The Golden State Warriors have had a quiet start to free agency, but busy when it comes to being involved in NBA rumors. The Warriors are trying to land a big fish, but the status of these overtures appears to change daily.
At various points throughout NBA free agency, the Warriors have often been labeled as the favorites to land Boston Celtics fan favorite Al Horford. Then came the retirement rumors with speculation that Horford could walk away from basketball rather than simply bolt the Celtics.
Now, it appears the Warriors are once again expected to land Horford. The Ringer’s Zach Lowe predicts that Horford will eventually sign with the Warriors.
“All the reporting is that Al Horford is going to be there,” the analyst detailed in a July 10, 2025, episode of “The Zach Lowe Show,” per Bleacher Report. “Something is delaying it, I don’t know what that is. I expect him to be there.”
Steph Curry on Rumors of Warriors Landing Al Horford: ‘He’s a Champion, Great Player’
Throughout the process, Golden State seemed cautiously optimistic that the team will eventually pry Horford away from Boston. It is hard to argue with Horford’s resume as an NBA champion and five-time All-Star.
Steph Curry declined to speak in great detail about the NBA free agency rumors. Curry did indicate that Horford would provide a boost to the current Warriors roster.
“Steph Curry asked about the idea of Al Horford joining the Warriors: ‘He’s a champion, great player. When…if, when all that stuff happens, I’ll talk about it,’” The Athletic’s Anthony Slater noted in a July 10, message on X.
The cap-strapped Warriors are not expected to have to break the bank to land Horford. Gone are the days of Horford inking a four-year, $109 million contract like the one the center initially signed with the Philadelphia 76ers that ran through the 2022 season.
Horford’s last deal was a two-year, $19.5 million in Boston. With Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler all on the books, the Warriors will be looking to land Horford on a team-friendly deal.
Could Celtics Center Al Horford Retire?
The latest Horford updates come as the topic of retirement also entered the mix in the NBA rumors. Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach reported that Horford could end up retiring rather than sign with the Warriors.
“Horford’s future remains unclear,” Himmelsbach explained on July 7, per Bleacher Report. “A league source said Monday that Horford is taking his time while assessing offers from multiple teams but added that the 39-year-old is considering retirement, too.”
NBA Rumors: Warriors Are Viewed as the Favorites to Sign Al Horford in Free Agency
It is not just Lowe who projects the Warriors will sign Horford. Multiple NBA insiders have reported that Golden State are the favorites to bring Horford to the West Coast, including Marc Stein.
“While having the full non-taxpayer midlevel would theoretically provide the Nuggets with the financial flexibility to offer a richer Year 1 salary to Boston Celtics free agent Al Horford that Golden State can pitch, I continue to hear that Horford is destined to land in the Bay Area,” Stein explained in a July 6, story titled, “Sunday Best: LOTS of fresh NBA free agency and trade Intel.”
“That’s despite the fact that the Warriors currently have only the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel to offer him.”
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