recent years. However, with Tatum sidelined, he will get the opportunity to prove himself in a bigger role. The harder part for Brown will be sliding back to a secondary option when Tatum eventually returns.
Until then, it will be interesting to see how Brown handles the pressure of leading a team on both sides of the floor.
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