If we’ve learned one thing about the Golden State Warriors this season, it’s that they need to get younger around the veteran core of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green.
A string of injury issues has derailed the team’s season, and key veteran additions such as Al Horford have struggled to make an impact when healthy enough to get on the court.
As such, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz believes that Horford could emerge as the Warriors’ biggest trade chip heading into the offseason. The veteran big man signed a two-year, $11.6 million deal with Golden State in the summer. However, the second season on that contract is a player option.
“If Al Horford decides to return for a 20th NBA season by picking up his $6 million player option, he should deservedly ask for a trade,” Swartz wrote. “Barring a deal for Antetokounmpo or another superstar, this Warriors team isn’t going to win a championship anytime soon, something Horford should be seeking.”
Horford, 39, won a championship with the Boston Celtics in 2024. He chose to leave the franchise in free agency during the 2025 offseason, likely in search of another contending team, given Boston’s status as a retooling roster. Unfortunately for Horford, things haven’t gone to plan.
Not only do the Warriors look primed for a play-in tournament run, but the Celtics are one of the hottest teams in the league right now.
Nevertheless, should Horford decide to play for another year, there will undoubtedly be a market for his services, both on the trade and free agent markets.
Warriors Could Get Stephen Curry Back Soon
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Golden State Warriors could get Stephen Curry back in the rotation in the coming days. The superstar guard has missed 26 consecutive games with a persistent knee issue.
“Stephen Curry has set a goal to return for the Golden State Warriors on Sunday against the Houston Rockets, with the next few days as a vital period to receive clearance, per ESPN sources,” Charania reported.
Curry, 38, has played in 39 games this season. He’s averaging 27.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists, shooting 46.8% from the field and 39.1% from deep.
Curry Is Optimistic Following Warriors’ Scrimmage
Curry recently participated in a five-on-five scrimmage with his Warriors teammates. Usually, that means a player is gearing up for a return to the court, and is seen as a significant milestone in their recovery.
When speaking with ESPN following his five-on-five action, Curry appeared to be cautiously optimistic about his potential to get back in Steve Kerr’s rotation.
“It felt great,” Curry told ESPN. “I’m checking the boxes. But with this, it’s always unpredictable because I don’t know how the knee will respond because it hasn’t responded well in the past attempts to get to this five-on-five level.”
It’s likely that Curry will play in a few more full-contact scrimmages in the coming days, mostly to stress test his knee and ensure he’s ready for the rigors of an NBA game. If he comes through those additional tests, then Golden State will receive a significant boost as they look to close out the season strong and build some much-needed momentum.
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