The Boston Celtics are expected to lose Al Horford to one of their rivals from both conferences.
The Los Angeles Lakers‘ roster is full, but they have been named as the Golden State Warriors‘ strongest rivals for the free agent center.
According to Andscape’s Marc Spears, the Los Angeles Lakers and two teams from the Eastern Conference have expressed interest in the 39-year-old center as his expected move to the Golden State Warriors stalled.
“Golden State, obviously, expected him to sign last week. He didn’t,” Spears said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on July 14. “Lakers, Milwaukee, and Atlanta, I believe, are also interested in a nearly 40-year-old guy who also has retirement on the table.
“He’s still considering retiring; he’s not in any hurry. He’s got a sixth kid coming on the way, he lives in Atlanta and Boston in the offseason. But I’m hearing that whether it’s Golden State and to a lesser extent the Lakers, being away from the family that far isn’t going to be in that decision.”
Where Will Al Horford Play Next Season?
Getty Al Horford of the Boston Celtics defends LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers are the Celtics’ arch-enemies in the NBA. Losing Horford to the Lakers after the veteran center helped the Celtics win title No. 18 to break their tie for the winningest franchise in the NBA will be hard to stomach.
Meanwhile, the Warriors beat the Celtics in the NBA Finals in 2022. On the other hand, the Bucks and the Hawks are looking to leapfrog the Celtics in the East in the wake of Jayson Tatum missing next season with an Achilles injury.
Horford, who earned $9.5 million last season, will be a valuable addition to any of the four teams pursuing him. The veteran center averaged 9.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists while making nearly two 3-pointers per game on 36.3% shooting from beyond the arc last season.
Horford is taking his time before deciding on what comes next in his career.
Jayson Tatum Recruiting Damian Lillard
Tatum’s devastating injury has not kept him from actively helping the Celtics this offseason. He is their chief recruiter to bring fellow injured NBA star Damian Lillard to Boston, according to the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn.
After the Celtics traded away veterans Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, Tatum aims to reload the team in time for his return for the 2026-27 season.
“Damian Lillard remains a free agent but is considering his options, and the Celtics are indeed one of them. The nine-time All-Star is in no hurry to sign, but the Celtics are interested in a multi-year deal that would allow him to return fully healthy from his torn Achilles for the 2026-27 season in a Celtics uniform along with a healed Tatum for a title run. According to NBA sources, Jayson Tatum has been active in recruiting Lillard to Boston, and the market for the point guard is limited because his injury will prevent him from likely playing most of next season,” Washburn wrote.
The Bucks stunningly waived Lillard to sign center Myles Turner in free agency after the nine-time All-Star point guard suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in the playoffs.
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