Report: Warriors are eyeing Al Horford as a ‘top target’ in free agency

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Is Al Horford likely to depart the Celtics once more?

NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer claim that one Western Conference team has been after the 39-year-old center, who became a free agent on Monday night.

Anthony Slater of The Athletic claims that Horford’s possible match with the Warriors, who are looking for a big guy, is appealing.

A stretch center is a top priority, according to team sources, Slater wrote in a recent article.The Warriors are still seen by many in the NBA as a top target for Al Horford.

Horford stated that it was too soon to make a decision regarding his future in his farewell interview last month. However, a number of transactions involving other players have been disclosed, and free agency is currently in progress.

Horford is on his second multi-year contract with the Celtics after spending the majority of his early career with the Atlanta Hawks. In 2019, he signed a free-agent contract with Boston and departed for Philadelphia. Following short spells with the Thunder and Sixers, Horford was acquired by the Celtics in 2021. In 2024, he assisted them in winning their record 18th championship.

With the Celtics, the five-time All-Star has become comfortable in a supporting role, scoring nine points per game on average. Although his 3-point shooting percentage dropped from 41.9 percent in 2024 to 36.3 percent this past season, he has played strong defense in key times in recent postseason series.

The Celtics have already slashed costs by moving Kristaps Porzingis to the Hawks and Jrue Holiday to the Blazers. Due in significant part to the high salaries of Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, they are still subject to the luxury tax.

However, because Porzingis is no longer there, they have abruptly become extremely thin at the center position. Both Luke Kornet and Horford are free agents.

Although bringing both players back is a top priority, players like Horford may question whether Boston offers them the best chance to win next season given the change in the Celtics’ title odds after Jayson Tatum’s achilles injury, according to Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens.

Free-agent choices are also influenced by other considerations, like finances, location, the need to move a family, etc. According to reports, Horford appears content in the area and has achieved success in Boston.

However, it’s too soon to predict exactly what he will do when other teams approach.

Boston.com’s Khari Thompson reports on professional sports. Khari worked as a college football reporter for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, prior to joining the team in 2022.