While it’s unclear where Al Horford will go as of the first night of NBA free agency, the veteran big man is drawing significant interest on the open market. Per HoopHype’s Michael Scotto, multiple contenders have reached out to Horford, including the Celtics, Warriors, Knicks, Nuggets, Cavaliers and Lakers.
Horford turned 39 this summer, but it’s no surprise teams are interested in signing the big man. While he can’t play as many minutes like in his prime, he showed he can still be a valuable playoff contributor. Considering his wealth of experience in the postseason, he also brings a steady presence as a veteran in the locker room.
The Warriors have been heavily reported as a potential landing spot for Horford, but that’s not official as of Monday evening. NBA free agency opened at 6 p.m. Monday as teams have already made a flurry of moves to bolster their rosters going forward.
The Celtics reaching out is no surprise as Brad Stevens made it clear they would like to re-sign Horford and Luke Kornet. Unfortunately for the C’s, Kornet signed a lucrative four-year deal with the Spurs as Boston saw its big man depth take a hit. The Celtics did sign Luka Garza as a reserve option, joining Neemias Queta and Xavier Tillman on the roster.
The names on the list are full of interesting options. The Lakers have been looking for big man help. The Nuggets made some big swings by trading Michael Porter Jr. to the Nets in exchange for Cameron Johnson. The Knicks and Cavaliers are shaping up to be top East contenders in a weakened conference next season.
It’s unknown what Horford will do, though it’s sounding like he plans to return for another NBA season. Considering his age, it makes sense for the big man to go try and win another ring on a contender. It sounded like Horford was willing to come back to Boston for another season, but Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury changed the trajectory of the franchise as the C’s are currently in retooling mode.