Celtics Predicted to Get Bad News on Al Horford in Free Agency

If the Celtics were considering dealing players as good as Jaylen Brown and Derrick White because they’re worried about a $500 million combined salary-and-tax payment, there’s no way they’ll spend additional money to bring back a 39-year-old reserve.

That’s not to say Horford is without his uses. Last year, he again provided uncommonly versatile defense, [3-point] shooting and veteran savvy in the front-court. In fact, his continued age-defying production is part of the reason he won’t be back in Boston. Several contenders will come calling, and at least one is likely to offer much more than the Celtics are willing to pay.

---

Handful of Teams Could Offer Al Horford Significant Raise Next Season

Hughes predicted Horford could secure himself the full mid-level exception somewhere next season, which means a payday just north of $14 million. However, that will also limit his potential destinations.

Bobby Marks of ESPN on Saturday laid out the free-agency circumstances of all 30 teams, including a category dedicated to those franchises with the full midlevel at their respective disposals.

Among that group are the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.

Based on the needs of those 11 franchises and presuming that Horford wants, at the very least, to play for a competitive team in 2025-26, perhaps none are a great fit save for the Spurs. San Antonio is in need of a big man to come off the bench, and the franchise is poised for a potentially massive jump next year behind a roster full of young talent led by Victor Wembanyama.

Oklahoma City could also use some backup bigs. However, the team just extended Jaylin Williams on a three-year contract, and Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein are both coming back next season, which likely means few minutes for even a player as good as Horford.

Marks noted that the Bulls are in need of front-court depth, but they are a perennial play-in tournament team in the Eastern Conference. The Jazz may need some frontline help if they decide to trade Walker Kessler, but Marks suggested Utah’s best move is to re-sign the young center to a five-year deal topping out in the nine-figure range.

---

Lakers, Warriors Could Both Pursue Al Horford as Key Roster Addition

That does not mean Horford won’t have good options, though.

He played the last two seasons for a total of $19.5 million combined and has already earned north of $285 million during his career. Horford also has a championship ring now, so it’s unclear precisely what might motivate him to sign somewhere, but money or title contention or location or other factors could all slot in at the top of the list.

The Los Angeles Lakers badly need some rim protection, and Horford’s ability to play perimeter defense and hold up against switches would be suitable in L.A. That he can shoot from behind the arc with effectiveness is also a trait that would make him attractive to the Lakers, though the best they can currently offer is probably the taxpayer’s midlevel exception of $5.7 million.

The same skills that render Horford an attractive option in Southern California would also suit him for employment in the northern part of the state with the Golden State Warriors. The Dubs are $17 million below the tax currently, though the restricted free agency of Jonathan Kuminga is going to have a significant impact on how and whom the team can add to its roster this summer.

A return to the Hawks, where Horford played the first nine years of career, could also make some sense if he is willing to take a secondary role in the front-court. Atlanta has a need there and could offer Horford the full midlevel to return to a city that is popular with NBA players and embraced Horford as part of a handful of competitive playoff teams over his first decade in the league.