The Golden State Warriors remain the favorites to land veteran center Al Horford.
According to ESPN’s Anthony Slater, Horford is the “presumed starting center” of the Warriors next season.
“Horford would slide in as the presumed starting center, lessening the regular-season load on Draymond Green, which is a priority,” Slater wrote. “Horford’s ability to pass and defend fits well into the Warriors’ system. His ability to shoot from the center spot is something they’ve been sorely lacking.”
Last season, Horford 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. During the Boston Celtics‘ championship run in the previous season, Horford averaged 8.6 points while shooting 41.9% from the 3-point range.
Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler‘s scoring gravity will give plenty of open shots for Horford.
Risky Play?
Getty Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Al Horford of the Boston Celtics.
However, Horford’s potential signing also comes with a risk.
“Horford is 39,” Slater added. “He hasn’t been playing both sides of back-to-backs. The Warriors can’t rely on him to be an every-night 25-minute option. But the desire is to have him in the lineup when it matters and open up space for five-man combinations, which would especially benefit a downhill driver like Kuminga.”
The Warriors have 15 back-to-back games this season, tied for second-most in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, Miami Heat and the Utah Jazz.
Adding Horford to the Warriors’ starting unit will make them one of the oldest teams in the NBA with four starters in their mid-to-late 30s.
Horford would have been signed by the Warriors if not for the long-drawn contract stalemate with their restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga.
“Those around the league continue to ticket Horford to the Warriors when the free agency dust ultimately settles,” Slater continued. “The Kuminga situation continues to hold up business for them, keeping Horford in a holding pattern.”
Looking for Frontcourt Shooting
The Warriors have been looking for a stretch center even before losing Kevon Looney to the New Orleans Pelicans in free agency. Golden State general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. made that clear during a recent interview.
“I think we learned a lot about the team this past year, especially since we’ve added Jimmy [Butler],” Dunleavy told ESPN’s Katie George during halftime of the Warriors’ NBA Summer League opener in Las Vegas in July. “We feel like we have a group going forward that’s going to be pretty good. What do we need to add? I think from that standpoint, we want to look to the frontcourt to add some shooting, in the backcourt some defense.
“Offensively, guys that can shoot, pass and dribble. There’s tons of needs, but I think we’ve zeroed in on some areas that we can address. As the summer unfolds, we’ll continue to try and do that.”
Horford has been playing that stretch role for the Celtics for the past four seasons. Last season, coach Steve Kerr leaned on then-rookie Quinten Post in the role. With Looney gone, the Warriors need a veteran big man to mentor Post while also helping them in their win-now window and easing the burden of Green.
Warriors, Kuminga Resumes Talks
GettyJonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors have resumed their conversations to resolve their contract stalemate.
The Warriors and Kuminga have re-engaged discussions, but the gap between the two camps has remained the same.
“Well, there’s been renewed conversations between the two sides,” Slater said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Aug. 15. “There’s dialogue, but as you all know, talking doesn’t necessarily equal movement. They’ve shared contract concepts and opinions about the whole thing between each other this last week, dating back to last weekend.”
Slater added Kuminga doesn’t want to be a “pawn” for the Warriors, whose current offer is designed to get traded midseason.
“Kuminga wants more of a player-friendly deal, more of a signal that he’s a building block, not a trade asset,” Slater explained.
The 22-year-old forward does not want to sign the Warriors’ standing offer of two years, $45 million with a team option and a stipulation to relinquish the inherent no-trade clause.
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