One of the more intriguing subplots still remaining in NBA free agency is the future of Al Horford. The 39-year-old center will not be back with the Celtics following Jayson Tatum’s injury and roster retooling amid financial concerns. Where Horford ends up next remains an open question two weeks into free agency.
The Warriors have been viewed as the overwhelming favorite to sign Horford if he keeps playing. However, a new report from Marc Spears of ESPN.com listed a couple of new Eastern Conference teams as showing interest in the big man as he weighs his next move.
“Golden State obviously expected him to sign last week, he didn’t [sign],” Spears said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday. “Lakers, Milwaukee, and Atlanta, I believe are also interested in a nearly 40-year-old guy who also has retirement on the table. He’s still considering retiring, he’s not in any hurry. He’s got a sixth kid coming on the way, he lives in Atlanta and Boston in the offseason. I’m hearing that whether it’s Golden State and a lesser extent to the Lakers, being away from the family that far isn’t going to be in that decision.”
Horford, 39, played seven years in Boston, including the last four seasons after the team reacquired him from the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021. Brad Stevens reflected fondly on the big man who will be one of three Boston bigs expected to depart this offseason along with Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Kornet.
“I don’t want to speak in absolute terms until an ultimate decision is made, but [Al is] another guy that, if he were to go and play somewhere else, I think, is an all-time Celtic and a winner and did everything he could for this organization,” Stevens said last week. “Not only from the games but also how he impacted our younger players, who in a lot of ways, now have to take what they’ve learned from the Jrue and the Als and people like that and apply that from a leadership role.”
Whether the allure of staying in a wide-open Eastern Conference has any appeal to Horford in the possibility of joining Milwaukee or Atlanta remains to be seen. For now, the Warriors still look to be the heavy favorite to land the big man if he elects to keep playing for at least one more season.
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